Texas Travel Guide
Texas is bigger than most people expect — and more varied. In the same trip, you can hike volcanic rock formations and slot canyons in Big Bend, stand at the highest point in the state in the Guadalupe Mountains, and eat your weight in barbecue in Austin. Tim and I have visited Texas multiple times, spending most of our time in the national parks of west Texas, but also putting serious time into Austin and San Antonio.
In this guide, we’ll help you plan your Texas trip with links to our detailed park guides, hiking trails, city posts, and road trip itineraries.
Top Experiences in Texas
Big Bend National Park. Isolated, remote, wild, rugged…this is Big Bend National Park. Located on the southwestern corner of Texas, within the Chihuahuan Desert, is an extraordinary mountain range that is a haven for hikers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Additionally, due to its remote location and low level of light pollution, Big Bend was designated as an International Dark-Sky Park in 2012. Thus, star gazing is a must in Big Bend!
Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Canyons, gypsum sand dunes, fossilized coral reefs, the Chihuahuan Desert, and some of the highest peaks in Texas…these are all things that you can see in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The park is a hikers paradise with intriguing trails to the Top of Texas and through tight slot canyons. Here you can also explore the Salt Basin, an area of snow white sand dunes with an enchanting view of the Guadalupe Mountains.
Big Bend Ranch State Park. Big Bend Ranch State Park is awesome. It has all of the ingredients of a perfect outdoor destination: easy but fun hiking trails, low crowds, and a beautiful scenic drive. Plus, its small size makes it easy to explore if you are short on time.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is the second largest canyon in the country, and one of the most beautiful locations in Texas. Here there are opportunities to hike, mountain bike, horse-back ride, and camp along the canyon’s vibrant walls and around unique geological features.
Colorado Bend State Park. If you are looking to spend more time in the rugged outdoors, visit Colorado Bend State Park. With towering waterfalls, untamed hiking trails, beautiful swimming holes, and deep caves to traverse, this park is a nature-lovers paradise.
Padre Island National Seashore. Padre Island National Seashore is located on a 70 mile long barrier island in south-east Texas. With such a vast space and few roads, you can drive on the sand to find your own isolated beach paradise. Or, join the party at the National Seashore where there are restaurants, bars, and entertainment. On the beach you can camp, hike, swim, fish, and go boating.
Natural Bridge Caverns. Just outside of San Antonio lies Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas’ largest commercial cave. The caverns contain large colorful formations, rooms longer than a football field, and deep winding passageways that travel down 180ft. Tours will guide you through the caverns. If you are looking for an adventure, certain tours take you climbing, crawling, and repelling through narrow passageways.
San Antonio. San Antonio is a city of history, beauty, and delicious food. Here you can learn about the battle between Mexican forces and Texas defenders, and you can see the sites of San Antonio’s five Spanish missions. In the city, walk along San Antonio’s urban waterway past soaring trees and Spanish and Mexican architecture. And, as the Culinary Capital of Texas, you won’t want to miss San Antonio’s fantastic restaurants.
Austin. Austin Texas… the live music capital of the world. With over 250 live music venues spread throughout the city, there is always something going on here. Aside from the epic music scene, there are lots of other unique things to do in Austin. Learn the Texas Two Step, wait in line for some of the best barbecue in the country, or watch millions of bats soar into the air at dusk.
Amarillo. Located at the midway point of Route 66, Amarillo is a fascinating city bursting with outdoor adventure and Texan culture. Spray-paint on vintage cars rising out of the ground at Cadillac Ranch, visit the city’s historic district, learn about Amarillo’s history at outstanding museums, and challenge yourself to eat a 72 oz Texan steak at the Big Texan Steak Ranch.
Gruene Historic District. Within the city of New Braunfels lies Gruene, a historic old town that contains a dark history. Exploring Gruene makes for a great day-trip from Austin or San Antonio. Here you can learn about Gruene’s past, shop at the old Gruene General Store, and enjoy live music at Texas’s oldest dance hall.
Dallas. Lively nightlife, authentic Texan cuisine, the nation’s largest arts district, live performances, and the home to the Dallas Cowboys. Here you can also learn the legacy of former president John F. Kennedy.
Houston. Explore one of Texas’ biggest cities with over 150 museums, sports events, live music, large outdoor spaces, and a delicious culinary scene.
San Antonio
The Best of San Antonio, Texas in 24 Hours
San Antonio is a fun city to visit in Texas, even if you have limited time. The River Walk and the Alamo are the highlights, but there are a few more great places to explore. If you have just one day in San Antonio, you have just enough time to tour the best spots in the city. Here are five places to visit during your visit to San Antonio.
Austin
Best Things to Do in Austin, Texas (+ Where We Ate)
With over 250 live music venues, a fabulous food scene, and a few genuinely weird-in-the-best-way experiences, there’s a lot to love. Here are the best things to do in Austin, Texas — the ones we’d do again without hesitation.
Big Bend
Big Bend National Park packs an extraordinary range of terrain into one place: the volcanic Chisos Mountains, the wide Rio Grande canyon, and the stark Chihuahuan Desert. It’s remote, it’s wild, and it absolutely earns the drive.
How to Plan a Trip to Big Bend National Park
Everything you need to know to plan a trip to Big Bend, from the top things to do to the best time of year to plan your visit.
15 Best Hikes in Big Bend National Park (By Area & Difficulty)
Big Bend National Park is one of the most underrated hiking destinations in the United States. Tucked into the southwestern corner of Texas along the Rio Grande, it packs an extraordinary range of terrain into one park — slot canyons, volcanic rock formations, a full mountain range, and miles of river canyon trails. We visited […]
25 Best Things to Do in Big Bend National Park
Discover the best things to do in Big Bend National Park, including the must-see highlights, unique experiences you won’t find anywhere else, and practical tips to help you plan your visit. Big Bend National Park is one of those places that genuinely surprises you. Tim and I had heard it described as remote and rugged, […]
3 Days in Big Bend National Park: The Perfect Itinerary
Three days in Big Bend National Park is the ideal amount of time to experience all three regions of the park: the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, the Chisos Basin, and Rio Grande Village. We visited in early March and spent our days hiking slot canyons, crossing the border into Mexico, and standing at the edge […]
Balanced Rock Hike: A Short but Sweet Hike in Big Bend National Park
The Balanced Rock hike is one of our favorite short hikes in Big Bend National Park and one of the most rewarding for the effort required. The trail is only 2.2 miles round trip, with just a brief stretch of rock scrambling near the end, making it accessible for most hikers and genuinely fun for […]
Big Bend Ranch State Park: Things to Do with Limited Time
Big Bend Ranch State Park is an overlooked gem in west Texas. Visitors come to this area to explore Big Bend National Park, but what many don’t know is that there is an amazing state park located right around the corner. Big Bend Ranch State Park is awesome. It has all of the ingredients of […]
Emory Peak Trail, Big Bend: Everything You Need to Know
Emory Peak is the highest point in Big Bend National Park and the Chisos Mountains, and the hike to the summit is one of the best things you can do in the park. The 10.4-mile out-and-back gains nearly 2,500 feet of elevation and finishes with a short rock scramble to the top, where 360-degree views […]
Ernst Tinaja Trail: Big Bend’s Most Underrated Adventure
The Ernst Tinaja Trail is one of the most unique hikes to do in Big Bend National Park. This is a short, easy trail through a slot canyon, featuring a series of waterholes located within colorful layers of limestone rock. Those looking for a little more adventure can continue the hike past the water-filled pools and rock […]
South Rim Trail Loop + Emory Peak | Complete Hiking Guide
The South Rim Trail is the best full-day hike in Big Bend National Park. This 12.6-mile loop starts in the Chisos Basin and climbs steadily to the South Rim, where sweeping views over the Chihuahuan Desert make every switchback worth it. Add on the short but steep scramble up Emory Peak, the highest point in […]
Guadalupe Mountains
Guadalupe Mountains National Park sits about an hour east of El Paso and is one of the quietest, least-visited parks in the country. The hiking here is outstanding, from the steep climb to Guadalupe Peak (the highest point in Texas) to the slot canyon scramble of Devil’s Hall and the stunning fall foliage of McKittrick Canyon. If you’re road-tripping through west Texas, this park pairs perfectly with Big Bend and deserves at least a full day, ideally two.
15 Best Things to Do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Tim and I have hiked a lot of national parks, and Guadalupe Mountains is one that genuinely surprised us. We expected a remote desert park with a few good trails. What we found instead was a place with incredible variety — a slot canyon, a fossilized coral reef trail with almost no one on it, […]
Devil’s Hall Trail Guide: What to Expect | Guadalupe Mountains NP
The Devil’s Hall Trail is one of the most unique hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It’s a 4.2-mile round-trip route through Pine Springs Canyon that ends at a narrow limestone slot canyon with 50-foot walls and just 15 feet of width at its narrowest point. Along the way, you’ll scramble through a rocky wash, […]
Guadalupe Peak Trail Guide: Hiking the Highest Point in Texas
Guadalupe Peak, at 8,751 feet, is the highest point in Texas, and for hikers who make the goal of standing on the highest point in every state they visit, this one is a must. Tim and I hiked to the summit during Spring Break, arriving at the Pine Springs Trailhead parking lot at 7:30 am […]
How to Hike the McKittrick Canyon Trail to Pratt Cabin, the Grotto & the Notch
I hiked the McKittrick Canyon Trail to the Notch on a March morning during spring break, one of the busiest weeks of the year in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. I started early, around 8 am, and had the canyon almost entirely to myself. By the time I turned around and headed back, I passed hundreds […]
How to Hike the Permian Reef Trail in Guadalupe Mountains
The Permian Reef Trail is an awesome hike in the McKittrick Canyon section of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Leave the crowds behind as you ascend to the top of a Wilderness Ridge with spectacular views into McKittrick Canyon and the surrounding area. While everyone else is hiking the other two trails in this area, the […]
How to Plan a Trip to Texas
Most outdoor-focused visitors anchor their Texas trip around the two national parks in the far west of the state:
- Big Bend National Park — slot canyons, desert mountains, Rio Grande canyon, and some of the darkest skies in the country
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park — the highest peak in Texas, ancient fossilized reef trails, and a quiet, crowd-free experience
These two parks pair naturally together on a road trip, and both are within a few hours of each other along US-62/180. If you’re adding cities, Austin and San Antonio are best visited as a separate leg. They are a full day’s drive from west Texas.
For a complete loop that combines both parks with New Mexico’s national parks, see our 10-Day Texas New Mexico Road Trip Itinerary ↓
10 Day Texas New Mexico National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
On this 10-day Texas New Mexico road trip itinerary, you will visit four national parks plus make a quick detour to a gem of a state park that just might be one of the big highlights of the trip. Go hiking in Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains, explore the underground wonderland of Carlsbad Caverns, and sled on dunes as white as snow at White Sands National Park.
Best Time to Visit Texas
The best time to visit Texas depends on where you’re going, but for the national parks, fall and spring are the sweet spots. We visited Big Bend in early March and the conditions were ideal — warm days in the desert, cool nights, and manageable crowds. Wildflowers were starting to bloom along the canyon trails, and the Rio Grande was running clear. Spring is also slightly drier than fall, which matters if you’re hoping for blue skies on the scenic drives.
Summer is brutal in west Texas. Temperatures routinely climb above 100°F in Big Bend, and the exposed trails become genuinely dangerous midday. If you’re visiting June through August, plan all hiking for early morning and be prepared with more water than you think you need.
Winter brings cold nights — near freezing at elevation in the Guadalupe Mountains — but the parks are quiet and uncrowded, which has its appeal.
Quick seasonal summary:
- Spring (March–May): Best overall. Mild temps, wildflowers, some spring break crowds in March.
- Summer (June–Aug): Extremely hot in west Texas. Better for Austin/San Antonio city visits.
- Fall (Sept–Nov): Excellent. Cooler temps return, more rainfall than spring.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Cold nights, very low crowds. Parks remain open.
USA Travel Ideas
Here are more ideas of things to see and do in the USA.
20 Epic Hikes in the US National Parks
With 63 national parks and thousands of miles of hiking trails, your options are endless for exploring the American national parks. We narrowed down the list for you to 20 of the best hikes in the US national parks, 20 amazing ways to explore this beautiful country. Hike to the tallest peaks, through massive canyons, […]
20 Fun, Short Hikes in the US National Parks
One of the best ways to experience the national parks is from a hiking trail. Hike to amazing viewpoints, deep into the forests, through scenic canyons, and to hidden lakes and waterfalls. Along the way, you have a better chance of spotting wildlife and potentially leaving the crowds behind. Here are 20 fun, short hikes […]
Best USA Road Trips: 18 Ideas for Your Next Big Adventure
One of the best ways to explore the USA is on a good old-fashioned road trip. Cruise along Route 66, road trip through the Florida Keys, explore the American Southwest, or even drive from coast to coast. In this guide, we share 18 of the best USA road trips…18 great ideas for your next big […]
Our 15 Favorite US National Parks: A Few May Surprise You
Stretching from the South Pacific, across the United States and into the Caribbean, are 63 national parks. These national treasures are filled with scenic drives, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, wildlife, historic sites, and endless opportunities for adventure. In this guide, we cover 15 of the best national parks in the USA and what […]
US National Parks List: All 63 Parks, Map & Free Printable Checklist
There are 63 national parks in the United States, and we’ve visited 56 of them, from the remote wilderness of Denali to the coral reefs of the Virgin Islands. We’re a family of avid hikers who have spent over a decade exploring these parks, from multi-day backcountry trips to scenic drives with kids in tow. […]
US National Parks
The Ultimate Guide to the 63 US National Parks
The US National Parks make an excellent travel destination, whether you are planning a cross-country road trip or a weekend getaway. In our guide to the national parks, get detailed trip planning information, advice on which parks to visit by season, and itineraries to help simplify your travel planning process.