The Best Texas Road Trips: 7 Classic Routes Across the Lone Star State

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Texas is big enough that a road trip here can feel like crossing several countries: desert mountains, canyon country, rolling hills, swamps and beaches, all in one state. Here are seven of the best Texas road trips, with the route, the stops that matter, and the best time of year to go.

At a glance

Road trip	Start and end	Days	Best season
Hill Country loop	Austin or San Antonio	2–4	Spring (wildflowers) and fall
Big Bend and Far West Texas	San Antonio or El Paso	5–7	October to April
Gulf Coast	Galveston to South Padre Island	4–6	Spring and fall
Panhandle and Route 66	Amarillo area	2–3	Spring and fall
Piney Woods	Tyler to Jefferson and Nacogdoches	2–3	Spring and fall
Barbecue trail	Austin	1–2	Year-round
Friday Night Lights tour	Dallas to Odessa	3–4	September to November

1. The Texas Hill Country loop

Route: Austin → Dripping Springs → Johnson City → Fredericksburg → Luckenbach → Wimberley → back to Austin.

The Hill Country is the Texas most visitors picture: limestone hills, spring-fed rivers, small German towns and wineries along US 290. Spend a night in Fredericksburg for the Main Street shops and German food, climb Enchanted Rock, see the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall, and stop in Luckenbach, a town that’s mostly a dance hall and a post office. Spring brings bluebonnets along the back roads.

2. Big Bend and Far West Texas

Route: San Antonio → Del Rio → Marathon → Big Bend National Park → Terlingua → FM 170 River Road → Presidio → Marfa → Fort Davis → Alpine.

This is the great Texas road trip. Big Bend National Park has desert, mountains and canyons along the Rio Grande, with fewer crowds than most national parks. Drive the River Road through Big Bend Ranch State Park, look for the Marfa lights, stargaze at the McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis, and eat at the ghost town of Terlingua. Distances are huge, so fill up whenever you can.

3. The Gulf Coast

Route: Galveston → Surfside → Port Aransas → Corpus Christi → South Padre Island.

Start with Galveston’s Victorian Strand District and seawall, then work south along the coast. Port Aransas and Mustang Island have wide beaches, Corpus Christi has the USS Lexington museum and the Texas State Aquarium, and Padre Island National Seashore protects the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world. Finish at South Padre Island for beaches and fresh Gulf seafood.

4. The Panhandle and Route 66

Route: Amarillo → Palo Duro Canyon → Canyon → Route 66 west to Adrian.

Hike or drive into Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the country, then visit the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon. In Amarillo, spray-paint a car at Cadillac Ranch and try the 72-ounce steak challenge at the Big Texan. Drive the old Route 66 west to Adrian, the official midpoint of the highway between Chicago and Los Angeles.

5. The Piney Woods

Route: Tyler → Jefferson → Caddo Lake → Nacogdoches.

East Texas looks nothing like the rest of the state. Tyler is famous for its rose garden. Jefferson is a historic riverboat town full of bed-and-breakfasts. Paddle through cypress trees at Caddo Lake, then finish in Nacogdoches, one of the oldest towns in Texas.

6. The Central Texas barbecue trail

Route: Austin → Lockhart → Luling → Taylor → Elgin → Austin.

One day, a lot of brisket. See our Texas BBQ Guide for where to stop and how to order.

7. The Friday Night Lights tour

Route: Allen → Dallas area → Abilene → Odessa.

For football fans, plan a fall trip around Friday nights. Catch a game at Allen’s Eagle Stadium, drive west through Abilene, and end at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, home of the Permian Panthers from Friday Night Lights. Check the schedules so you can hit a game on both Thursday and Friday nights.

Texas road trip tips

1. Distances are bigger than they look. El Paso to Beaumont is more than 800 miles on I-10 without leaving the state.
2. Fill up early. In West Texas and the Big Bend, gas stations can be 80 miles or more apart.
3. Download offline maps. Cell service disappears in the Big Bend and parts of the Panhandle.
4. Watch for wildlife at night. Deer are a real hazard on Hill Country and West Texas roads.
5. Avoid summer in the desert. Big Bend often tops 100°F from May to September.
6. Stop at the Buc-ee’s. It’s a Texas road trip rite of passage.

Road trip gear worth packing

• A Texas road atlas for the places your phone loses signal.
• A portable tire inflator. Long, remote highways are hard on tires.
• A portable jump starter, in case you’re far from help.
• A good cooler for drinks, snacks and barbecue to bring home.
• A windshield sun shade. A parked car in Texas gets brutally hot.
• Roadside Geology of Texas to understand the landscape you’re driving through.

What’s your favorite Texas road trip? Share it with us on the Texas Journeys Facebook page.

Read next: The Best Texas State Parks.