When you’re on the lookout for some concepts for some nice street journeys from Houston, listed here are our prime suggestions!
There may be a lot to do in Houston, Texas! From visiting the well-known House Middle Houston, to touring the Museum District, to roaming round Buffalo Bayou Park, you possibly can spend days having fun with town lifetime of Houston.
However if you wish to discover extra of Texas and the encompassing states, strive one among these street journeys from Houston! There are such a lot of nice locations inside driving distance from Houston, whether or not you need to drive for just a few hours or for a complete day.
You possibly can head all the way down to the seaside and discover lovely locations like Mustang Island or Galveston Island. Or you possibly can head inland to discover the vintage outlets of a small city or go wine tasting in Hill Nation.
Those that need to enterprise additional can drive to the distant areas of Texas resembling Palo Duro Canyon or Large Bend Nationwide Park. Take a look at mountain climbing and biking trails and immerse your self within the landscapes of the US Southwest.
From close by places which might be simply an hour’s drive away, to bold journeys throughout the state, listed here are a number of the prime street journeys from Houston!
When you want extra locations, listed here are a number of the prime locations to go to in Texas.
18 Enjoyable Street Journeys From Houston
Discover the outskirts of Bayou Metropolis with any of those wonderful street journeys. Whether or not you need mountain climbing routes via the wilderness, full of life cities, or coastal getaways, there are such a lot of methods to broaden your horizons and discover one thing new round Houston!
1-Day Street Journeys
When you’re on the lookout for locations which might be only a quick drive away from Houston, listed here are some nice choices. All of those locations are underneath 3 hours away from town, so you possibly can simply have a brief street journey and be again in Houston by the top of the day!
San Antonio
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 197 miles
- Driving time: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Positioned within the coronary heart of Texas, San Antonio is a metropolis that seamlessly blends wealthy cultural heritage with trendy attraction. Famend for its iconic image, the historic Alamo, town preserves a pivotal chapter in American historical past.
Past its historic significance, San Antonio thrives as a vibrant metropolis with a various culinary scene, full of life arts and leisure, and a dynamic riverfront. The scenic River Stroll, lined with outlets and eating places, winds its manner via town. The River Stroll is a good place to walk round or take a river cruise.
The town’s cultural fusion is clear in its festivals, resembling Fiesta, the place the spirit of the group comes alive in colourful parades and occasions.
From the historic San Antonio missions to the up to date power of its neighborhoods, San Antonio captures the essence of Texas hospitality, making it a compelling vacation spot for each historical past lovers and people in search of a full of life city expertise.
Galveston Island
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 55 miles
- Driving time: 1 hour
One other enjoyable street journey from Houston is Galveston Island. Depart town and head for the coast, whereas having fun with quaint cities, roadside seafood shacks, and occasional glimpses of wildlife alongside the way in which.
After touring about an hour south of town, you’ll attain Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico, a city that boasts miles of pristine seashores that beckon sun-seekers and water lovers alike.
The island’s historic strand district, with its well-preserved Nineteenth-century structure, gives a nostalgic glimpse into the previous, providing a spread of outlets, galleries, and eating places. Guests can discover the fascinating Moody Gardens, the enchanting Bishop’s Palace, and the long-lasting Pleasure Pier, a waterfront amusement park.
Learn subsequent: The Excellent 3 Days In Houston Itinerary
Austin
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 165 miles
- Driving time: 2 hours and half-hour
Head to the capital metropolis of Texas on a street journey from Houston! There are such a lot of enjoyable issues to do in Austin, a metropolis that embraces its status because the “Dwell Music Capital of the World”. The town has an eclectic and energetic music scene that permeates its streets, venues, and festivals.
Austin’s distinctive character is additional mirrored in its out of doors life-style, with locals and guests alike having fun with the picturesque Woman Chook Lake, the paths of Zilker Park, and the long-lasting Congress Avenue Bridge, residence to a well-known bat colony.
The town’s meals scene is various and celebrated, starting from meals vans serving mouthwatering tacos to upscale eating places providing creative delicacies. Bounce on a secret meals tour to style the most effective meals within the metropolis! From out of doors journey to dwell music, Austin makes an awesome place for a day journey from Houston.
Waco
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 183 miles
- Driving time: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Nestled alongside the banks of the Brazos River in central Texas, Waco is a enjoyable metropolis that’s inside simple driving distance of Houston.
Waco has garnered nationwide consideration in recent times, thanks partly to the magnificently restored Magnolia Market on the Silos, a life-style advanced created by HGTV’s “Fixer Higher” stars, Chip and Joanna Gaines.
Guests can discover Waco’s historic district, the place century-old buildings home boutique outlets and eateries, or take a stroll alongside the scenic Riverwalk. The Texas Ranger Corridor of Fame and Museum gives a deep dive into the state’s legislation enforcement historical past, whereas the Cameron Park Zoo presents a family-friendly escape. Spend just a few hours having fun with all the joy of Waco earlier than driving again to Houston!
Sam Houston Nationwide Forest
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 47 miles
- Driving time: 45 minutes
Slightly below an hour’s drive from Houston is Sam Houston Nationwide Forest. Spanning over 163,000 acres in southeastern Texas, right here you possibly can enterprise into the nice outside through the East Texas piney woods, serene lakes, and winding trails.
Mountain climbing, tenting, and birdwatching are common actions inside the forest, the place guests can discover the 128-mile Lone Star Mountain climbing Path. There are additionally some nice biking trails and alternatives for horseback driving via a various array of landscapes.
The forest’s centerpiece, Lake Conroe, gives alternatives for fishing and water recreation. Wealthy in biodiversity, the Sam Houston Nationwide Forest shelters numerous plant and animal species, making it a chief spot for nature commentary and images.
With its proximity to city facilities and a plethora of outside actions, the forest stands as a pure oasis, inviting locals and vacationers alike to immerse themselves in the fantastic thing about Texas wilderness.
Lake Charles
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 144 miles
- Driving time: 2 hours and 10 minutes
You possibly can really discover a little bit of Louisiana on a day street journey from Houston! Lake Charles, located within the coronary heart of southwestern Louisiana, is a metropolis enriched with a singular mix of cultural vibrancy and pure magnificence.
The town’s namesake, Lake Charles, is a picturesque freshwater lake providing a scenic backdrop for out of doors actions resembling boating, fishing, and birdwatching.
Nestled inside the area’s lush landscapes, Lake Charles embraces its Cajun and Creole heritage, evident in its full of life festivals, distinctive delicacies, and vibrant music scene. The town’s downtown space is adorned with historic structure, eclectic boutiques, and a thriving arts group.
With world-class on line casino resorts including a contact of pleasure to the native scene, Lake Charles stands as a captivating vacation spot the place Louisiana’s wealthy traditions harmonize with up to date aptitude.
Discover extra distinctive issues to do in Lake Charles, Louisiana!
Weekend Street Journeys
These street journeys from Houston are completely suited to a weekend getaway! Most of them are a couple of 3-4 hour drive from Houston. The space from Houston is a bit far to achieve in someday, however these locations are perfect for a protracted weekend away from town.
Dallas
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 239 miles
- Driving time: 3 hours and half-hour
Dallas is one other nice weekend journey to make from Houston. Identified for its towering skyline, town embraces a cosmopolitan vibe whereas retaining its Texan roots.
Dallas is a cultural hub with a thriving arts district, world-class museums just like the Dallas Museum of Artwork, and the long-lasting Sixth Flooring Museum at Dealey Plaza, which chronicles a pivotal second in American historical past. Take a look at Bishop Arts District or feast on the many conventional barbecue joints.
From the colourful power of the Deep Ellum leisure district to the scenic fantastic thing about the Katy Path, Dallas presents a compelling mix of city pleasure and out of doors leisure. Dallas beckons vacationers to discover its various choices within the coronary heart of the Lone Star State.
When you want extra concepts within the space, try these day journeys from Dallas!
Fort Value
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 262 miles
- Driving time: 3 hours and 50 minutes
Fort Value and Dallas are each an identical distance from Houston, so you can simply mix each into the identical journey! After exploring Dallas, head over to Fort Value and discover the city’s wealthy cowboy heritage.
Fort Value’s most original attraction is the historic Stockyards Nationwide Historic District, the place cattle drives and rodeos pay homage to its cowboy legacy. When you’re spending the evening and also you don’t should drive, bask in a Stockyards pub crawl so you possibly can expertise the native saloons.
Or discover the extra refined facet of town. The Fort Value Cultural District is a haven for artwork lovers, internet hosting famend museums just like the Kimbell Artwork Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Artwork. Sundance Sq., within the coronary heart of downtown, presents a vibrant mix of buying, eating, and leisure, whereas the Fort Value Water Gardens present a serene oasis within the metropolis middle.
Caddo Lake State Park
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 234 miles
- Driving time: 3 hours and 48 minutes
Only a quick distance from Houston is likely one of the state’s most lovely parks, Caddo Lake State Park. Dwelling to the biggest pure lake in Texas, the state park sprawls throughout cypress swamps, bayous, and Spanish moss-draped bald cypress bushes, creating an otherworldly ambiance.
Caddo Lake State Park presents quite a lot of out of doors actions, together with mountain climbing trails that wind via the luxurious forest, offering glimpses of the various wildlife. Guests can discover the lake’s intricate waterways by canoe or kayak, immersing themselves within the serene fantastic thing about the cypress-lined channels.
Birdwatchers will discover the park to be a haven, because it hosts a plethora of migratory and resident hen species. With its distinctive ecosystems, scenic waterways, and alternatives for each leisure and journey, Caddo Lake State Park is a fascinating vacation spot for these in search of a tranquil escape into the guts of nature.
Lafayette
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 220 miles
- Driving time: 3 hours and 25 minutes
Lafayette, the guts of Acadiana in Louisiana, radiates a particular cultural power that captivates guests with its vibrant Cajun and Creole heritage.
The Historic District showcases charming structure and presents a pleasant stroll via boutiques, galleries, and eateries. Lafayette is a culinary haven, the place the spicy flavors of gumbo, crawfish étouffée, and boudin replicate the area’s culinary prowess.
The encompassing pure magnificence, together with close by Avery Island with its famed Tabasco sauce manufacturing unit, provides to Lafayette’s attract, making it a vacation spot that seamlessly blends cultural authenticity with a heat Southern welcome. It’s a brilliant cool vacation spot for a weekend journey from Houston!
Take a look at extra issues to do in Lafayette when you’ve got time!
Corpus Christi
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 211 miles
- Driving time: 3 hours and quarter-hour
Corpus Christi is a sun-soaked vacation spot on the Texas Gulf Coast that makes a preferred street journey from Houston. Boasting miles of sandy seashores alongside the glowing waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi is a paradise for seaside lovers and water lovers.
The town’s iconic bayfront options the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay, a floating museum housed in a World Conflict II plane provider, and the Texas State Aquarium, offering an enchanting look into the area’s marine life. You can too immerse your self within the metropolis’s historical past with an thrilling ghost tour!
Proceed your journey by heading over to Mustang Island, a surprising barrier island proper subsequent to Corpus Christi. This is likely one of the most scenic drives in southern Texas!
Texas Hill Nation
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 289 miles
- Driving time: 4 hours and 25 minutes
Embarking on a weekend street journey from Houston to the Texas Hill Nation unveils a fascinating journey via various landscapes and charming small cities. As you permit town behind, the surroundings transforms into rolling hills, vineyards, swimming holes, nation roads, and expansive ranches.
In Texas Hill Nation, there are such a lot of cool locations to discover. Take a look at Fredericksburg, a small city recognized for its wineries, boutique outlets, historic structure, and German heritage. The scenic Willow Metropolis Loop gives a picturesque drive, particularly in the course of the wildflower season.
Cease by the long-lasting city of Luckenbach, the place the laid-back ambiance and dwell music encapsulate the Hill Nation spirit. Get pleasure from a leisurely afternoon at one of many area’s many wineries, savoring the regionally produced merchandise of Texas wine nation.
You can too go to the enchanting city of Wimberley, recognized for its charming sq., artwork galleries, and the refreshing waters of the Blanco River. Or discover Dripping Springs and its iconic Hamilton Pool. With its mixture of pure magnificence, cultural richness, and relaxed vibes, a weekend street journey to the Texas Hill Nation presents an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of Houston.
Longer Street Journeys
These on the lookout for longer street journeys from Houston can deal with any of those wonderful routes. Whether or not you need to discover the huge landscapes of Texas, or enterprise into one other state resembling Louisiana or Arkansas, listed here are some lengthy street journeys which might be about 5+ hours away from Houston.
South Padre Island
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 374 miles
- Driving time: 5 hours and 45 minutes
South Padre Island, nestled on the southern tip of Texas, is a sun-drenched paradise recognized for its beautiful seashores and vibrant coastal ambiance. Stretching alongside the Gulf of Mexico, the island presents a tropical escape with comfortable sands, clear waters, and a plethora of outside actions.
In style amongst beachgoers, water sports activities lovers, and nature lovers, South Padre Island gives alternatives for dolphin-watching, kiteboarding, and sea turtle encounters.
The island’s laid-back vibe extends to its full of life beachfront scene, that includes beachfront bars, seafood eating places, and vibrant nightlife. With its heat local weather, year-round festivals, and a various vary of points of interest, South Padre Island is likely one of the prime getaways from Houston!
You can too strive a 10-Day Texas Street Journey if need to see extra of the state.
Palo Duro Canyon
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 613 miles
- Driving time: 9 hours
Although it’s fairly a distance from Houston, a street journey as much as Palo Duro Canyon is nicely value it. Positioned within the rugged Panhandle area of Texas, Palo Duro Canyon is a wide ranging testomony to the state’s various and expansive landscapes.
Because the second-largest canyon in the USA, Palo Duro boasts vibrant, multicolored rock formations, steep cliffs, and a surprising array of geological options. It’s even referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Texas”.
Guests can discover the canyon via mountain climbing, mountain biking, or scenic drives, immersing themselves within the rugged magnificence and the wealthy historical past of the area, together with the long-lasting Lighthouse Rock formation.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park presents tenting alternatives, permitting nature lovers to increase their keep and absolutely recognize the tranquility and grandeur of this pure marvel within the coronary heart of the Lone Star State.
New Orleans
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 351 miles
- Driving time: 5 hours and quarter-hour
The well-known metropolis of New Orleans is only a quick distance from Houston at solely round 5 hours away! You possibly can simply spend a weekend or longer on this metropolis that’s steeped in historical past, music, and culinary delights.
Positioned alongside the banks of the Mississippi River, New Orleans is understood for its vibrant power and distinctive mix of French, African, and American influences. The French Quarter, with its iconic structure and full of life streets, embodies the spirit of town. Jazz music fills the air and the aroma of Creole delicacies wafts from famend eating places.
From the historic St. Louis Cathedral to the full of life ambiance of Bourbon Road, New Orleans invitations guests to discover its enchanting streets, experience its musical soul, and savor the distinct flavors that make it a one-of-a-kind vacation spot within the American South.
Large Bend Nationwide Park
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 563 miles
- Driving time: 8 hours and half-hour
Tackle a mighty Texas street journey by touring from Houston to Large Bend Nationwide Park. Located within the rugged landscapes of southwest Texas, you’ll get to drive via the variety of the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem.
Encompassing the winding Rio Grande, towering canyons, and majestic mountain ranges, the park presents a dramatic panorama of geological wonders. Guests can discover the Chisos Mountains, residence to scenic mountain climbing trails such because the Window View Path, offering breathtaking vistas of the desert under.
The Rio Grande, which kinds the park’s southern boundary, presents alternatives for river journeys and glimpses into the interconnectedness of the park’s ecosystems. With its hanging desert flora, star-studded evening skies, and a way of solitude amidst the huge expanse, Large Bend Nationwide Park beckons adventurers, hikers, and nature lovers to immerse themselves within the untamed fantastic thing about this distant and fascinating nook of Texas.
Scorching Springs
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 400 miles
- Driving time: 6 hours and half-hour
One other distinctive vacation spot that you would be able to go to close to Houston is Scorching Springs, Arkansas, a captivating metropolis famend for its thermal waters and wealthy spa historical past.
The centerpiece of town is Scorching Springs Nationwide Park, the place guests can witness the distinctive sight of sizzling water effervescent up from the earth’s inside. Bathhouse Row, a historic district inside the park, showcases elegant bathhouses from the early twentieth century, reflecting town’s heyday as a spa vacation spot.
The town seamlessly blends its pure wonders with a vibrant downtown that includes artwork galleries, boutiques, and a various culinary scene. From mountain climbing scenic trails to indulging within the soothing waters of the historic bathhouses, Scorching Springs invitations guests to expertise a pleasant fusion of nature, historical past, and leisure within the coronary heart of Arkansas.
Little Rock, Arkansas
- Driving distance from downtown Houston: 434 miles
- Driving time: 6 hours and 50 minutes
Final however not least on our listing of epic street journeys from Houston is the capital metropolis of Arkansas. Little Rock showcases a mix of antebellum structure, trendy city facilities, and luxurious inexperienced areas.
The River Market District serves as a vibrant hub for eating, buying, and leisure, whereas the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum stands as a testomony to town’s political significance. Little Rock Central Excessive College Nationwide Historic Website commemorates a pivotal second within the civil rights motion, highlighting town’s position in shaping the nation’s historical past.
With its cultural points of interest, riverfront magnificence, and welcoming group, Little Rock invitations guests to discover its various choices and expertise the nice and cozy hospitality of the capital metropolis of the Pure State.
Discover extra enjoyable issues to do in Little Rock!
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