Texas: 10 Places to See on a Road Trip, from San Antonio to
Explore Texas across 3,445 km visiting 10 iconic destinations including San Antonio's Alamo and Riverwalk, Big Bend National Park, the Hill Country's rolling landscapes, and cultural landmarks in Dallas, Fort Worth, and beyond. This comprehensive route covers the state's most significant natural wonders and historical sites.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Palo Duro Canyon (#10)
- End
- Big Bend National Park
- Stops
- 10
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Palo Duro Canyon (#10) — Texas's second-largest canyon system featuring dramatic red rock formations, scenic hiking trails, and vibrant geological layers spanning millions of years.
- Fort Worth (#9) — Historic cattle ranching hub transformed into a modern city renowned for its cowboy heritage, world-class museums, and authentic western culture.
- Kimbell Art Museum — Art museum in Fort Worth featuring paintings by Picasso and Goya
- Big Bend National Park (#7)
- Hill Country (#4)
- San Antonio (#1) — Major cultural center featuring the historic Alamo mission, picturesque River Walk lined with restaurants and shops, and rich Spanish colonial architecture.
- Palo Duro Canyon — Second largest canyon in the United States, located in the High Plains region of Texas
- Dallas — Major city near Fort Worth
- Sixth Floor Museum — Museum in Dallas dedicated to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
- Big Bend National Park — National park set in a dramatic meander of the Rio Grande, featuring Chisos Basin and Chihuahuan Desert
Useful for your trip
- Timing
- Visit Hill Country in spring when it's ablaze with wildflowers including the Texas State Flower, the Bluebonnet.
- Tip
- At Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, see more than one million bats fly out at sunset.
- Tip
- Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States after the Grand Canyon, with miles of hiking trails.
- Tip
- Fort Worth is known as 'Cowtown' and offers cowboy/cowgirl museums, rodeos, and cattle drives to experience Wild West culture.
- Timing
- El Paso has over 320 days of sunshine per year, making it ideal for outdoor activities like rock climbing, cycling, and horseback riding.
- Tip
- Big Bend National Park's Chisos Basin offers mountain views, while the Chihuahuan Desert features real-life roadrunners and coyotes.
- Avoid
- Trips to Ciudad Juarez across the border from El Paso have become too dangerous due to drug-related violence.
- Save money
- In Galveston, enjoy free Bolivar Ferry rides as part of your visit.
- Tip
- Austin's Capitol building is famously pink and even taller than the U.S. Capitol Building.
- Tip
- Houston's biggest attractions are concentrated in the Warehouse District, including the Downtown Tunnel System and Chase Tower Observatory on the 60th floor.
- Tip
- San Antonio's Riverwalk is a vibrant pedestrian area with restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues stretching along the San Antonio River in downtown.
Video on this route
10 Best Places to Visit in Texas - Travel Video