This beautiful spring weather is just begging to be enjoyed — and what better way to do that than with a little road trip getaway?
Texas is a big state, y’all, so we called in reinforcements from our pals at FTWtoday, ATXtoday, and SATXtoday to help us with this round-up. Our 6AM sister cities are not included in this list, as we’ll leave those guides to the experts.
Explore these 10 Lone Star State destinations for a short road trip from Dallas.
Foodie forays
Fredericksburg | ~4 hours southwest
Plan a weekend trip to the Texas wine capital and explore vineyards and tasting rooms.
Boerne | ~4.5 hours southwest
Work up an appetite for fresh farm-to-table recipes at The Dienger Trading Co. after a cave tour.
Houston | ~3.5 hours southeast
Take your pick of James Beard Award-nominated restaurants after perusing the museum district.
Artistic escapes
Waco | ~1.5 hours south
Get ready to style your home with picks from Magnolia Market at the Silos + stop by the Dr. Pepper Museum to learn the secret 23 flavors.
Luckenbach | ~4 hours southwest
Thanks to Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, this small Central Texas town is a country music haven.
Marfa | ~7.5 hours southwest
Drive into the sunset for this West Texas artist paradise with larger-than-life roadside art and the miniature fake Prada store.
Hike, skip rocks, and soak up the sun while you search for dinosaur tracks at the state park. | Photo by @dinovalleysp
Outdoor adventures
Dinosaur Valley State Park | ~1.5 hours southwest
Hike through history in Glen Rose + peek in the Paluxy River for sauropod tracks from the land before time.
Colorado Bend State Park | ~3.5 hours southwest
Explore 35 miles of trails and hike to a 70-ft waterfall in Bend.
Jacob’s Well | ~4 hours south
Take a drive down to Wimberley for a dip in this enchanting swimming hole.
Galveston Island | ~4.5 hours southeast
The beach is hot in the summer — but late spring is a perfect time to look for shells along the Gulf of Mexico.