Texas road trip: 12 days from Dallas to Austin, 9 stops
Explore central Texas across 876.9 km featuring Dallas's cultural landmarks and barbecue scene. This route highlights the state's diverse attractions from urban art districts to historic museums, showcasing Texas's rich heritage and culinary traditions.
- Distance
- 1498.6 km
- Duration
- 12 days
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Day 1 - Arriving in Texas
- End
- Day 11 - Waco & Austin
- Stops
- 9
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Day 1 - Arriving in Texas — The vast Lone Star State welcomes travelers with sprawling landscapes, diverse culture, and gateway cities that set the tone for exploration across America's second-largest state.
- Day 2 - Dallas
- Day 3 - Fort Worth — Historic cattle-ranching hub featuring authentic Western heritage, the iconic Stockyards district, and world-class museums celebrating frontier culture and art.
- Day 5 - Space Center & Galveston — Space Center Houston is a science museum and the official visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In 2014, it was designated a Smithsonian Affiliate…
- Day 6 -Houston — Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas. Its territory extends to Galveston Bay. Excursions to the Houston Space Center, located southeast of the city, are popular among…
- Day 7 - Corpus Christi & Goliad — Corpus Christi and Goliad are two historically and geographically linked destinations in South Texas, located approximately 110 km (70 miles) apart. They form a popular route that…
- Day 8 - San Antonio — Home to the UNESCO World Heritage River Walk, the historic Alamo mission, and vibrant Mexican-American culture blending colonial architecture with modern charm.
- Day 10 - Snows BBQ & Austin
- Day 11 - Waco & Austin
Useful for your trip
- Timing
- Arrive at popular barbecue restaurants 30 minutes before opening to secure a spot in line, as they fill up quickly.
- Food
- Beef ribs at barbecue spots are very expensive (around $55) and only ordered once during the entire 12-day trip - consider budget accordingly.
- Food
- Try the Hot Mess - a baked sweet potato with barbecue on top - it's a popular item at this barbecue restaurant.
- Avoid
- Deep Ellum is hard to park in and parking is expensive, especially on weekends and at night.
- Tip
- Buy tickets in advance for the Sixth Floor Museum as it's a popular spot.
- Timing
- Plan to spend at least an hour exploring the Dallas Art Museum, which is free to enter.
- Transport
- Downtown Dallas is walkable with a 2.5-mile walking route connecting major sites like the Sixth Floor Museum, JFK Memorial, Reunion Tower, and Pioneer Plaza.
- Tip
- Reunion Tower is 561 ft tall with a 360-degree observation area; be prepared to wait in line for elevators to reach the top.
- Food
- Dallas Farmers Market has a 26,000 sq ft Food Hall with multiple restaurant options, plus a farmers market for fresh produce.
- Tip
- Fort Worth Water Gardens features a dramatic 38-foot waterfall and is best visited early morning when it's less crowded.
- Transport
- The flight from Ontario to Dallas takes approximately 2.5 hours.
- Tip
- Since Texas is very large, this itinerary focuses on the central portion; a separate video covers the western part including Big Bend.
Video on this route
The Ultimate Texas Road Trip: A 12-Day Journey Through the Lone Star State