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U.S. Route 60 Amarillo, TX - Cadillac Ranch📷 Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0

Road trips in Texas

19 road trips and 52 hand-picked places in Texas, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping.

Trip guides
19
Places
52

Campsites in Texas 2,706

Trip guides

Road trips through Texas

Swimming holes and granite domes in the Texas Hill Country – Hamilton Pool© Trey Perry · CC BY 3.0
290
RV & family trips

Swimming holes and granite domes in the Texas Hill Country

174 mi6 stops3 days
Texas Gulf Coast – landscape photo of a beach and wavesPhoto by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
361
Coast & island drives

Texas Gulf Coast

318 mi5 stops3 days
Texas Panhandle canyons – assorted color plastic toy lotPhoto by Pretty Pink on Unsplash
27
Things to do in…

Texas Panhandle canyons

109 mi5 stops2 days
Big Thicket: East Texas pines and bayous – Shores of Bowman Lake (4498357728)© GlacierNPS · Public domain
69
National park loops

Big Thicket: East Texas pines and bayous

172 mi7 stops3 days
Davis Mountains: forts, stars and a desert spring – Fort Davis - Fort Davis National Historic Site - 20220823084954© Riis2602 · CC BY-SA 4.0
118
Scenic byways

Davis Mountains: forts, stars and a desert spring

92 mi7 stops3 days
Down the Guadalupe: maples, cypress and dance halls – Lost Maples Texas Creek Crossing 2022© Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
27
RV & family trips

Down the Guadalupe: maples, cypress and dance halls

122 mi7 stops3 days
Guadalupe Mountains: from El Paso to the top of Texas – Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 18© Kevin Floyd · CC BY 4.0
62
National park loops

Guadalupe Mountains: from El Paso to the top of Texas

312 mi8 stops3 days
The River Road to Big Bend: Presidio, Terlingua and Santa Elena – A portion of Fort Leaton, a Texas State Historic Site, on the edge of Presidio, along the Rio Grande River in Brewster County, Texas LCCN2014630294© Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain
170
Scenic byways

The River Road to Big Bend: Presidio, Terlingua and Santa Elena

275 mi9 stops4 days
Texas Hill Country on US-290: LBJ country, Luckenbach and wildflowers – Pedernales Falls State Park Headquarters Overlook© Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
290
Things to do in…

Texas Hill Country on US-290: LBJ country, Luckenbach and wildflowers

147 mi9 stops3 days
Spanish missions and the Frio River canyonlands – Mission San Jose (4439122280)© Chris M Morris · CC BY 2.0
16
Scenic byways

Spanish missions and the Frio River canyonlands

163 mi7 stops3 days
Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco – Fort Worth - Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District - 20220817134154© Riis2602 · CC BY-SA 4.0
35
Themed road trips

Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco

300 mi9 stops3 days
The Rio Grande Valley: South Padre Island and subtropical refuges – Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) (51155208103)© Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
77
Coast & island drives

The Rio Grande Valley: South Padre Island and subtropical refuges

247 mi8 stops4 days
Maple canyons, rock art and desert mountains – by camper from Austin through the Hill Country to Big Bend – Lost Maples Main Parking Lot 2021© Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
90
In-depth road trip guides

Maple canyons, rock art and desert mountains – by camper from Austin through the Hill Country to Big Bend

567 mi11 stops7 days
Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport – Tyler Texas Rose Garden Stone Patio 2019© Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
20
Things to do in…

Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport

240 mi7 stops3 days
West Texas and southern New Mexico: dunes, caves and Big Bend – Sand Dune Ripples (Unsplash)© Todd Vogel slipacre · CC0
90
National park loops

West Texas and southern New Mexico: dunes, caves and Big Bend

563 mi8 stops5 days
Chihuahuan Desert parks – Carlsbad Interior Formations© Eric Guinther, User:Marshman · CC BY-SA 3.0
62
National park loops

Chihuahuan Desert parks

427 mi5 stops3 days
Route 66, part two: Oklahoma City to the Pacific – assorted color plastic toy lotPhoto by Pretty Pink on Unsplash
66
Classic American drives

Route 66, part two: Oklahoma City to the Pacific

1,582 mi17 stops8 days
White sand, bats and a rock reef: by camper from White Sands to Carlsbad and the Guadalupe Mountains – Sand Dune Ripples (Unsplash)© Todd Vogel slipacre · CC0
70
In-depth road trip guides

White sand, bats and a rock reef: by camper from White Sands to Carlsbad and the Guadalupe Mountains

329 mi9 stops6 days
Neon, diners and endless horizons – Route 66 by camper from Chicago to Santa Monica – GeminiGiantMoved© David Quigley · CC BY 4.0
66
In-depth road trip guides

Neon, diners and endless horizons – Route 66 by camper from Chicago to Santa Monica

2,326 mi18 stops21 days
RouteSuggested daysDistanceDrivingStops
Swimming holes and granite domes in the Texas Hill Country3174 mi3 h 07 min6
Texas Gulf Coast3318 mi5 h 40 min5
Texas Panhandle canyons2109 mi1 h 57 min5
Big Thicket: East Texas pines and bayous3172 mi3 h 04 min7
Davis Mountains: forts, stars and a desert spring392 mi1 h 39 min7
Down the Guadalupe: maples, cypress and dance halls3122 mi2 h 11 min7
Guadalupe Mountains: from El Paso to the top of Texas3312 mi5 h 34 min8
The River Road to Big Bend: Presidio, Terlingua and Santa Elena4275 mi4 h 54 min9
Texas Hill Country on US-290: LBJ country, Luckenbach and wildflowers3147 mi2 h 37 min9
Spanish missions and the Frio River canyonlands3163 mi2 h 55 min7
Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco3300 mi5 h 21 min9
The Rio Grande Valley: South Padre Island and subtropical refuges4247 mi4 h 25 min8
Maple canyons, rock art and desert mountains – by camper from Austin through the Hill Country to Big Bend7567 mi10 h 07 min11
Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport3240 mi4 h 17 min7
West Texas and southern New Mexico: dunes, caves and Big Bend5563 mi10 h 03 min8
Chihuahuan Desert parks3427 mi7 h 38 min5
Route 66, part two: Oklahoma City to the Pacific81,582 mi28 h 15 min17
White sand, bats and a rock reef: by camper from White Sands to Carlsbad and the Guadalupe Mountains6329 mi5 h 52 min9
Neon, diners and endless horizons – Route 66 by camper from Chicago to Santa Monica212,326 mi41 h 33 min18
Editor's picks

Places worth the detour in Texas

U.S. Route 60 Amarillo, TX - Cadillac Ranch© Mobilus In Mobili · CC BY-SA 2.0
Editor's pick
Oddities

Cadillac Ranch

Amarillo, TX
Big Bend National Park – Big-Bend-NP© Martin D. Adamiker · CC BY-SA 3.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend, TX
USA - Texas - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - 52980660037© Alexander Hatley · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Palo Duro Canyon

Canyon, TX
Big Thicket National Preserve – Dasychira manto 5251707© Annika Lindqvist · CC BY 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Big Thicket National Preserve

Kountze, TX
McDonald Observatory – a landscape with dry grass and treesPhoto by Gower Brown on Unsplash
Editor's pick
Views

McDonald Observatory

Fort Davis, TX
Balmorhea State Park – Balmorhea cienaga 2009© Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Balmorhea State Park

Toyahvale, TX
Lost Maples State Natural Area – Lost Maples Main Parking Lot 2021© Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Vanderpool, TX
Guadalupe Peak Trail (Pine Springs) – Pinery Trail 3© Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Guadalupe Peak Trail (Pine Springs)

Pine Springs, TX
Santa Elena Canyon BIBE© R Hensley from US · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Santa Elena Canyon

Big Bend, TX
Editor's pick
Views

Willow City Loop

Willow City, TX
Mission San José – Mission San Jose (4439122280)© Chris M Morris · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
History

Mission San José

San Antonio, TX
Black-crested Titmouse in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge© Dan Pancamo · CC BY-SA 2.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

Alamo, TX
USA - Texas - Caddo Lake State Park - 51351503284© Alexander Hatley · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Caddo Lake State Park

Karnack, TX
San Antonio River Walk – Military Plaza, San Antonio, Texas - panoramio© Alex Garrido · CC BY 3.0
Editor's pick
History

San Antonio River Walk

San Antonio, TX
Countdown clock aThe Big Texan Steak Ranch© Cullen328 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food

The Big Texan Steak Ranch

Amarillo, TX
MidPoint Café – Adrian, Texas, USA - Flickr - pom'.© Pom' from France, European Union · CC BY-SA 2.0
Food

MidPoint Café

Adrian, TX
Prada Marfa – white and blue concrete building during daytimePhoto by Shelby Cohron on Unsplash
Oddities

Prada Marfa

Valentine, TX
The Alamo – Chairman of the Republican Party Allen West 02© Jonmallard · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

The Alamo

San Antonio, TX
Enchanted Rock 5-8-2015 02 (39043488654)© gosdin · CC0
Nature

Enchanted Rock

Fredericksburg, TX
Hamilton Pool Preserve – Hamilton Pool March 2016 2© Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nature

Hamilton Pool Preserve

Dripping Springs, TX
Chisos Basin Campground – Chisos Basin Trailhead© Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Camping

Chisos Basin Campground

Big Bend, TX
Padre Island National Seashore – 2026 Pre Event-GC2601a OB N RGB-raw-186244 0118261757270 082 RGB1© NOAA / NODD · Public domain
Nature

Padre Island National Seashore

Corpus Christi, TX
Campsite Village Creek State Park Texas 2023© Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
Nature

Village Creek State Park

Lumberton, TX
USA - Texas - Lake Livingston State Park 2021 - 51216400275© Alexander Hatley · CC BY 2.0
Nature

Lake Livingston State Park

Livingston, TX

FAQs

What are the best road trips in Texas?

Popular routes include Swimming holes and granite domes in the Texas Hill Country, Texas Gulf Coast, Texas Panhandle canyons and Big Thicket: East Texas pines and bayous. CampingSpirit has 19 trip guides that pass through Texas, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map.

Which places in Texas are worth a detour?

Our editors recommend Cadillac Ranch, Big Bend National Park, Palo Duro Canyon, Big Thicket National Preserve, McDonald Observatory and Balmorhea State Park.

Nearby

Oklahoma 6Louisiana 7New Mexico 19Arkansas 6Kansas 3Mississippi 8Colorado 20Missouri 9