Small-Town Road Trips From Houston We're Definitely Taking This Summer

In this big beautiful nook of the body politic , road tripping is not only a really fun thing to do , it ’s kind of necessary , in the main because Texas is gigantic . We ’re sure you ’ve taken rides to Houston ’s little brothers – Austin , Dallas , and San Antonio , if anything , to give you fodder with which to make fun of them in the future . But there are a caboodle of small-scale , oft - overlook towns both in and out of state lines that you ’ll unquestionably want to take a tight facial expression at . Whether you ’re a medicine lover , seam & breakfast snob , or smoked centre aficionado , these small towns are worth jumping in the car for .

To keep things bare , we determine our lineup of approachable goal to those approachable in eight time of day or less ( or two Whataburger stoppage ) , and with population less than 125,000 .

Wimberley, TX

Distance from Houston:180 miles northwest , 2 hours 50 minSittin ’ moderately about halfway between San Antonio and Austin , this quiet resort is where you desire to unwind . If unlax means dive chief first into Jacob ’s Well , a natural artesian bound with a 140 ft inscrutable , mile - recollective limestone cave below it ( it ’s said to be the long underwater cave in Texas ) . Only experient cave loon are allow to go all the means down because it ’s pretty hazardous , but us regular family line still cliff jump off into 12 ft swimming golf hole and flow by the water . Afterward , you’re able to really unwind at one of Wimberley ’s many fabled locales , let in anoutdoor movie theater under the starsand some of theoldest whitey - tonks in the state .

Jefferson, TX

Distance from Houston:235 miles northeast ; 3 hour 40 minFancy yourself some layer and breakfast ? This historical town on the border of Louisiana has been dubbed the “ Bed and Breakfast capital of East Texas . ” We ’re not indisputable who it was vie with , but it ’s impressive nonetheless . The riverport was once one of the six large in Texas , and though that fact has change along with the times , the vintage tone of the town has managed to stay intact . Bring your SO to get romantic on a horse - drawn pusher orsteamboat drive , share a root beer swim bladder at an1870s general memory , peruse old-fashioned shop and highfalutin Greek - revival meeting domicile , and partake in the ultimate foreplay : a trace tour !

Natchez, MS

Distance from Houston:315 mile nor'-east ; 5 hoursThanks to a full-bodied history of blending cultivation – it was first a French fortress site in the former 1700s before being established as a town by the Spanish in the 1790s and dish out as the State Department capital for a hot min in 1817 , Natchez is a choice spot to get a taste of the South . No seriously , corrode everywhere , but especially atThe Castle Restaurant , with graceful Southern menu served to you in an original go-cart home setting , andBiscuits & Blues , where you’re able to get your grillades & grits with a side of grooves . On top of all that , its moss - cover , oak - draw street , gorgeous antebellum houses and cool heritage situation , gambling casino action at law old - school bar that call back to the raucous nineteenth - century interface days , and gentle on - the - Mississippi livin ’ make the borderline town wizardly as all inferno .

Gonzales, TX

aloofness from Houston:135 miles SW , 2 hoursRemember the Alamo ? Well perhaps you should also remember Gonzales – because not only is it home to the “ immortal 32 ” who made it to the Alamo in time to contend and snuff it alongside their fellow poor boy , it is also where the first shots were fired for Texas ’ independence . The street are practically choking with older - townspeople appealingness , with quaint inns , an one-time - timey pokey - plow - museum , and some first-class and cheap barbecue , to flush . WhileGonzales Food Marketmay look like a grocery store store ( because it is ) , you ’ll want make your way to the back , where you ’ll observe the third generation of the Lopez family serving up lamb ribs , oak tree - smoked brisket , and fatty blimp handmade from an erstwhile syndicate recipe .

Denton, TX

length from Houston:280 mi nor'-west ; 4 hoursSkip Dallas in favour of this indie college townsfolk on the northerly ridge of Dallas - Fort Worth . The overshadowed sibling metropolis forms the third part of what is know as the “ Golden Triangle of North Texas , ” but it often does n’t get the respect it deserves . They are quickly becoming a music mecca , so “ for now ” under - the - microwave radar live medicine scene is reason numero uno to make a visit . blast deep - fried Twinkies wrapped in chocolate - incubate bacon at theNorth Texas State Fair(August ) is reason numero do . Music sports fan should check outThe Abbey UndergroundandDan ’s Silverleaf(and mourn the recent closure ofRubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios ) .

Marfa, TX

space from Houston:600 geographical mile northwest ; 8 hoursWe do n’t know what ’s weirder : aminimalistic art installation in the centre of the desert , or themystery lightsthat have gone unexplained for over half a hundred . They are probably about adequate . This offbeat Ithiel Town is unfeignedly fascinating , drawing in nerveless small fry and celebs with hyperreal tactual sensation , including the aforementioned Prada artistry installation , galleries and boutique store , and a cosmopolitan dining scenery that equal those not in the middle of nowhere ( do n’t omit the retro museum that reduplicate as alate - night grill cheese parlor ) . Of note : road stumble a little further west and you ’ll rule yourself atBig Bend .

Lockhart, TX

Distance from Houston:156 miles northwest , 2 time of day 15 minFact : it ’s a tragedy if you have n’t made the immediate trip to this heater township . If you ’re really motivated , you could even make it solar day trip , just be trusted to factor in some time for sleeping off your kernel sweats . Lockhart is not only considered the BBQ Capital of Texas , it ’s also one of the most fabled barbecue destinations in the Earth . As such , you ’ll want to try all the hot spot , including but not specify to the Big Three –Black ’s Barbecue , Kreuz Market , andSmitty ’s marketplace . While you ’re at it , have inChisholm Trail Barbecue , too .

Natchitoches, LA

Distance from Houston:230 miles northeast ; 3 hours 40 minYou ca n’t live this tight to Louisiana without test one of the prescribed state solid food of Louisiana , and that ’s the Natchitoches meat Proto-Indo European . We ’ll give you one guess where the deep - fry savory pork and gripe pie originated . plurality in a few of those atLasyone ’s Meat Pie Restaurant(get some crawfish pies , too ) , then set off to explore the oldest village in the Louisiana Purchase , which also play legion to the former general storage in Louisiana and asweet gator park . Though the town is quite old , it ’s not hackneyed , especially during their annualJazz / R&B Festival , Christmas Festival and Festival of Lights , andMeat Pie Festival .

Fredericksburg, TX

Distance from Houston:230 mile northwesterly , 3 hours 45 minWe lie with it ’s not Napa Valley , but this Hill Country wine-coloured hub will do in a pinch . Plus it ’s , like , a million time cheaper . base in 1846 and name after Prince Frederick of Prussia , Fredericksburg ( aka Fritztown ) is known for it potent German influences . The magical , storied town is sodding when you involve a slight R&R , which you’re able to get at adorable B&Bs , but more significantly , with C&Cs – Cabernet Sauvignon and cheese . slay thewine route , and when you ’ve had enough of the grapeshot , keep the party going with biers and brat atFredericksburg Brewing Company . If you palpate like road tripping a little further , taking in the views from the hauntedEnchanted Rockis only a 20 minute ride aside .

Gruene/New Braunfels, TX

space from Houston:175 miles west , 2 hr 30 minIf you have n’t gone tubing on the Comal or Guadalupe Rivers , you ’ve been doing Texas wrong . But that ’s not the only reason claver this absolutely beautiful neck of the Sir Henry Joseph Wood . There ’s the famousGruene Hall , a 19th - C , tin - roofed dance hall ( the quondam in Texas ) where you may two - step and whisky photograph the night away to live music , for starters . Then there ’s the annual 10 - day salute to sausage that isWurstfest , more weenies and other smoked inwardness atThe New Braunfels Smokehouse , anantique / pickle shop hybrid , thefirst bar in Texas to attend women , another prospect to go to aSchlitterbahnwaterpark , and opportunities to fly - fish , wine predilection , and get a post - river health club massage .

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Jacob’s Well Wimberly Texas