The good thing about Texas being so big (nearly 270,000 square miles to be exact) is that there’s no shortage of destinations worth visiting for a well-earned weekend getaway. Texas is home to charming small towns that will take you back in time, big cities with vibrant culture, and beautiful natural parks with endless outdoor adventures. Basically, whether you’re looking for a seasonal vacation, a family outing, or a trip with your girlfriends, you’ll never get bored or lack the Lone Star spirit. You may not be able to visit all of these 15 best Texas weekend destinations, but we encourage you to try.
Here are some great spots for a weekend getaway in Texas.
Fredericksburg
Stephen Sachs/Getty Images
Located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg is a great small town for a weekend getaway and is easily accessible from all major cities in Texas. The town was founded by German immigrants in 1846 and retains its authentic German heritage to this day. From over 100 wineries and tasting rooms to a bustling Main Street filled with shops, galleries, restaurants and beer gardens, there’s plenty to do when you visit Fredericksburg.
For a hearty breakfast, try the German pancakes at Old German Bakery & Restaurant. For safe transportation between wineries throughout the day, book the 290 Wine Shuttle. Visit Enchanted Rock State Park, a large pink granite dome that offers great views while hiking.
Fort Worth
Scott Thrasher
Fort Worth is a fascinating time-travel destination with a vibrant new vibe. Remnants of a bygone era remain, including weekly rodeos, honky-tonks and local cattle drives. The National Historic District is also home to new museums, restaurants, bars and a revamped entertainment hub, Mule Alley.
For shopping, you’ll find old-school brands like Lucchese Bootmakers and King Ranch Saddle Shop. Second Rodeo Brewing offers bottled cocktails in souvenir flasks. There’s ample seating both indoors and outdoors. Finally, check out the twice-daily bull runs on Main Street near the Cowtown Coliseum.
Port Aransas
This old-fashioned fishing village has been a nostalgic vacation spot for generations of Texas families. Take a car ferry to Mustang Island, a flat, narrow barrier island home to the town of Port Aransas. Fishing boats draw tourists to the Texas coast, but you can also enjoy more gentle activities like bird watching, lazing on the beach and sampling fresh seafood.
If you enjoy boating, Scarlet Lady Dolphin Adventures and Dolphin Docs Deep Sea Fishing offer scenic cruises to see the region’s friendly marine mammals swimming around the island, while booking an evening glow-low tour departs after dark for a unique perspective on the marine life from a transparent kayak lined with neon LED lights.
New Braunfels
Rush Jagoe
New Braunfels is a historic town at the confluence of the Comal and Guadalupe rivers in the Texas Hill Country, located between Austin and San Antonio. Relaxing river tubing trips make the town a great place to visit in the spring and summer, and it’s also home to the Gruene Historic District, home to Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas.
Lace up your cowboy boots and hit the dance floor at Gruene Hall, where live music plays every night. Enjoy dinner at The Gristmill Restaurant (order chicken fried steak!) located beneath Gruene’s iconic water tower on the site of a 19th century cotton threshing machine, or try a wine tasting flight at The Grapevine, where most of the selection is from Texas.
Terlingua
Tara Dunn
For a true Texas adventure, head west to Terlingua and nearby parks, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and Big Bend National Park. Known as a ghost town (due to an abandoned mining company) and now a remote tourist destination, it’s just the right amount of funky, and there are plenty of glamping sites to stay at during your stay.
Stay at the charming La Posada Milagro Guesthouse and walk to Starlight Theater Restaurant and Saloon, a combined eatery, live music venue and community hub that’s been a gathering place for decades, or head out exploring with Big Bend Boating and Hiking, which provides equipment and guides.
San Antonio
Mariah Tyler
This cultural hub is the perfect place to stroll the River Walk and sample authentic Tex-Mex cuisine. The historic Market Square and Alamo are the epicenter of River Walk tourism, and for good reason: Fiesta, the city’s annual spring festival, is usually held here every April. The festivities last for more than a week and are essentially a celebration of culture in the loudest, brightest, and most exuberant sense of the word.
Enjoy a sweet treat at Mi Tierra Café y Panaderia, an 80-year-old family-owned bakery and restaurant known for serving more than a dozen varieties of pan dulce, a traditional Mexican sweet bread. San Antonio’s first food hall, Pearl’s Bottling Department, offers a wide range of dining options and guests can stay at the attached Hotel Emma, built inside the old brewery.
Boerne
Deanger Trading Co., Ltd.
John Davidson
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Boehne (pronounced BUR-nee) is the perfect place for old-time fun, whether it’s a root beer float at an old-fashioned candy store, smiling faces along colorful Main Street or a splash in the Guadalupe River. Most of Boehne’s big action is centered around its vibrant downtown district, known as the Hill Country Mile, where dozens of antique and specialty shops line Main Street.
Visit The Dienger Trading Co., housed in a 137-year-old grocery store, a multi-purpose shop that combines a bistro, bakery and boutique all under one roof. Book one of the 34 rooms at The Kendall, a boutique hotel set in a restored circa 1859 stagecoach depot, and you’ll be within walking distance of everything Main Street has to offer.
Utopia
Brown W. Cannon III
You’ll see that this town is aptly named, as it’s tucked deep in Texas Hill Country. Surprisingly, many Texans have never been to this rural town, let alone heard of the two state parks tucked away in nature. Utopia sits squarely in the middle of Lost Maples State Natural Area and Garner State Park, family-friendly parks for camping and taking in the fall foliage.
In this secluded area, The Laurel Tree restaurant (open only on Saturdays) and Treehouse Utopia offer refuelling and unique accommodations. All four accommodations are built among centuries-old cypress trees.
Austin
Courtesy of Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Texas capital is known for its relaxed, laid-back atmosphere and vibrant live music scene, both of which can easily be enjoyed on a weekend trip. The best times to visit are spring and fall, when the mild weather allows you to enjoy plenty of outdoor activities and venues. You can also take day trips to the nearby small towns of Driftwood, Dripping Springs and Wimberley to soak up the Texas scenery and culture.
Stop by The White Horse in East Austin for a free two-step dance lesson or enjoy lessons and live music at legendary spot The Broken Spoke. Take in the downtown skyline as you bike or jog along Lady Bird Lake on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. Finally, enjoy traditional Tex-Mex fare at Matt’s El Rancho Tex-Mex, Taco Truck Discada, or Texas Brisket at La BBQ.
Marfa
The mural installation by John Cerny pays tribute to the 1956 film “Giants,” which was filmed in part in Marfa.
Robbie Caponet
Marfa, in West Texas, seems like the most unlikely town you could imagine. The nearest commercial airports are in El Paso and Midland, both a three-hour drive away. Since the 1970s, the town has become an unlikely magnet for curious Texans, artsy bohemians and anonymous celebrities, who continue to flock there for art, film and music festivals throughout the year.
Popular lodging options include the modern Thunderbird Hotel motel, the recently renovated Hotel St. George, and the historic 1930s Hotel Paisano, which served as the de facto headquarters during the filming of the 1956 classic movie “Giant,” starring James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor. Find unique trinkets and gifts at colorful textile boutique Garza Marfa, eco-friendly bath goods store Marfa Brand Soaps, and Lava Marfa, which stocks hand-picked vintage goods. Grab a table at Chef Alexandra Gates’ fine-dining restaurant, Cochineal.
Round Top
Win Myers
It’s easy to get distracted in Round Top by the extravagant celebrations of the three annual Antique Fairs, which offer all sorts of unexpected bargains, but there’s more to the town than just shopping. Visit Lawyer’s Round Top Café, family-run since 1987, and try their signature pies. Book a room at Hotel Lulu in the town center. The hotel consists of six restored historic bungalows (14 rooms total) and features an on-site restaurant and bar, formal and herb gardens, and a pool.
Dallas
Gabriella Herman
Dallas is the quintessential Southern city where you’ll feel equally comfortable in cowboy boots or stiletto heels. With a little bit of everything for everyone, Dallas is the perfect destination for a family getaway or a getaway with friends, with the city’s many sports teams, museums and shopping districts.
No matter what time of year, be sure to visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, a 66-acre garden filled with thousands of flowers in spring and pumpkin displays in fall, while the Dallas Arts District is home to the Dallas Museum of Art and 12 major performance venues.
Galveston
Tim Leviston/IM/Getty Images
Galveston is a charming year-round beach town offering a variety of seaside attractions, including the iconic Pleasure Pier amusement park and 32 miles of beautiful white sand beaches. Near these seaside attractions, you can explore museums and preserved Victorian homes, some of which offer ghost tours and other historic attractions.
Head to the Pleasure Pier along the iconic Galveston Seawall to enjoy nostalgic amusement parks, restaurants, and shopping, a tribute to the original Pleasure Pier that was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961. End your day with a basket of “famous fries” at Guides, a seafood joint that recently celebrated its 112th anniversary.
Wimberley
Getty Images/Scott Sanford
Located 45 minutes southwest of Austin is the small town of Wimberley, Texas. Located at the confluence of Cypress Creek and the Blanco River and surrounded by rolling hills and sprawling countryside, Wimberley has a lot to offer visitors to the Hill Country.
Visit Wimberley Glassworks, which opened in 1992, to see colorful glassblowing demonstrations, browse for souvenirs in the town square and stay overnight at charming outdoor spots like The Yurutopian or Collective Hill Country.
