We love Houston, we really do. We love it for its impressive food and bar scene, its patio and rooftop life, and, yes, even for its absolute bonkers weather because that means pool season can pretty much be a year-round thing if you want it enough. All of this to say, that doesn’t mean we don’t like to get away every now and then. So we’ve put together a little weekend getaway bucket list, and each trip is within road-trippin’ distance from Houston (six-hour drives, tops, which in Texas terms is basically a trip around the corner).
With outdoorsy adventures, breezy escapes, and IRL ways to explore the beautiful state of Texas, here’s where to take a drive when you need to get the hell outta Dodge this season.
Austin, Texas
Distance from Houston: 165 miles; ~2.5-hour drive
Houston may have a love-hate relationship with little bro Austin, but we’re not too stubborn to admit that our state capital offers a little taste of everything, from badass food and food truck parks to beer bars, epic outdoorsy activities, and a live music scene that draws folks from all over the planet. Make your way to the Greenbelt, a winding 12-mile trail perfect for biking, hiking, and ‘gramming; pay a visit to Lady Bird Lake, where kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, and biking reign supreme; take in panoramic city views from atop Mount Bonnell; and because this is Texas and any day can end up being a hot one, pop by Barton Springs for a refreshing, well-earned dip. Hungry? Set up a picnic at Zilker Park (home to the always-astounding Austin City Limits festival), or hit up a host of barbeque legends, from la Barbecue to LeRoy and Lewis.
Garner State Park, Texas
Distance from Houston: 285 miles; 4.5-hour drive
With Big Bend roughly 640 miles and 5 billion worlds away (qualifying it for far more than just a quick weekend road trip), Garner State Park is your best bet for a scenic adventure in the Great Outdoors. In the hotter months you’ll want to cool off with a float along the winding, 68-degree spring-fed Frio River, but when it’s cool enough out, a trek through the park’s 1,700-plus acres of beautiful, color-changing foliage needs to be a part of your Texas bucket list. Hikers and bikers can enjoy 16 miles of picturesque trails, with wildlife viewing, a 30-foot-deep cave, breathtaking rock overlooks, and shady oaks. Camping under the stars is also a Lone Star essential, but if that’s all a bit too rustic for you, try glamping at a full-on lodge.
Photo courtesy of Visit New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Distance from Houston: 350 miles; 5.5 hours
Visiting New Orleans is like sinking your teeth into a sweet slice of bourbon pecan pie or indulging in a powdery beignet. It’s a bit of both at the same time, actually. The Big Easy isn’t just one of the greatest food and drink destinations close to Houston—it’s one of the greatest food and drink destinations in the damn world. This historic Southern destination also boasts stunning architecture, boisterous energy, and a one-of-a-kind bar scene that we’re sure you’ve heard absolutely nothing about.
There’s no shortage of awesome things to do, here. Live like a local would and experience the French Quarter sans tourist traps. Drink in history at the city’s coolest bars. Jam to funk, blues, jazz, and zydeco at all the essential Big Easy live music clubs. Trek through artsy neighborhoods and scour dusty record store shelves for choice jazz finds. Dig into voodoo culture and spook yourself at NOLA’s many graveyards and haunted buildings.
Then get to eating. You can spend a day (or three) putting together an epic food crawl — classic beignets and the city’s best po-boys; punch-packing gumbo from cult favorites like Dooky Chase’s, Gabrielle, and Lil’ Dizzy’s; all the seafood and oysters; and anything from the very best restaurants in New Orleans at this very moment.
Caddo Lake State Park, Texas
Distance from Houston: 230 miles; 4-hour drive
Naturally formed Caddo Lake headlines any journey to the East Texas Piney Woods. Dripping in Spanish moss, sprawling cypress trees, lush bayous, and serene wetlands, the labyrinth-like waterway is a paddler’s dream year-round. Bust out your kayak or consider a spooky swamp tour aboard a 28-foot pontoon, then finish the day with a necessary dose of Catfish and Chicken Fried Steak at Shady Glade Cafe.
Photo courtesy of El Cosmico
Marfa, Texas
Distance from Houston: 600 miles; 8.5 hours
Though admittedly a lengthier trip, this desert oasis should be on any traveler’s Texas bucket list. An artsy escape from Houston’s bustling borders, head to the diminutive West Texas town for peace, quiet, and thought-provoking art. Culture aficionados can pop over to myriad creative arenas like Ballroom Marfa and Marfa Open Gallery, or sharpen up their knowledge of Marfa’s vibrant history with a tour of the Marfa & Presidio County Museum. You’ll need to eat, too; so take a cue from Matthew McConaughey and load up with homestyle Burritos at Marfa Burrito. Or linger over Iced Spanish Lattes, Barbacoa Tacos, and the local newspaper at The Sentinel. Lookin’ for a full-on feast? Wild Hunted Texas Boar, Rabbit Croquetta, and Buttermilk Pie at Cochineal will satisfy. Raise a spritzy cocktail over mouth-watering dinner specials at Marfa Spirit Co.
San Marcos, Texas
Distance from Houston: 165 miles; 2.5 hours
While there are plenty of excellent small towns worth the trip from Houston, San Marcos is clearly the coolest of them all. The low-key college town has slowly but surely been making gains with its very own brand of quirkiness. You’ll want to check out the San Marcos River alongside all the natural beauty the area has to offer, including the 560-acre Purgatory Creek Natural Area and Ringtail Ridge Greenspace, ideal for mountain bike shredding.
Before you leave town, make sure to snag some fuel at the Saturday morning farmers market downtown or grab a few smoked kolaches and cinnamon delights from Dos Gatos. Afterward, sample suds from local breweries like Middleton Brewing and Roughhouse Brewing. For a full meal, opt for Smoked Brisket from Hays Co. Bar-B-Que or Black’s BBQ, or mix things up at Blue Dahlia, a stylish bistro that transports its open-faced Tartines, buttery Croissants, and Drunken Mussels straight from its original Austin home. As for lodging, skip the tired old chain hotels and treat yourself to a room at nearby Kyle, Texas’ luxe Sage Hill Inn & Spa (15 minutes from San Marcos) or get off the grid at one of Getaway’s chicly appointed glamping cabins in Wimberly, about 20 minutes from the heart of downtown.
Catch a vibe at the Round-Up Saloon in Dallas, Texas. | Photo by Molly Polus for Thrillist
Dallas, Texas
Distance from Houston: 240 miles; ~3.5-hour drive
From hot restaurants and snazzy cocktail dens to charmingly dusty dive bars and endless seasonal activities (some including man’s best friend), Dallas has all your vacation needs covered. Take a spin through the city’s impressive arts and culture scene, including marveling at lush maples and unique artifacts at the Crow Museum of Asian Art downtown, or hopping east to Deep Ellum to tour the striking 42 Murals Project. This massive metropolis also hosts some pretty excellent walking tours, so be sure to hop on festive crawls filled with street tacos and slushy margaritas or fascinating local landmarks along a Hop-On Hop-Off excursion.
Tyler, Texas
Distance from Houston: 200 miles; 3.5 hours
A 200-mile straight shot north of Houston awaits Tyler, Texas, where you’ll find the gorgeous Tyler State Park. Expect trees that soar 100 feet into the sky, a 64-acre spring-fed lake, and all sorts of outdoorsy opportunities like kayaking, fishing, hiking, and, most importantly, camping and s’more-ing. Equally as important? The nearby Piney Woods Wine Trail, where a cluster of scenic vineyards and wineries can’t wait to crack open a bottle for you and yours.
Photo courtesy of Altstadt Brewery
Fredericksburg, Texas
Distance from Houston: 235 miles; 4-hour drive
Smack dab in the middle of beautiful Texas Hill Country lies a charming, romantic little village where you can get some R&R at a B&B, aided by a healthy dose of C&C—Cabernet and cheese—because Fredericksburg is absolutely loaded with open-air wineries. Cruise down the wine road and you’ll find 19 operations within striking distance, including Narrow Path, Pedernales Cellars, Messina Hof, and Grape Creek Vineyards, AKA the “Tuscany of Texas.” For delicious eats, load up on sausages and German brews at The Auslander, get fancy with Duck Schnitzel and Flammkuchen at Otto’s German Bistro, and say “Prost!” with a few steins at Altstadt Brewery. When it comes time to sleep it all off, book a stay at the luxurious Hoffman Haus, Messina Hof Winery’s own Manor Haus retreat, or the off-the-radar Trois Estate, where suites and villas are carved right into the rocky landscape and offer dazzling views of another regional must, Enchanted Rock. The beautiful Hill Country Herb Garden (complete with a bistro, gift shop, and garden) makes a nice, quiet next-day activity before your journey back home.
Lockhart, Texas
Distance from Houston: 155 miles; ~2.25-hour drive
Know what’s always in season? Endlessly tender smoked meat—and this flavor-packed smoketown just happens to be one of the best places in the Lone Star to find it. Considering its proximity to Houston, this one’s a no-brainer, and you could even make it a day trip if you so please… just don’t forget to pack a cooler so you can bring a few platters of the good stuff back with you.
You need to tackle at least two of the Big Three: Black’s Barbecue (open since 1932), Kreuz Market (est. 1900), and Smitty’s Market (open since 1948). At Black’s, third generation pitmaster Kent Black is slow smoking his barbecue with a simple rub and local Post Oak wood to put out showstoppers like the behemoth Beef Rib, a nine-inch-long bone cocooned by about two inches of fatty, marbled beef, and hand-stuffed and -tied sausages made from an 80-year-old recipe that has truly stood the test of time. Elsewhere, Kreuz rocks solid German-influenced barbecue (try the old world Smoked Wieners), and you can dive head-first into the holy Texas trinity of brisket, pork ribs, and sausage over at Smitty’s (throw in a Pork Chop or Shoulder Clod, while you’re at it). If you somehow have room for one more, Chisholm Trail Barbecue, opened by a Black’s alum in 1978, offers a drive-through peddling some of the region’s top barbecue sandwiches (feast and drive at your own risk).
Unsplash/Chris Ainsworth
Galveston Island, Texas
Distance from Houston: 50 miles; 1 hour
Outside of the dog days of summer, the quieter island life is pretty damn sweet. Plan a pampering stay at spots like the nearly two-centuries-old Tremont House, ritzy and (sometimes ghostly) Grand Galvez, palatial San Luis Resort, or hottest new spot, the timelessly Texan Hotel Lucine (complete with an awesome fine-ish dining restaurant, The Fancy; or kick it old-school at throwback classics like Gaido’s Seaside Inn and Beachcomber Inn. Before and after you hit the sands, you can spend your time strolling the historic Strand District, a 70-block jewel teeming with gorgeous Victorian buildings housing museums, boutiques, theaters, shops, and La King’s Confectionery, a retro sweets shop stocked with ice cream, dipped chocolates, and taffy (don’t forget your mask, of course). Hop around the island and you’ll find local dining gems like Mosquito Cafe, Shrimp ‘N Stuff, Porch Cafe, Rudy & Paco, and Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar. And before you leave, pick up a couple six-pack souvenirs from local suds outpost Galveston Island Brewing Company.
Photo courtesy of Visit San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Distance from Houston: 200 miles; 3-hour drive
Are the River Walk, the Alamo, and the Pearl touristy? Yes. Are they still cool to see if you’ve never been? You bet. Settle into a hotel along the River Walk and start with some early morning French toast and Sweet Cream Pancakes at local institution Schilo’s, or check into the Pearl District’s swanky Hotel Emma and check out the area’s badass lineup of restaurants, cafes, and bars. Those looking for a little historical action should definitely stop by the legendary Alamo to re-learn its epic story, then spend the rest of your time roaming the grounds of the city’s gorgeous Spanish colonial missions. Or, get absolutely no culture at all and stick to raging at Six Flags Fiesta and SeaWorld because thundering roller coasters and wacky whirlpools are still top-notch fun. Eat like a local at the best of the best before popping into one of the city’s coolest bars afterwards for good measure. On your way out of town, grab Blackberry Toast, Quiche, and Ham and Egg Muffins at Bakery Lorraine, or visit the Pearl’s weekend Farmers Market for artisan snacks and coffee for the road.
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