The Best Texas Road Trip Itinerary: 1 Week within the Lone Star State
Are you able to expertise the very best of Texas? Texas is not only the most important continental state within the US, it’s a spot the place all the pieces is larger and bolder. From the bustling cities to the serene countryside, Texas provides a singular mix of historical past, tradition, and pure magnificence.
You’ll begin your journey in Dallas, residence to one of many largest airports within the US, the DFW Airport. This means getting here’s a breeze, irrespective of the place you’re coming from. Texas is a state of contrasts and variety—image huge open plains, rolling hills, vibrant cities, and charming small cities. As you journey, you’ll see all the pieces from cowboy tradition to house exploration, stay music scenes to historic landmarks.
Our journey will take you from Dallas to Houston, one of many largest cities within the southern US. You’ll discover Fort Worth’s western heritage, Waco’s well-known silos, Austin’s stay music scene, the German allure of Fredericksburg, San Antonio’s historic websites, and the coastal fantastic thing about Corpus Christi. Each cease provides one thing distinctive and unforgettable.
So, put in your cowboy boots, seize your map, and let’s hit the street for the final word Texas street journey journey!
Map of Texas Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Exploring Dallas and Fort Worth
Morning in Dallas
Start your street journey with a morning spent in Dallas! There is a lot to see right here, however I’d suggest trying out a number of the unimaginable museums on provide. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is devoted to the lifetime of President John F. Kennedy and the occasions surrounding his assassination. It’s an interesting piece of historical past and very well carried out.
If you’re extra within the temper for some nature and leisure, spend the morning on the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. The gardens are actually one thing and the water options are like nowhere else.
The Dallas World Aquarium is one other wonderful selection the place you may see unique birds, fish, and even penguins! Dont miss the three story waterfall or the huge overhead shark tank!
Afternoon in Fort Worth
In the afternoon, drive the 40 minutes over to Fort Worth. Your first cease must be the Fort Worth Stockyards. This historic district is like stepping again in time to the Old West. It may sound actually tacky, however this was considered one of my favorites on this journey! You can watch a cattle drive on the Stockyards Visitors focus on 4 pm, discover the western themed outlets, and even see a rodeo on the Cowtown Coliseum should you’re fortunate. The rodeos listed below are the actual deal and though I’ve seen many rodeos in Wisconsin, Texan Rodeos are recognized to be the very best within the nation, so don’t miss out!
Make certain to have dinner on the The Capital Grille if consuming steak is your factor, or you may strive Rise Soufflé, an attention-grabbing souffle bar which is very well priced and has the primary spot on the town! Visit the Basement Bar after dinner for a very enjoyable Honky Tonk environment and nice drinks to stay music.
Stay in Downtown Fort Worth on the Hampton Inn & Suites for the very best worth with the very best location. Breakfast is admittedly unimaginable right here, so price trying out!
Day 2: Discovering Waco
Full day in Waco
Wake up early and drive the 1 hour and 20 minutes to Waco. Your first cease is the well-known Magnolia Market and Silos, created by Chip and Joanna Gaines from the TV present “Fixer Upper”. It’s an incredible place to buy residence items and luxuriate in some tasty meals from the meals vehicles. Next, should you’re into archeology and historical past, go to the Waco Mammoth National Monument. Here, you may see the stays of mammoths that lived 1000’s of years in the past. It’s truly actually fascinating!
Have lunch at Jake’s Texas Tea House for enjoyable native environment and nice meals.
Next, head to the Dr Pepper Museum. Did you realize Dr Pepper was invented in Waco? The museum is very well carried out and interactive, with a lot of attention-grabbing displays.
If you’d desire to go to Waco’s heart, there’s additionally a free trolley that’s good for getting round. Park close to the Silos and hop on the trolley to go to Waco’s hottest buying, eating and artwork district the place you may store until you drop!
For dinner go to Rudy’s for the superb brisket after which drinks at J.S. Barnett’s Whiskey House. I liked the outside seating on a sizzling night and the selection of whiskey was unimaginable!
We stayed the night time at Home2 Suites by Hilton whereas in Waco. We received an incredible value and liked the complete kitchen and cozy mattress within the flat. Highly really useful!
Day 3: Austin Adventures
Morning and Afternoon in Austin
Leave early on day 3 for Austin, the stay music capital of the world! The drive takes 1 hour and 40 minutes so that you’ll need to cease at Buc-ee’s for the loos and a mid-morning espresso on the way in which.
Downtown Austin is walkable and lively. Start your day with a stroll down South Congress Avenue, generally often known as SoCo, for the very best have a look at Austin’s native vibe. Have lunch at Magnolia Cafe for an incredible burger or wonderful brunch!
Then drive all the way down to Town Lake Metropolitan Park and take a look at the Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail. It’s a scenic path that’s good for strolling or biking and one of the best ways to get an incredible view of Austin whereas having fun with the city park. I at all times love so as to add a little bit of nature to my street journeys because the Wisconsin parks have turn out to be a staple in our weekly excercise.
Alternatively you may go to the Texas State Capitol for a style of native historical past. They provide free guided excursions within the afternoon, which is an effective way to study Texas historical past and authorities.
In the night, make sure that to catch a stay music present on Sixth Street. Austin is thought for its vibrant music scene on this iconic avenue, so make sure that to select a speakeasy or stay music venue as you stroll the strip. This 12 months it’s being renovated although, so some venues could also be closed. Alternatively you may try SoCo north of ladybird for an incredible night out.
After an thrilling day, relaxation up in Austin. The Fairmount is a good choice and is very well positioned. It additionally has a car parking zone, which was nice for us! Tomorrow, you’ll head to the charming city of Fredericksburg.
Day 4: Fredericksburg Charm
All Day in Fredericksburg
Drive the 1 hour and a half to Fredericksburg, within the morning. Along the way in which you may try Wildseed Farms, a neighborhood nursery and wildflower farm. You’ll need to do some wine tasting and go to the flower and butterfly fields. It is such a special expertise that it’s positively price a cease on the way in which. Have a chew for lunch right here within the meals courtroom and proceed in your means.
Fredericksburg is thought for its German heritage and pleasant environment. Spend the afternoon strolling the principle strip, the place you’ll discover distinctive outlets, cafes, and bakeries. For dinner strive Fredericksburg Brewing Company, proper on the principle drag.
It’s the oldest brewery in Texas and has a superb German menu to pair with its craft beer. I liked the restored Eighteen Nineties constructing and the beer backyard! Not to be missed!
Try the Inn on Baron’s Creek for a comfortable night time in an incredible location. I actually loved having a glass of wine by the creek. They even have free parking which suggests you may park and stroll to the principle road and again. Rest up so that you’re prepared for the Hill Country Wine Trail tomorrow!
ay 5: Hill Country Wine Trail and San Antonio
Morning in Hill Country
Leave Fredericksburg early and drive the Hill Country Wine Trail. This scenic route is dotted with vineyards the place you may get pleasure from wine tasting and study in regards to the native wine manufacturing. Drive down scenic previous quantity 9 Highway to Comfort and make a cease on the Bending Branch vineyard for a wine tasting and a tour of the vineyard
Then preserve happening to Medina lake and take the 1283 into San Antonio for a good looking view of the lake and the encircling rolling hills. I like lake surroundings and the views listed below are similar to Michigan’s most lovely lakes.This drive takes a complete of about 2.5 hours, however is unquestionably well worth the detour should you’ve received the time.
Drive proper into the middle and keep at San Antonio River Walk. This space is stuffed with eating places, outlets, and leisure.Try the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk for one thing proper on the river with a boutiquey really feel which is nicely priced. You’ll love the placement too!
Spend your night strolling alongside the River Walk and luxuriate in a pleasant dinner by the water. We liked the long-lasting Boudreau’s Texas Bistro. Get a desk proper on the water and ensure to strive the Prickly Pear Margaritas!
Day 6: San Antonio and Corpus Christi
Morning in San Antonio
Start your day with a go to to The Alamo, a historic web site that performed an important function within the Texas Revolution. It’s strolling distance from the San Antonio River Walk so it’s simple to get to. If you like one thing completely different, you may discover the Natural Bridge Caverns, a surprising underground world stuffed with spectacular rock formations.
It’s about half-hour drive from the middle however positively price your time should you’re in for a little bit of journey! There is a 180 foot descent into the caves, some climbing and navigating round some steep drops, so its not for anybody with lowered mobility. The excursions take about an hour and a half although so plan accordingly.
Afternoon and Evening in Corpus Christi
After your morning in San Antonio, drive the two hours to Corpus Christi. Stop for lunch halfway at Smolik’s Smokehouse proper off the freeway for the very best barbecue on the town. Next you’ll drive into city and head straight to the Packery Channel Park for some nice kayaking, chicken watching, and even fishing!
If you’d prefer to see the white sand seashores, make sure that to drive throughout to South Padre Island and drive alongside the seashore. The dunes are lovely and the Malaquite Beach customer heart could be very informative. Park right here and stroll all the way down to the seaside to get a really feel for the great thing about the realm.
You might additionally try the USS Lexington Museum, a historic plane service turned museum. It is such a cool place to go to, stuffed with stair ladders, corridors and bulkheads. A very enjoyable place to discover. You’ll get pleasure from it even should you’re not that a lot of a historical past buff, however skip it should you’ve received younger youngsters in tow.
Spend the night time in Corpus Christi at Bluff’s Landing Marina & Lodge. It’s a really cute, unassuming place proper on the water with an incredible value. Dinner takes us out to Padre Island to take a look at Doc’s Seafood and Steaks for nice seafood with a view and stay music. We additionally actually loved the Gold Fish cocktail bar for a drink below the lights on the outside patio.
Day 7: Houston and Back to Dallas
Morning and Afternoon in Houston
The drive to Houston is the longest stretch on our itinerary however the 4 hour drive can simply be carried out should you depart proper after breakfast. Stop in Victoria for lunch on the Dockside Boiling Pot and have the crawfish. It’s spicy and scrumptious! Not to be missed!
On arriving in Houston, your first cease must be the Space Center. It’s an incredible place the place you may study house exploration and even see an actual spacecraft. If museums are extra your fashion, go to the Houston Museum of Natural Science or the Museum of Fine Arts. Both are inside strolling distance of one another and promise an incredible afternoon of tradition and studying.
I’d suggest you keep in Houston in a single day and drive the three.5 hours again to Dallas the following morning, but when it’s essential get again to Dallas that night it’s potential to have an early dinner and hit the street proper after.
If you may keep the night time, have dinner on the Rainbow Lodge for wonderful wild sport. Stay on the Wanderstay Boutique Hotel for a younger, hip really feel which is very well priced.
Texas Road Trip Itinerary FAQ
How many days does it take to drive round Texas?
Texas is big, and whereas this itinerary covers lots in 7 days, driving across the total state would take for much longer. You might spend weeks exploring all the pieces Texas has to supply!
What is the very best street journey within the USA?
There are many superb street journeys within the USA, however this Texas street journey itinerary is unquestionably top-of-the-line. It provides a mixture of historical past, tradition, nature, and enjoyable actions.That being stated, the Route 66 street journey is without doubt one of the most well-known and is a part of American tradition and recognized internationally as an effective way to discover the nation East to West.
What is the very best month to go to Texas?
The finest time to go to Texas is within the spring (March to May) or fall (September to November). The climate is nice, and there are lots of festivals and occasions throughout these seasons.
Texas Road Trip Itinerary: The Wrap Up
And there you have got it—the very best Texas street journey itinerary for a week-long journey. From the bustling metropolis life in Dallas and Austin to the charming small cities and scenic wine trails, this journey provides a bit of little bit of all the pieces. So pack your baggage, seize your map, and prepare for an unforgettable journey by means of the Lone Star State!