The Finest Texas Highway Journey Itinerary: 1 Week within the Lone Star State
Are you able to expertise one of the best of Texas? Texas is not only the biggest continental state within the US, it’s a spot the place every thing is greater and bolder. From the bustling cities to the serene countryside, Texas gives a novel mix of historical past, tradition, and pure magnificence.
You’ll begin your journey in Dallas, dwelling to one of many largest airports within the US, the DFW Airport. This implies 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 every thing from cowboy tradition to area 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 Price’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. Every cease gives one thing distinctive and unforgettable.
So, put in your cowboy boots, seize your map, and let’s hit the highway for the last word Texas highway journey journey!
Map of Texas Highway Journey Itinerary
Day 1: Exploring Dallas and Fort Price
Morning in Dallas
Begin your highway journey with a morning spent in Dallas! There’s heaps to see right here, however I’d suggest trying out a few of the unimaginable museums on provide. The Sixth Flooring 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 rather well executed.
When you’re extra within the temper for some nature and rest, 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 glorious alternative the place you’ll be able to see unique birds, fish, and even penguins! Dont miss the three story waterfall or the large overhead shark tank!
Afternoon in Fort Price
Within the afternoon, drive the 40 minutes over to Fort Price. Your first cease needs to be the Fort Price Stockyards. This historic district is like stepping again in time to the Previous West. It’d sound actually tacky, however this was one among my favorites on this journey! You may watch a cattle drive on the Stockyards Guests focus on 4 pm, discover the western themed retailers, and even see a rodeo on the Cowtown Coliseum for those who’re fortunate. The rodeos listed here are the actual deal and though I’ve seen many rodeos in Wisconsin, Texan Rodeos are identified to be one of the best within the nation, so don’t miss out!
Ensure to have dinner on the The Capital Grille if consuming steak is your factor, or you can strive Rise Soufflé, an attention-grabbing souffle bar which is rather well priced and has the primary spot on the town! Go to the Basement Bar after dinner for a extremely enjoyable Honky Tonk ambiance and nice drinks to stay music.
Keep in Downtown Fort Price on the Hampton Inn & Suites for one of the best worth with one of the best location. Breakfast is admittedly unimaginable right here, so value trying out!
Day 2: Discovering Waco
Full day in Waco
Get 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 Higher”. It’s an important place to buy dwelling items and luxuriate in some tasty meals from the meals vans. Subsequent, for those who’re into archeology and historical past, go to the Waco Mammoth Nationwide Monument. Right here, you’ll be able to see the stays of mammoths that lived 1000’s of years in the past. It’s really actually fascinating!
Have lunch at Jake’s Texas Tea Home for enjoyable native ambiance and nice meals.
Subsequent, head to the Dr Pepper Museum. Do you know Dr Pepper was invented in Waco? The museum is rather well executed and interactive, with plenty of attention-grabbing reveals.
When you’d favor to go to Waco’s heart, there may be 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 purchasing, eating and artwork district the place you’ll be able to store until you drop!
For dinner go to Rudy’s for the wonderful brisket after which drinks at J.S. Barnett’s Whiskey Home. I cherished the outside seating on a sizzling night and the selection of whiskey was unimaginable!
We stayed the evening at Home2 Suites by Hilton whereas in Waco. We bought an important value and cherished the total kitchen and comfortable mattress within the flat. Extremely really helpful!
Day 3: Austin Adventures
Morning and Afternoon in Austin
Go away 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 best way.
Downtown Austin is walkable and vigorous. Begin your day with a stroll down South Congress Avenue, generally often known as SoCo, for one of the best have a look at Austin’s native vibe. Have lunch at Magnolia Cafe for an important burger or glorious brunch!
Then drive right down to City Lake Metropolitan Park and take a look at the Woman Hen Lake Hike-and-Bike Path. It’s a scenic path that’s good for strolling or biking and one of the best ways to get an important 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 highway journeys because the Wisconsin parks have turn out to be a staple in our weekly excercise.
Alternatively you’ll be able to 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 find out about Texas historical past and authorities.
Within the night, be sure that to catch a stay music present on Sixth Avenue. Austin is understood for its vibrant music scene on this iconic avenue, so be sure that to select a speakeasy or stay music venue as you stroll the strip. This yr it’s being renovated although, so some venues could also be closed. Alternatively you can take a look at SoCo north of ladybird for an important night out.
After an thrilling day, relaxation up in Austin. The Fairmount is a superb choice and is rather well situated. It additionally has a parking zone, which was nice for us! Tomorrow, you’ll head to the charming city of Fredericksburg.
Day 4: Fredericksburg Appeal
All Day in Fredericksburg
Drive the 1 hour and a half to Fredericksburg, within the morning. Alongside the best way you’ll be able to take a look at Wildseed Farms, an area nursery and wildflower farm. You’ll need to do some wine tasting and go to the flower and butterfly fields. It’s such a unique expertise that it’s undoubtedly value a cease on the best way. Have a chew for lunch right here within the meals courtroom and proceed in your manner.
Fredericksburg is understood for its German heritage and pleasant ambiance. Spend the afternoon strolling the primary strip, the place you’ll discover distinctive retailers, cafes, and bakeries. For dinner strive Fredericksburg Brewing Firm, proper on the primary drag.
It’s the oldest brewery in Texas and has a superb German menu to pair with its craft beer. I cherished the restored Nineties constructing and the beer backyard! To not be missed!
Attempt the Inn on Baron’s Creek for a comfortable evening in an important location. I actually loved having a glass of wine by the creek. In addition they have free parking which implies you’ll be able to park and stroll to the primary road and again. Relaxation up so that you’re prepared for the Hill Nation Wine Path tomorrow!
ay 5: Hill Nation Wine Path and San Antonio
Morning in Hill Nation
Go away Fredericksburg early and drive the Hill Nation Wine Path. This scenic route is dotted with vineyards the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in wine tasting and study concerning the native wine manufacturing. Drive down scenic outdated quantity 9 Freeway to Consolation and make a cease on the Bending Department vineyard for a wine tasting and a tour of the vineyard
Then preserve taking place to Medina lake and take the 1283 into San Antonio for a stupendous view of the lake and the encircling rolling hills. I like lake surroundings and the views listed here are similar to Michigan’s most lovely lakes.This drive takes a complete of about 2.5 hours, however is certainly well worth the detour for those who’ve bought the time.
Drive proper into the middle and keep at San Antonio River Stroll. This space is stuffed with eating places, retailers, and leisure.Attempt the Lodge Valencia Riverwalk for one thing proper on the river with a boutiquey really feel which is nicely priced. You’ll love the situation too!
Spend your night strolling alongside the River Stroll and luxuriate in a pleasant dinner by the water. We cherished the enduring 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
Begin your day with a go to to The Alamo, a historic website that performed a vital function within the Texas Revolution. It’s strolling distance from the San Antonio River Stroll so it’s straightforward to get to. When you favor one thing completely different, you’ll be able to discover the Pure Bridge Caverns, a surprising underground world filled with spectacular rock formations.
It’s about half-hour drive from the middle however undoubtedly value your time for those who’re in for a little bit of journey! There’s a 180 foot descent into the caves, some climbing and navigating round some steep drops, so its not for anybody with diminished mobility. The excursions take about an hour and a half although so plan accordingly.
Afternoon and Night in Corpus Christi
After your morning in San Antonio, drive the two hours to Corpus Christi. Cease for lunch halfway at Smolik’s Smokehouse proper off the freeway for one of the best barbecue on the town. Subsequent you’ll drive into city and head straight to the Packery Channel Park for some nice kayaking, fowl watching, and even fishing!
When you’d wish to see the white sand seashores, be sure that to drive throughout to South Padre Island and drive alongside the seashore. The dunes are lovely and the Malaquite Seashore customer heart may be very informative. Park right here and stroll right down to the seaside to get a really feel for the great thing about the world.
You possibly can additionally take a look at the USS Lexington Museum, a historic plane service turned museum. It’s such a cool place to go to, filled with stair ladders, corridors and bulkheads. A extremely enjoyable place to discover. You’ll take pleasure in it even for those who’re not that a lot of a historical past buff, however skip it for those who’ve bought younger youngsters in tow.
Spend the evening in Corpus Christi at Bluff’s Touchdown Marina & Lodge. It’s a really cute, unassuming place proper on the water with an important 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 Again 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 executed for those who go away proper after breakfast. Cease in Victoria for lunch on the Dockside Boiling Pot and have the crawfish. It’s spicy and scrumptious! To not be missed!
On arriving in Houston, your first cease needs to be the Area Middle. It’s an incredible place the place you’ll be able to find out about area exploration and even see an actual spacecraft. If museums are extra your fashion, go to the Houston Museum of Pure Science or the Museum of Positive Arts. Each are inside strolling distance of one another and promise an important 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 subsequent morning, but when you should get again to Dallas that night it’s doable to have an early dinner and hit the highway proper after.
When you can keep the evening, have dinner on the Rainbow Lodge for glorious wild sport. Keep on the Wanderstay Boutique Lodge for a younger, hip really feel which is rather well priced.
Texas Highway Journey Itinerary FAQ
What number of days does it take to drive round Texas?
Texas is large, and whereas this itinerary covers quite a bit in 7 days, driving across the total state would take for much longer. You possibly can spend weeks exploring every thing Texas has to supply!
What’s the greatest highway journey within the USA?
There are lots of wonderful highway journeys within the USA, however this Texas highway journey itinerary is certainly the most effective. It gives a mixture of historical past, tradition, nature, and enjoyable actions.That being mentioned, the Route 66 highway journey is among the most well-known and is a part of American tradition and identified internationally as an effective way to discover the nation East to West.
What’s the greatest month to go to Texas?
The very best time to go to Texas is within the spring (March to Might) or fall (September to November). The climate is nice, and there are numerous festivals and occasions throughout these seasons.
Texas Highway Journey Itinerary: The Wrap Up
And there you will have it—one of the best Texas highway 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 gives a little bit little bit of every thing. So pack your baggage, seize your map, and prepare for an unforgettable journey by way of the Lone Star State!