This beautiful fall weather is just begging to be enjoyed — and what better way to do that than with a little fall getaway?
Texas is a big state, y’all, so we called in reinforcements from our pals at ATXtoday and SATXtoday to help us with this round-up. Austin and San Antonio are not included in this list, as we’ll leave those guides to the experts.
Explore these 10 Lone Star State destinations for a short road trip.
Relax on the restaurant patios surrounding Klyde Warren Park. | Photo by @liurongqing
Foodie forays
Dallas | ~35 minutes east
Don’t forget to pack your appetite as you spend a day across the metroplex to explore an eater’s paradise at the Dallas Farmers Market.
Fredericksburg | ~4 hours southwest
Plan a weekend trip to the Texas wine capital and explore vineyards and tasting rooms.
Boerne | ~4.5 hours southwest
Work up an appetite for fresh farm-to-table recipes at The Dienger Trading Co. after a cave tour.
Artistic escapes
Waco | ~1.5 hours south
Get ready to style your home with picks from Magnolia Market at the Silos + stop by the Dr. Pepper Museum to learn the secret 23 flavors.
Luckenbach | ~4 hours south
Thanks to Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, this small Central Texas town is a country music haven.
Marfa | ~7 hours southwest
Drive into the sunset for this West Texas artist paradise with larger-than-life roadside art and the miniature fake Prada store.
Hike, skip rocks, and soak up the sun while you search for dinosaur tracks at the state park. | Photo by @dinovalleysp
Outdoor adventures
Dinosaur Valley State Park | ~1 hour southwest
Hike through history in Glen Rose + peek in the Paluxy River for sauropod tracks from the land before time.
Colorado Bend State Park | ~3 hours southwest
Explore 35 miles of trails and hike to a 70-ft waterfall in Bend.
Jacob’s Well | ~3.5 hours south
Take a drive down to Wimberley for a dip in this enchanting swimming hole.
Galveston Island | ~5 hours southeast
The beach is hot in the summer — but fall is a perfect time to look for shells along the Gulf of Mexico.
Readers’ road trip recs
Fort Worthians are hitting the road. Last week, we asked about your road trip preferences, and here’s what y’all said:
It’s not really a road trip until you drive at least three hours.
Set that GPS for “The Wild” because Fort Worthians want to get outside and explore nature — as long as we don’t have to sleep outside.
While we might not be a camping bunch, we’re not afraid to try different hotels, inns, and rentals.
But no need to book a double room — whether it’s a romantic getaway or best friend adventure — the perfect road trip is just for two.
And if you can’t decide on what to listen to, set the playlist to shuffle with these varied recommendations:
- “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus
- “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson
- Audible books
- Rockabilly
- Oldies
- 80s
- America’s Greatest Hits
- British Invasion
