11 Amazing Texas Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive In 2025
Texas, the second-largest state in America, is a paradise for day trips, particularly because of its sheer number of attractions. Nicknamed the Lone Star State, it is where you can find some of the most famous attractions in the US, like Hermann Park, home to the country’s second-most-visited zoo. Among these attractions is something to delight everyone, regardless of preference. With five international airports, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, one of the world’s busiest, traveling to and throughout Texas is easy and convenient. These airports are well distributed across the state’s massive area, and are usually no more than a couple of hours from these incredible day trips.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas
Perot Museum of Nature and Science is one of the best day trips for science enthusiasts in 2025. For starters, it is just a 20-minute drive from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The 180,000 square foot museum is thoroughly educational and full of exhibits covering a wide range of topics from astronomy to minerals, weather, dinosaurs, and many more.
Some of the museum’s special features include a bug lab highlighting the uniqueness of insects, a bird hall offering a deep dive into the history and evolution of birds, and a gem and mineral hall full of awe-inspiring treasures of the earth, including giant quartz and topaz. The museum even has some interactive attractions to delight visitors, such as a unique journey through the Solar System and a weather hall where one can experience the simulation of an earthquake.
San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River Walk is one of the most popular attractions in Texas and San Antonio’s premier point of interest. Stretching 15 miles along the banks of the San Antonio River right through the city center, this pedestrian corridor invites travelers to spend the entire day strolling, shopping, dining, and enjoying all the city has to offer. Some of San Antonio's most visited sites can be found along this stretch, including the outdoor Ameson River Theater and the San Antonio Museum of Art, one of the state’s foremost art museums, featuring thousands of works, including Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Latin American, and even local art.
The 343-acre Brackenridge Park also sits on the riverwalk, inviting those who love nature and relaxation. This park includes shaded walkways and a Japanese Tea Garden that will delight botanists, as well as the San Antonio Zoo, and many other attractions that will take hours to explore. The San Antonio River Walk requires at least a full day to explore and enjoy, and thankfully, travelers will have ample time, as the San Antonio International Airport is just 10 minutes away.
Natural Bridge Caverns, San Antonio
Texas is full of unique geological features, but Natural Bridge Caverns is particularly exciting and ideal for a family-friendly day trip. Known as the largest commercial cavern in Texas, this site is characterized by caves featuring distinct geological formations like speleothems and reaching depths of 230 feet in some areas. Day travelers to this attraction can engage in tours to see the lit interior of the caverns and learn more about its geological story through light and sound shows.
Guests can also have fun with gem panning activities, and a zip line and ropes course, plus the cavern is home to the deepest live performance venue in Texas, where regular concerts and events can be enjoyed. Meanwhile, the Cavern Cafe serves delicious food, and there is also a shop full of souvenirs and gifts. For convenience, the Natural Bridge Caverns are just 30 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport.
Mustang Island State Park, Corpus Cristi
Mustang Island State Park is an excellent day trip worth the drive for an immersion into the coastal beauty and pleasures of Texas. This 3,954-acre park is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from San Antonio International Airport and is right on the Gulf of Mexico with over five miles of beachfront. Day travelers will lose track of time just relaxing on the soft sand beach, building sand castles, fishing, or swimming in the warm water, and watching birds. The beach is also a great place for surfing, plus the park offers kayaking opportunities on the Mustang Island Paddling Trails, which stretch over 20 miles through some of the best shallow-water fishing spots and bird-watching areas in Texas.
Padre Island National Seashore, San Antonio
Padre Island National Seashore is a unique coastal destination in Texas and one of the best off-grid day trips in the US. It lies 177 miles (or 2 hours and 30 minutes) from the San Antonio International Airport, where it covers over 130,000 acres and preserves the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. The national seashore features miles of beachfront open for driving and beach camping, and the waters are excellent for fishing.
In addition, Padre Island itself is an important refuge for migratory birds, accommodating hundreds of species year-round, especially in early spring, fall, and winter. Besides being a haven for bird watching, it is also an important nesting site for sea turtles. Visitors are always welcome to walk the fully-accessible Grasslands Nature Trail for a 0.75-mile stroll through the park’s grassland and dunes, with sights of wildlife such as ground squirrels, crested caracaras, and other birds.
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas
The Dallas Museum of Art is one of the premier attractions of its kind in Texas, worthy of a day trip. This museum boasts over 25,000 works of art, covering every continent and spanning over five millennia of art history. Visitors can spend a full day exploring the museum’s American, contemporary, African, Asian, classical, European, Pacific Islands, and Texas art galleries.
Notably, the museum provides free general admission to see its permanent collections, including a collection of ancient and Native American art from 1500 BC to 1550 AD. Additionally, the Dallas Museum of Art hosts regular classes, workshops, and concerts to further delight visitors, and it is conveniently located just half an hour from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, San Antonio
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is one of the top attractions in Texas well deserving of a day trip in 2025. A symbol of pride in Texas and the state’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park preserves four missions, including Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada. All of these missions were established in the late 1690s to early 1700s to help Spain gain a foothold on the Texas frontier. Today, these missions stand as some of the best-preserved Spanish colonial structures in the US, with the Mission Concepción featuring impressive wall and ceiling art.
The 1720 Mission San José, the largest of the missions, is still an active parish, hosting regular masses at its affiliate Catholic church in San Antonio. Visitors are invited to walk or bike the Mission Reach Trail via the River Walk to soak in the scenery of the San Antonio River, see unique plants, and explore all four missions. For true day-trippers, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is just 25 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport.
The Alamo, San Antonio
The Alamo is the most visited historic site in Texas and the best-known mission in San Antonio, established in the 1700s. Located around 15 miles from San Antonio International Airport, this mission is a symbol of freedom and courage in Texas, and is duly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. First established in 1718 and relocated to its present location in 1724, this mission, like others, served to bring Indigenous people to Christianity in its early years.
By 1836, it had become a fortress and was the site where nearly 200 Texans gave up their lives defending the territory against a 2,500-strong Mexican army at the Battle of the Alamo, during the Texas Revolution, which eventually led to the independence of Texas from Mexico. Today, the Alamo is an icon of pride for all Texans, and day trippers are invited to tour the historic structure, see the names of the brave defenders, and explore artifacts from the Texas Revolution.
Big Thicket National Preserve, Houston
Texas is more than deserts, beaches, and bustling cities. This state also hosts heavily forested regions, such as the Big Thicket National Preserve. Situated just an hour and a half from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, this park covers over 100,000 acres and preserves diverse ecosystems, including pine and hardwood forests and wetlands. This makes it the perfect place for a day trip from Houston, especially for nature lovers and hikers.
The park has over 30 miles of trails, offering access to its diverse habitats, unique organisms like carnivorous plants, and wildlife such as river otters and beavers. The Kirby Nature Trail is particularly accessible and perfect for day trips, as it is just two miles and winds through a bald cypress slough and a creek. The one-mile Pitcher Plant Trail is also an excellent trail for those curious about carnivorous plants. Besides hiking, Big Thicket National Preserve has miles of creeks, bayous, and rivers, providing opportunities to explore the lush habitats by boat.
Hermann Park, Houston
A day trip to Hermann Park is one of the coolest things to do in Texas. Located 23 miles or 30 minutes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, this sprawling urban park has something for everybody, from wildlife enthusiasts to history buffs. It is home to the Houston Zoo, the second-most visited zoo in the US, featuring over 6,000 animals from around the world, including penguins from the Galapagos Islands. Hermann Park also hosts the Houston Museum of Natural Science, home to countless exhibits, including the Cockrell Butterfly Center, where one can get up close and personal with hundreds of live butterflies in a rainforest setting.
Hermann Park is also just an excellent place to unwind and connect with nature, as it has an 8-acre lake ideal for paddling, multiple gardens for plant exploration, and trails for hiking and biking. While a day is never enough time to fully explore the park, the ease of access leaves sufficient time to enjoy the highlights, and perhaps a little more.
Morgan’s Wonderland, San Antonio
Morgan’s Wonderland has built a reputation around all-inclusiveness and top-notch customer service. This makes it an excellent day trip destination in Texas for everyone, particularly families with children, as there is something for people of all ages and abilities. It takes just 12 minutes to get here from the San Antonio International Airport, leaving ample time to enjoy the park’s dozens of rides, including Rocket’s Sky Flight Adventure, a 4-seater zipline that soars above an eight-acre lake. Morgan’s Wonderland also offers boat cruises, fishing activities, a train ride on a 1930s-style train, and a wheelchair-accessible playground with fun and safe equipment. The amusement park even has an amphitheater where guests can enjoy interactive performances and inclusive theater.
Enjoy Texas At Your Pace With These Amazing Day Trips
Texas can be an intimidating place to explore, with an area nearly twice the size of California. However, with day trips, one can enjoy this state’s natural, historic, and cultural treasures one day at a time. The state even makes it easy to enjoy this sort of adventure, with multiple international airports situated in strategic locations, so driving does not take up the best part of the day. Some of the aforementioned destinations even take less than 20 minutes to reach, meaning abundant time for thorough exploration and enjoyment. Without further ado, get a calendar, pick a date, and enjoy the experience of a lifetime with one or more of these day trips in Texas.
