We're firm believers that Texas is the most naturally beautiful state in America. Our state has it all: beaches, mountains, wetlands, plains... it's basically an entire country all by itself! The vast expanses of the West Texas desert and Panhandle plains offer some of the best scenery in the Lone Star State, from towering peaks to ancient canyons. This scenic drive is one of the best road trips in Texas and among the most beautiful drives you can take in America.
Here's the Google Map for the trip - feel free to adjust the route to your liking.
Our first stop on this Texas road trip is one of only two national parks in the state. Big Bend encompasses over a million acres of rugged desert landscape. The peaks of the iconic Chisos Mountains threaten to pierce the clouds, and more than 150 miles of multi-use trails allow for boundless exploration.
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Whether you're in the mood for a hike or prefer staying in the comfort of your own vehicle, there are lots of different ways to enjoy the scenery.
All ages and skill levels are welcome, too. Short and easy adventures abound, like the 1.4-mile round-trip hike through Santa Elena Canyon, perhaps the most photographed natural wonder in the park. On the other hand, the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive takes you to all the best sightseeing spots with zero effort on your part (besides pressing the gas pedal.) Learn more on the National Park Service website.
Texas' other national park, Guadalupe Mountains, is definitely lesser-known than Big Bend. We're on a mission to change that, however, as this mystical place is one of the most incredible destinations you'll ever visit.
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Home to all four of the tallest mountains in Texas, the park is a hiker's paradise.
If you aren't up for a strenuous trek, have no fear. You can see all the same breathtaking views on U.S. Highway 62/180, which meanders through the park near the Pine Springs Visitor Center. Learn more on the National Park Service website.
Can you believe this is Texas and not the Sahara? Monahans Sandhills State Park is a hidden gem where towering sand dunes create the ultimate playground. Hop on a disk and go soaring down their undulating peaks and valleys - the whole family is sure to have a blast. Learn more on the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.
There are over 30 miles of trails for visitors to embark on, with the Lighthouse Trail being the most famous among them. Learn more on the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.
Would you take this road trip to some of the most scenic places in Texas? Do you think it's one of the best road trips in Texas? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! And when you’re ready to hit the open road, be sure to consult the OnlyInYourState road trip essentials guide that will make packing a breeze.
Don't forget to check out our previous article for another road trip in Texas that will show you how stunning the state truly is.
When thinking about the Texas Hill Country, Austin is probably the first place that comes to mind for most people. And while our capital city has plenty of perks, solitude is not one of them. Luckily, this vast region encompasses many remote areas that offer peace and quiet, such as the Texas Hill Country Overland Route. This 191-mile journey is by far one of the best scenic drives in Texas, showcasing lush greenery, pristine bodies of water, and undulating hills.
The trail begins near Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River, and ends just before crossing the Llano River. Other than Fredericksburg, the route doesn’t pass through any densely populated areas, so you can roll the windows down and revel in the sounds of nature with few distractions. The drive will take you a minimum of several hours, but you’ll want to allot more time if you have a sedan due to the water crossings.
You’ll feel like you’ve entered a painting as you navigate the winding streets leading through the vast and untouched landscape. The views are an absolute dream, from the hillsides dotted with fertile greenery to the crystal-clear streams to the native wildlife grazing in the pastures. It’s also amazingly calm out here. You may even be inspired to ditch your road trip playlist and opt to listen to the sweet sound of silence instead.
Visit AllTrails for more information about the route. I also recommend signing up for AllTrails+ if you spend a lot of time outdoors. My favorite feature is offline map access — it’s so comforting to know I won’t get lost, especially when exploring remote areas with spotty cell service. If you decide you want to spread the trip out across two days, Fredericksburg is the perfect town for a quick getaway.
Have you ever embarked on the Texas Hill Country Overland Route? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments, as well as your personal favorite scenic drives in Texas!
I turned 40 this year and made a resolution to travel more. You see, I have four kids and we generally take one big family trip a year, but as a travel editor and 40-year-old resolving to heed the call of her wanderlust, I wanted more. More trips, more adventures, more intentionality. And so I put an amendment to my original resolution: each year, I would take each of my kids on a 1:1 getaway, traveling to all of the places in the US I've been wanting to explore. Spoiler alert: my bucket list is BIG.
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I booked my flights and got to work setting up trips, itineraries, and accommodations, and the lucky McCosham kid who won the spot on the very first Sarah McCosham + Sidekick Adventure was Mary, my second-born, 11-year-old mini. Mary's starting sixth grade this fall and truthfully, I don't know where the time's gone.
Back to the trip: we both immediately agreed on Austin, citing Hamilton Pool, several parks and attractions, and variety of vegan cuisine as our rationale. (These factors outweighed the sweltering temps that might give some pause to visit Austin in August, but we were steadfast: Austin or bust!) As a family of six, it's important I pay close attention to budget when planning a trip, and so, after striking gold in terms of awesome and affordable Austin Airbnbs, I set an ambitious challenge: 48 hours in Austin, Texas, on a budget of under $100 (lodging excluded). Could it be done? We set off to find out.
Things To Do for Free in Austin
My hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio -- a place touted for its low cost of living -- so I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to access to free and budget-friendly activities. With a population of nearly a million, Austin is roughly three times bigger than Cincinnati, and I was a bit worried the "bigger is better" mantra for which Texas is known would also apply to the cost of activities, attractions, and dining. Happily, not only did I find prices to be incredibly reasonable in Texas's capital city, I also stumbled upon tons of free things to do in Austin, too.
Austin’s public art is unrivaled; you’ll find graffiti and large-scale murals on pretty much every main drag and side street. Mary and I were delighted by the plethora of public art: Wonder Woman on a downtown building, vibrant murals brightening up alleyways, and of course, the ionic “i love you so much” mural on Congress Avenue.
Speaking of Congress Avenue, not only is this *the* place for shopping and dining, but it’s also home to the Texas State Capitol, another must-visit in ATX.
Admission is free and there are both guided and self-guided tours available. The grandeur of this building — which is actually taller than our nation’s capital — is incredible.
Of course, Austin is known for its natural beauty and robust parks, and I was blown away by how many of these attractions were free. The Austin Nature & Science Center was an awesome gem we found while exploring Zilker Park (another free treasure worth exploring in full).
Also, the peacocks at Mayfield Park (and this glorious urban park in and of itself) stood out as a high point of the trip. Mayfield Park is home to a large flock of free-roaming peacocks known to strut their stuff and put on quite a show.
Speaking of avian species, ATX is also home to to the world’s largest urban bat colony; the Congress Avenue Bridge houses an estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats who emerge each night, like the Dark Knight himself.
Not only did I find lots of free activities in Austin, but I was delighted by the number of inexpensive options in this Texas town. Mary and I bounced from park to park and attraction to attraction -- seemingly on a dime! Here are some of our favorite inexpensive attractions in Austin, Texas:
Texas has an extraordinary parks system and Travis County (where Austin is located) is no exception. For $12, Mary and I got access to all Travis County Parks for the day, including Reimers Ranch, a park with some of the most varied flora and fauna in ATX, from lush trees and bold flowers to prickly cacti and brush. There’s also a short trail that leads to a jaw-dropping view of the Pedernales River that’s worth the trip alone.
There are over two dozen parks that make up the Travis County Parks system; most famous, of course, is Hamilton Pool Preserve. This bucket-list destination is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful natural pools in the country and I have to say, it absolutely lived up to the hype.
When visiting Hamilton Pool, you’ll want to make a reservation through the Travis County Parks website; you’ll select a spot in either the morning or afternoon “reservation times” — this ensures the pool doesn’t get too crowded. In addition to the day use fee ($12), I paid $8 for my own entry — kids under 13 are free. Please not that the day use pass can be pre-purchased online via credit card online; however, the entry fee to Hamilton Pool is cash only.
There’s a quarter-mile hike from the parking lot to the pool; it’s very steep and rocky at times, so definitely wear good hiking shoes. Depending on water levels and other conditions, swimming may or may not be allowed when you visit, and/or only in designated areas.
An unexpected surprise when we visited Hamilton Pool was how many catfish were cruising around the shallow end. (Don’t worry — they were all very uninterested in us!) Because the water is so clear, you’ll be able to see all sorts of creatures that call this Texas oasis home.
The grand total for our Austin parks adventures? $20.
Cheap Eats in Austin
Austin is known for Tex-Mex cuisine, and you'll find delicious taquerias on pretty much every corner of the city. With its warm weather year-round, this Texas town is also known for its food trucks, with large "pods" featuring multiple trucks and sidewalk singletons equally ubiquitous. Add in budget-friendly grub for the local college students and you'll find it's really easy to dine on a budget in Austin, Texas.
After spending the afternoon at Hamilton Pool, Mary and I were starving for some classic Tex Mex fare. We visited De Nada Cantina on the advice of our Airbnb hosts, and it didn’t disappoint. We ate our weight in homemade chips and salsa roja, grabbing a vegetarian taco and drinks (a world-famous margarita on the rocks for me and a watermelon aqua fresca for Mary) to round out our meal. Because we visited for an early meal during Happy Hour (read = discounted menu!) grand total for this meal was $20 — quite a deal!
Other on-the-cheap meals during our trip included a massive plate of black bean nachos from The Vegan Nom ($13), Texas-size slices of cheese 'za from Home Slice Pizza on Congress Avenue ($8.50), and the Vegan Crispy Taco Plate from Bouldin Creek Cafe ($10). We rounded out our meals with fresh produce and snacks from Whole Foods ($18), putting our grand total for food at $68.
Happily, the affordability of Austin extends to its accommodations; I'd booked us an adorable Airbnb in East Austin that was the perfect "home base" for our adventures, though I'd also researched hotels and other options for affordable lodging in ATX.
After browsing Airbnb and weighing our options, I booked two nights at Casa Plata, a sleek, new, modern casita-style guesthouse in East Austin.
This Airbnb in East Austin was a steal at $113/night; inside this one-bedroom home was a laundry, full kitchen, full bath, and adorable outdoor patio that was absolutely perfect for our needs. The owners were kind and responsive, and even provided us with a few provisions at arrival. (They also had tons of great restaurant recommendations, all compiled in a cute coffee table book.)
If you’re more of a hotel kind of traveler, you’ll find tons of great options on Booking.com — centrally located, well-appointed, super affordable options! Pictured here: the iconic Fairmount in Downtown ATX which offers luxury and prime location at a surprisingly affordable rate.
So, y'all, back to my original question: Is it possible to visit Austin, Texas, on the cheap? Indeed it is. Texas's capital city isn't just a music mecca with killer Tex Mex food, fascinating history, immense natural beauty, and the quirkiest, coolest attractions, it also makes for an amazing and affordable getaway. My daughter and I found so many free and cheap things to do in Austin, Texas, that we definitely needed more than just one weekend to do them all. A return trip is most definitely in order.
