Best Texas Road Trips for Families

Texas is vast, and almost any trip you take within the state - especially from Houston - qualifies as a road trip. Whether you're heading to a city, beach, or National Park, the journey can be just as enjoyable as the destination. With that in mind, we've compiled some of our favorite Texas road trips for families. These routes are packed with scenic drives and plenty of attractions to keep everyone entertained.

For more travel ideas around Texas, check out our Day Trip Guide, and for family travel destinations across the globe, visit our Ultimate Family Travel Guide.

1. Texas Panhandle

Embark on a historic journey along Route 66 to the Texas Panhandle. Explore the stunning Palo Duro Canyon (featured in our Budget Getaways article) and Caprock Canyon State Park. Don't forget to stop at the quirky Cadillac Ranch for some fun photos and a chance to stretch your legs.

 
Padre Island sandcastle lesson. Photo by Erich Schlegel via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

2. South Padre Island

Head to South Padre Island for a relaxing beach getaway with blue waters and powdery white sand. The kids will love spotting dolphins and turtles or taking a horseback ride along the shore. On your way, take a short detour into Corpus Christi to explore the colossal USS Lexington, grab a bite at the original Whataburger, or check out other attractions in our Things To Do in Corpus Christi with Kids.

3. Dinosaur Valley State Park

Let the kids marvel at real dinosaur tracks in Texas! Make a pit stop in Waco for some refreshments at Magnolia Silos or some of our other Favorite Things To Do in Waco with Kids.

4. Fredericksburg/Hill Country

Plan a trip using our Texas Hill Country with Kids article and enjoy Kid-Friendly Texas Hill Country Wineries and picturesque scenery. On your route, cool off at one of the many swimming holes in the Hill Country. Consider extending your trip to include a visit to Austin and see how many of these 35 Things to Do in Austin you can check off your list.

5. Big Bend National Park

Explore the spectacular canyons and enjoy a canoe trip down the river at Big Bend National Park. It's a long road trip from Houston, but you can spend a day exploring San Antonio with Kids on the way.

6. Lake Tawakoni State Park

Discover one of Texas’s top swimming lakes at Lake Tawakoni State Park, which also offers excellent hiking and fishing opportunities. On your journey, stop at Evergreen Memorial Park in Crockett, Texas, to let the kids run around. Learn more about Texas lakes perfect for family getaways or other great Texas State Parks.

 
Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum. Photo courtesy of the Arboretum

7. Dallas

Dallas is packed with family-friendly attractions, including the Dallas Zoo, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. If you're roadtripping from Houston, make a stop at the famous Buc-ee’s in Madisonville to fuel up and grab some delicious jerky and fresh-made fudge. Plan your trip with our Best Things To Do in Dallas with Kids article.

8. Boca Chica Beach

Enjoy the natural beauty of Boca Chica Beach, a long, wild stretch of the U.S. Gulf Coast. If you're lucky, you might even catch a rocket launch from Elon Musk’s SpaceX facility. Boca Chica is one of our Best Texas Beaches for Families, and it’s also a great opportunity for a stop in Corpus Christi. 

9. Lake Charles

Take a road trip across the Texas border into Louisiana to visit Lake Charles, where you can explore the Creole Nature Trail scenic byway by car or relax on one of the serene beaches. On your way, stop in Beaumont to learn about the Texas oil rush at the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, which is also one of our Day Trips from Houston. 

10. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Just outside of Texas, Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico is worth the road trip. Inside, you can explore over one hundred caverns, and at sunset, you’ll have the chance to see thousands of bats take flight. Consider stopping at George W. Bush’s childhood home and the Odessa Meteor Crater Museum for some unique and fascinating experiences along the way.