Have you ever wanted to escape the city for a weekend and were not sure where to go? Those who live in Houston know the hustle and bustle of this massive metropolis can be overwhelming, and the traffic can make you want to pull your hair out! If you are itching to get out of the city and head to a slower-paced town for a couple days, I have you covered. Some of you may be surprised, but there are so many unique and charming small towns to visit on a weekend trip from Houston.
1. Galveston
- Distance from Houston– 55 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 1 hour
The historic island of Galveston is an easy weekend trip from Houston. Obviously the #1 thing to do in Galveston is to spend time at the beach. Galveston has several beach options with 32 miles of shoreline. If you park along the seawall to access the free public beach, you will need to pay to park via the Pay by Phone app.
The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is fun for all ages with its rollercoasters, high swings, and other amusement rides located on top of a pier that jets into the Gulf of Mexico. The Pleasure Pier offers unlimited rides tickets as well as pay-per-ride tickets. They also offer a pier pass for those who want to access the Pleasure Pier but do not want to ride any of the rides.
Moody Gardens is a major tourist attraction in Galveston and is recognizable by its large, glass pyramids. It would take you a couple days to do all the attractions Moody Gardens offers. At Moody Gardens, you can walk through a live rainforest, see marine life at the aquarium, watch 3D and 4D movies, cruise on a paddlewheel, climb on a ropes course, and so much more!
Galveston has two historic mansions you can tour: Moody Mansion and Bishop’s Palace. Moody Mansion is a 4-story residential home built in 1895 that you can walk with a self-guided tour. 1892 Bishop’s Palace is another historic home and is recognized as one of the most significant Victorian residences in the country. Learn about Galveston’s haunted history and hear ghost stories from one of the many ghost tours offered on the island.
2. Brenham
- Distance from Houston– 76 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 1 hour, 10 minutes
Of course, if you visit Brenham, a tour of the Blue Bell Creamery is a must-do. After the tour, you can taste some of the best ice cream in the country in their ice cream parlor and peruse their gift shop. However, Blue Bell is only open on weekdays, so you will have to skip this beloved attraction if you are visiting on a weekend.
Another thing to do in Brenham is hang out downtown. You could spend hours in this historic area with their delicious restaurants, boutique shops, antique stores, and art gallery. Make sure to check out my friend’s store, Ballad of the Bird Dog. This upscale general store and coffee shop has Schitt’s Creek’s Rose Apothecary vibes.
Discover the self-guided driving tour through the Brenham area for best views of bluebonnets and other wildflowers. Wildflowers generally bloom in March and April. Click here for information and a map of the 80-mile trail.
Grab a drink at a local winery or brewery. Saddlehorn Winery, Pleasant Hill Winery, and Windy Winery are three highly praised wineries in the area. If wine is not your forte, then grab a beer at the Brazos Valley Brewing Company. Located near downtown Brenham, this place is a great space to unwind with a craft beer and enjoy live music.
The Brenham Christmas Stroll and Lighted Parade is a great event for holiday shopping in the beautifully lit downtown area of Brenham. This even also features a Christmas parade.
3. College Station
- Distance from Houston– 95 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 1 hour, 30 minutes
College Station is home of Texas’s first public college, Texas A&M University. The campus is beautiful and is nice to walk around. Of course, I may be biased since this is where I went to school. If you are a college football fan, then an Aggie football game at Kyle Field is a must-do experience on a weekend trip from Houston. Aggie baseball and basketball games are also fun to attend.
The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and burial site of President George H.W. Bush and first lady, Barbara Bush. The library is on the West Campus of Texas A&M.
If you are looking to have a glass of wine or two or three, you can visit the Messina Hof Resort and Winery. This winery is the third oldest in Texas and is located in the nearby town of Bryan. However, if you prefer to drink beer and play dominoes, then head to the famous Dixie Chicken on North Gate. North Gate is located on the northside of the Texas A&M campus and is a line of bars that range from casual to classy.
4. Boerne
- Distance from Houston – 225 miles
- Drive Time from Houston – 3 hour, 45 minutes
Boerne has grown in popularity over the past several years, and it is easy to see why. Main Street, also known as the Hill Country Mile, is lined with boutique shops, cafes, and art galleries. If you need a break from shopping, stop at the Cibolo Brewing Company for lunch and a beer. Tour the Old Jail Museum which used to be the Kendall County Jail built in 1887.
Being at the heart of the Hill Country, Boerne is close to many parks and recreational areas that are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Take a dip in the Guadalupe River or hike the 13 miles of trails at the Guadalupe River State Park. Boerne is also home to many underground caves and caverns you can explore such as Cascade Caverns and Cave Without a Name, a national natural landmark.
5. New Braunfels
- Distance from Houston– 190 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 3 hours
New Braunfels is a city in the Texas Hill Country known for its German heritage. Every summer crowds flock to this town to participate in many of its tourist attractions. The town claims many “firsts” and “oldest” in Texas including Texas’ oldest bakery. Naegelin’s Bakery has been serving its famous strudel and other pastries for over 140 years.
The city was built around two rivers, the Comal River which is spring fed from the Edwards Aquifer and the Guadalupe River which is sourced from Canyon Lake. In addition to being a vital water supply source for New Braunfels, these rivers are the center of most of the tourism in New Braunfels. People flock to New Braunfels to tube the rivers for a weekend trip from Houston.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark has been voted the best waterpark in America for 22 years straight and is located on the Comal River. Visit their website for up-to-date hours and pricing. Schlitterbahn is split into two distinct sections, and a free tram will shuttle you between the areas. The original part of the park uses river water from the Comal while the newer parts use treated water.
The Natural Bridge Caverns & Wildlife Ranch has enough activities to do that you could stretch this park to 2 days, but I have listed it as just 1 day here. Join the Discovery Tour to explore the largest show cavern in Texas, or you can join the Hidden Passages Tour to discover a smaller system of underground caverns. After that, drive through the Wildlife Ranch where you can feed exotic animals such as zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and more. Other activities include zip lines, rope course, maze, and gem and fossil mining.
6. Wimberley
- Distance from Houston– 182 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 3 hours, 20 minutes
Jacob’s Well is an artesian spring that comes from the Trinity Aquifer and releases thousands of gallons of water per day. The water makes its way from an extensive underwater cave system that is 140 feet deep at its deepest. The main cave artery is 4,341 feet in length with a secondary cavern that is 1,314 feet in length.
The Blue Hole Regional Park is a 126-acre park developed by the city of Wimberley that consists of a natural swimming area, hiking trails, picnic areas, a community pavilion, a basketball court, and sand volleyball. The Blue Hole is part of Cypress Creek which is sourced from the water from Jacob’s Well and feeds into the Blanco River.
Keep enjoying Wimberley outdoor activities with a climb to the top of Old Baldy. Drive through a Wimberley neighborhood before finding the trailhead to this unique Texas Hill Country hike. While the hike is a short 0.2 miles, it is not an easy one. The trail is steep stairs made of stone all the way to the top of Old Baldy.
Visit Wimberley’s Olde Towne Plaza for boutique shopping where you can spend hours walking in and out of the numerous stores. Whether you are shopping for clothes, home goods, gifts, or food, Wimberley has your shopping needs covered. When you need a break from shopping, stop at Los Olivos Market for lunch and a glass of wine.
7. Fredericksburg
- Distance from Houston– 238 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 4 hours, 10 minutes
If you are looking for a weekend trip from Houston that includes winery-hopping, then Fredericksburg should be your destination of choice. This town is the epicenter for Texas wine. There are over 50 wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms in Gillespie County. Texas wine in this region dates back to the original settlers who used the native mustang grape. Book a wine tour to take you from winery to winery, so you can enjoy some vino without the worries of driving.
Main street in Fredericksburg is known for its cute boutique shopping. Shops carry products such as fashion, art, jewelry, and antiques for you to peruse. I do not recommend shopping after tasting wine all day, You may spend more than you had planned on!
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is a popular site near Fredericksburg that you can visit if you are looking to get outdoors. With over 8 miles of hiking trails, rocks to climb, and caves to explore, Enchanted Rock offers an escape to nature. This park gets very crowded, so you will need to make a day pass reservation online at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Reservation System.
8. Navasota/Washington-on-the-Brazos
- Distance from Houston– 71 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 1 hour, 10 minutes
In March 1836, the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed at this site in Washington on the Brazos State Park making Texas independent from Mexico. In addition to learning more about Texas’s fight for freedom from Mexico, the expansive grounds are great for exploring wildflowers and bird watching, picnicking, and experiencing what life on the farm was like in the 1800s at Barrington Farms.
One unique thing to do on a weekend trip from Houston is visit a bee farm. Whether you are visiting to buy some fresh, authentic honey or wanting to learn how to keep bees, the Beeweaver Honey Farm is worth a visit. Check out their website for to see all the packages they offer from private bee keeping lessons to tours and honey tasting. Make sure to shop in their cute honey themed gift shop. Located just next door is Wildflyer Mead, a place where you can taste mead, an alcohol made from fermenting honey.
9. Chappell Hill
- Distance from Houston– 64 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 1 hour
The best weekends to visit Chappell Hill on a weekend trip from Houston is when the Bluebonnet Festival (April) and the Scarecrow Festival (October) are going on. This incredible arts and crafts show will keep you shopping for yourself and your loved ones for days.
At the Chappell Hill Lavender Farm, you can wander the grounds, have a picnic, and check out their gazebo at no cost. If you time your visit when the lavender is blooming, you can cut your own lavender as a souvenir. The farm also offers pick-your-own blueberries and peaches. Check out their website for blooming updates and fruit picking times. For handmade lavender and other products, walk in their gift shop for all things lavender.
10. Dripping Springs
- Distance from Houston– 184 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 3 hours, 15 minutes
Dripping Springs, Texas is a small town outside Austin known as the “Gateway to the Hill Country.” With its natural wonders, cute boutique shops, and fun drinkeries, Dripping Springs is the perfect destination for families, couples, and friends.
Hamilton Pool Preserve is one of the must-see places in America, so you have to visit during your weekend in Dripping Springs. It is a natural swimming hole created when the dome of an underground river collapsed. Due to its popularity, you must make reservations to visit. I recommend making your reservations before your trip as they do sell out. You must choose from a morning (9:00am – 12:30 pm) or afternoon (2:00pm – 5:30pm) reservation period. From the parking area, you will need to hike a quarter of a mile down the steep, narrow, and uneven trail.
Dripping Springs is full of breweries and distilleries for you to discover. Stop at the Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room, which specializes in regular and flavored vodkas that are yummy enough to just drink over ice. Treaty Oak Distillery was named for the 500-year old Austin tree where Stephen F. Austin signed agreements specifying the Texas borders. The distillery serves Texas barbecue and unique craft cocktails. Family Business Beer Company is a family-owned brewery that serves a wide variety of hand-crafted beers and tasty pizza from their own food truck owned by Jensen and Danneel Ackles, who are both actors.
11. Johnson City
- Distance from Houston– 208 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 3 hours, 40 minutes
The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Site in Johnson City is the home of our 36th president. The visitor center has two 30-minute videos you can watch: Ladybird Johnson and LBJ the President. The center also has a timeline exhibit of the president’s life.
Pedernales Falls State Park, located nearby, is a unique Texas park. The park has several hiking and biking trails that feature waterfalls, swimming areas, and scenic overlooks. It is best known for the impressive Pedernales Falls that flows over massive slabs of limestone. We love spending hours exploring the limestone slabs and skipping rocks during our visit to Pedernales Falls State Park.
Spend a weekend trip from Houston in Johnson City between Thanksgiving and Christmas to see the Christmas Lights Spectacular. It lives up to its name! The more than 1.3 million twinkle lights illuminate the town and is a must-see if you visit during the holidays.
12. Granbury
- Distance from Houston– 285 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 4 hours, 35 minutes
A trip to Granbury can’t be complete without a visit to the Historic Granbury Square. At the center of the square is the Hood County Courthouse which was built in 1890. The 3-story limestone building has a clock tower and was designed using the French Second-Empire architectural style. Surrounding the courthouse are boutique shops, restaurants, and drinkeries. Visit Granbury Live for a live show or concert during your weekend trip from Houston.
Enjoy the Granbury City Beach for a day of sunbathing and swimming in Lake Granbury. Lake Granbury is also a big recreational area for boating, fishing, and jet skiing. If you do not have your own boat, you can take a ride on the riverboat or Captain Kirk’s Tiki Cruises.
Make the short drive to Glen Rose to find fossils and dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River at Dinosaur Valley State Park. Take a drive through the wildlife safari at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. This zoo is home to thousands of animals from over 50 species.
13. Jefferson
- Distance from Houston– 234 miles
- Drive Time from Houston– 3 hours, 50 minutes
Located on Red River and founded in 1841, Jefferson was once a major port town in Texas. The population of Jefferson is under 2,000 people but reached 30,000 at its peak just a few years after the Civil War. Nearly every building on the main road in Jefferson has a historic marker.
If you love history and museums, then Jefferson is the perfect weekend trip from Houston for you. Take a stroll through the Jefferson Historic Museum, which was once a Federal Courthouse and U.S. Postal Service building. Visit the Scarlett O’Hardy’s Gone With the Wind Museum which holds one of the largest private collections of memorabilia from the famous movie.
Take a trip to Caddo Lake State Park just 20 minutes from Jefferson. Caddo Lake is the only naturally-made lake in all of Texas and was formed because of a log jam. The 26,810-acrea lake is home to over 50 species of fish and alligators.
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