Winter is one of the best-kept secrets for road tripping in Texas. Cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and wide-open trails make this season perfect for exploring some of the most epic landscapes in the state — all without hopping on a plane.
If you’re looking for winter road trips from Dallas, these three destinations are ideal for weekend getaways, outdoor lovers, and families who want adventure without the heat.
Why Winter Is the Best Time for Texas Road Trips
Texas summers are brutal — but winter? That’s when the magic happens.
If you’re looking for epic hiking, Guadalupe Mountains National Park delivers. Home to Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, this park is best tackled during cooler months.
Why Winter Is Ideal Here:
Cooler temps for strenuous hikes
Clear skies and incredible visibility
Less foot traffic on popular trails
Top experiences:
Devil’s Hall Trail (dramatic canyon hike)
Guadalupe Peak for experienced hikers
Scenic desert-mountain landscapes
👉 Great for: experienced hikers, national park lovers, winter adventure trips
Which Texas Winter Road Trip Is Right for You?
Go to Palo Duro if you want iconic views and family-friendly trails
Choose Caprock if you want solitude, wildlife, and quiet beauty
Pick Guadalupe Mountains if you’re craving a true hiking challenge
You truly can’t go wrong — it just depends on the kind of adventure you want.
Tips for Planning a Winter Road Trip from Dallas
Check weather forecasts (temps can vary by region)
Pack layers — mornings and evenings can be chilly
Start hikes earlier for daylight
Bring plenty of water (even in winter!)
Final Thoughts
Texas has some incredible landscapes, and winter is the perfect time to experience them. These road trips prove you don’t need a flight — just a good playlist, a packed cooler, and a sense of adventure.
If you’re planning a winter getaway or even looking ahead to spring break, add these destinations to your list.
Looking for more family-friendly road trips and hiking ideas? Follow along here or on IG @Road.Trip.Queen for weekend itineraries, Texas adventures, and seasonal travel inspiration.
There’s nothing like a trip to the beach, especially for a busy family! While we love adventuring, hiking, and exploring, it’s sometimes really nice to plan a low-key vacation to a beautiful destination. And then, when you get to that beautiful destination, it’s perfectly alright to do absolutely nothing except enjoy where you are and who you’re with! I think that’s why we love going to the beach. It never involves too much planning and we usually return feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. I’m including some of our favorite beach destinations, both in the US and south of the border. This doesn’t cover every beach we’ve visited, but it’s a nice start if you’re getting ready to plan a trip to the beach!
United States
The US has some fantastic beach destinations, some more unique than others! I am fascinated with the different landscapes from coast to coast. Below are just a few of our favorite beaches in the United States and why we love them!
Orange Beach, Alabama
Beautiful beach sunset
This is our most recent beach vacation, and even though we’ve been traveling to Orange Beach for over twelve years now, we still enjoy each and every visit! This is one of those places that has beautiful white sands, emerald waters, delicious food, and isn’t very crowded if you plan your trip out right! The past two visits to Orange Beach have been in March and April and the crowds were basically non-existent. It looks a little different during those peak summer months, though. We love Orange Beach because we keep it super low-key and chill. You can find us hanging out at the beach, boogie boarding on the waves, warming up in the hot tub, and trying new seafood restaurants each evening. The boys love that we start each day with no major plans!
My favorite boys at one of our favorite places!
Those waves though!
Our most recent family photo, Orange Beach 2023.
These boys stayed in the ocean for basically three days straight!
Jereme walking along the tide pools at Haystack Rock
I have wanted to visit Cannon Beach for forever and I finally got the chance last March over our spring break. We visited as part of a Pacific Coast Highway road trip and we all agreed that we wished we would’ve had more time here at this beach. We adored the little beach cottage we stayed in and the town is super quaint and welcoming! The tide pools made my whole life and the boys still talk about having bonfires on the beach in the evenings. We have big plans to return to Cannon Beach and stay at the exact same cottage one day!
The first ever tide pools and starfish I’ve seen in nature!
We were all amazed at the marine life!
It was a little chilly at this beach, but we still loved it!
Folly Beach was our first ever trip to South Carolina and it was a great one! We loved the hotel we stayed at and I highly recommend it for families! Folly Beach is also known for amazing finds, like shark teeth and shells. So if you have kiddos that love sharks or shells, check this destination out! I also loved the proximity to Charleston and some of the plantations and historical sites in the area. Overall, this is a really fun family destination. South Carolina is such a beautiful state!
This destination has it all! You can visit just to relax at the beach all day, but there’s also a vast amount of water sports, shopping, & dining! We visited a few summers ago and the boys still ask to go back. We had a blast parasailing, sliding on some of the inflatable slides outside of the hotel, relaxing, and eating amazing seafood! The water is also stunning and so blue! It was a little crowded, but we were there during the peak summer months, so that’s to be expected when you’re visiting just about any beach in Florida! The hotel really made the stay worthwhile and we didn’t even leave this resort much because it truly had everything! We also really enjoyed the beach’s proximity to Tampa.
If you live in Texas, then visiting Galveston is a must since it’s in our state! Even though Galveston is not known for white sand beaches and clear, blue waters, it’s still my kiddos’ favorite beach destination! We always have such an awesome time when we visit. I think my boys love it so much because it doesn’t require a lot of driving to get there and it holds such special memories for us. We’ve visited for just a weekend and even stayed once for ten days!
There’s something really special about those all-inclusive beach resorts in the Caribbean and our family has had many wonderful experiences visiting Mexico! So far, we’ve had the chance to take our boys to Cozumel, Cabo, and Cancun. Each destination offers many excursions and activities that are fun for all ages! The resorts in Mexico make it so easy for travelers and usually have people assisting you upon arrival to find the perfect excursions for you family!
Cozumel, Mexico
Love the water and those palm trees
We really love this little island. Jereme and I have traveled to Cozumel at least five times on our own and with our kids. The people are amazing and we have made many special memories exploring the island. I cannot get over the water! It’s so clear and you can literally see fish swimming everywhere, right from the shore!
Cabo is one of my personal favorite destinations in Mexico! I love the how the desert meets the ocean here. And watching whales right from our hotel balcony was a truly amazing experience. It’s not always the best place to swim in the ocean and finding a hotel where this is available involves some planning. But it’s such a beautiful destination and there’s something here for everyone to enjoy!
Look at these fish right off the shore of the resort
Cancun is a wonderful place to visit, especially since the international airport is located here! We’ve actually only stayed in Cancun once as a family, but it has been one of our favorite vacations to date! On our first night here, we were able to help a local group release baby sea turtles back into the ocean and this experience is one that I will never forget!
We use the fabulous travel agent, Alexa Spahr to book our trips to Mexico and beyond. She comes highly recommended and has helped us book several trips. She really works within your budget and travel dates and it’s always been such a smooth and easy process with her help. You can contact Alexa via email at alexa@travelwithalexa.com and be sure to check out her website www.travelwithalexa.com. If you reach out to Alexa, please let her know I sent you her way!
As you can see, beach destinations can be a low-key and relaxing trip, but there are also a ton of activities to explore! We like a nice balance, so we’ll usually spend a day at the resort and then a day packed full of excursions and continue that pattern! If you’re interested in planning a trip to the beach and are in need of any ideas or recommendations, please reach out! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, so leave me a comment. I’d also love to hear about your favorite family beach destinations!
Even though I am a Texas native, I haven’t even scratched the surface of exploring all of the unique destinations that this state that I’ve called home my whole entire life has to offer. But, we do have some favorites that we’ve visited many, many times and will continue going back to! Texas can be a great state to visit, we’re super friendly here! I hope you find these places just as special as we do!
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Galveston Island, Texas
Galveston in September
Galveston is one of those places that I hold very near and dear to my heart. I grew up going down to Galveston every summer as a child. I really cannot even count the number of times we’ve been there. We’ve visited the island in every season, and I can honestly say that each one has its own unique pros and cons.
If you’ve never visited Galveston, most of the hotels are built across the street from the beach along the Seawall. During the summers, it’s pretty crowded. You can stay at the hotels along the Seawall and walk across the street for beach access or park your car in designated spots all the way down the Seawall. We only stay at one place in Galveston, which is Seascape Condominiums. These condos are farther down the Seawall, but are actually built on the ocean side and we don’t have to cross the street to get to the beach. We also love having bedrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen!
Seascape Condominiums
Summers in Galveston are all about sun, sand, and saltwater! While you will not find pristine blue water and white sand beaches here, you will find a good time! I’ve never found sand course enough to build sandcastles like the sand down in Galveston. And while we have taken our boys to some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, they will tell anyone that asks that Galveston is their favorite beach! I don’t think they love it because of the beauty, but because of the memories that this special place holds.
Building sandcastles in the summer!
It’s very hot and humid in Galveston during the summer. Most of our time here in this season involves playing at the beach or swimming in the pool during the day. There are several restaurants along the Seawall and also on The Strand, but be prepared to wait for a while because of the summer crowds. The downtown area is really fun, we love going to the candy shop and watching saltwater taffy being made! And you can’t miss a trip to Pleasure Pier or Murdoch’s souvenir shop!
My boys happy place!
Fall and spring both offer cooler temps, not too favorable for ocean swimming. Although, my crazy kids will swim here any time of the year! But you will often still find people lounging on the beach or playing in the sand. The pool at Seascape is heated, so my boys love to swim there when it’s chilly outside! I love visiting at these times because its way less crowded and easier to enjoy your stay without fighting the crowds! I usually see the most dolphins out in the water during the fall/spring months, as well.
Galveston in April
Winter can be a great time to visit, but it can also be very moody too. I’ve been to Galveston a couple times during December and February. One visit, it was very cold and foggy and we spent most of our time finding things indoors to do. Another time, it was very enjoyable and we spent a lot of our time outside! With that being said, I have enjoyed all of our visits, no matter what time of year we go!
Galveston in December
Beach Must Haves:
Elta MD Sunscreen – My dermatologist recommended! (I have had skin cancer)
Beach Canopy – This is a must have at the beach or camping!
Bug Spray – You will need this in Galveston for mosquitos
Rash guard – Highly recommend for sun protection! (I sized up)
First aid kit – We take this kit on all of our adventures!
Click here for more information about visiting Galveston!
Dallas, Texas
Dallas Skyline from the Reunion Tower GeO-Deck
This past summer we did our first Dallas Staycation, and boy did we have a fun time! This city has a lot to offer, from malls, to hands-on museums, to city parks and zoos, to delicious restaurants. Dallas definitely has something for everyone! The Dallas area really consists of Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine, and several other smaller but really neat cities nearby! All are pretty close to one another and all offer a lot of exciting activities.
On our staycation we chose to stay in Downtown Dallas and picked a hotel with a roof top pool. The Sheraton Dallas is an excellent choice, especially if you’re visiting in the summer!
Enjoying the pool!
We also took advantage of the Dallas City Pass and our experience and savings were incredible. I cannot recommend this pass enough. With the City Pass we visited the Perot Museum, The Dallas Holocaust Museum, The George W. Bush Presidential Library, and took in the sunset from the Reunion Tour GeO-Deck.
View from the Reunion Tower
We also went to the Grapevine Mills Mall for the Stranger Things Experience and spent some time at the WhoaZone on Lake Grapevine! We ended the stay with some time at the Dallas World Aquarium! And of course, we didn’t do half of the things that Dallas has to offer.
WhoaZone Grapevine, TX
In the summer, Klyde Warren Park is a fun place to cool down and beat the heat in the fountains. There are also several food trucks nearby. The museums also offer a nice reprieve from the sun. And the baseball park is now enclosed and air conditioned, so catch a baseball game and cheer on the Texas Rangers!
Dallas World Aquarium
I would recommend going to the Dallas or Fort Worth Zoo and the Dallas Arboretum in either the spring or fall when the weather is more pleasant. The Arboretum is gorgeous year round, but we especially love the pumpkin village in October! And you can watch the Dallas Cowboys play or tour the stadium at any time!
Dallas Arboretum
Nearby Grapevine is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas! I highly recommend visiting this neat town during the holiday season! Watch the Dallas Mavs play a basketball game or cheer on the Dallas Stars hockey team while you’re close by!
Our malls in the area offer great food, excellent high-end shopping, and other exciting experiences. The Galleria has an ice skating rink while The Grapevine Mills Mall has LEGOLAND and SeaLife Aquarium. The Stonebriar Mall in Frisco has KidsZania and The Shops at Willow Bend has a Crayola Experience! The North Park Mall has a duck and turtle pond and you cannot miss seeing The Trains at North Park during Christmastime!
Reunion Tower
There truly is so much to do here, in any season, for any and every one! And I never really touched on the amazingly delicious food, which you’ll just have to eat to believe. We’d love to welcome you to experience all that North Texas has to offer!
Click here for more information about visiting Dallas, Texas!
Glen Rose, Texas
Dinosaur World
If you’re fascinated with dinosaurs, then you need to add Glen Rose, TX to your travel bucket list! What makes Glen Rose so incredible are all of the unique activities this little town has to offer!
Glen Rose is known as the Dinosaur Capital of Texas and here you can actually search for real dinosaur footprints and tracks along the Paluxy River in Dinosaur Valley State Park! This activity is a family favorite of ours! We love throwing on our swimsuits and rain boots and exploring the river beds for tracks. Just be careful, it can be so slippery!
Real dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River
There’s also a fun family attraction called Dinosaur World that my boys love! This place has over a hundred life sized dinosaur replicas that show these dinosaurs in a natural setting. There are also different interactive exhibits and animatronics that we all enjoyed and I especially liked the assortment of fossils. My boys were all about the gift shop!
Dinosaur World
Fossil Rim is a fun wildlife center and drive through safari! We laughed so hard feeding the various animals that roamed past our vehicle. The giraffes are my most favorite, but we’ve never been lucky enough to have one come close enough to feed. One day it will happen though! Be prepared for lots of fun and lots of animal slobber!
Fossil Rim
Another exciting adventure in Glen Rose is Big Rocks Park! There’s not a lot of information about this place, I only found the address online and then happened to come across another blog or travel review about this place. We spent a full day here playing & climbing on the rocks and cooling off in the water. My boys really enjoyed the rope swings hanging from the trees! This park was pretty crowded when we visited, but fun was still had!
Big Rocks Park
We’ve camped in Glen Rose, we’ve visited just for a day trip, and we’ve also stayed at one of the hotels in town. There are lodging options available for all needs. On one of our camping trips to Glen Rose, we rented tubes and floated down the river. The rental company dropped us off with our tubes and then picked us back up where the river ended. It was a nice and relaxing float and you can really see the true beauty of Glen Rose and the Paluxy River!
Big Rocks Park
Click herefor more information about visiting Glen Rose, Texas!
San Antonio, Texas
River Walk
When I think of San Antonio I am always flooded with happy memories, dating back to my childhood! This is another place that I visited with my family and I had the most amazing time here on our 7th grade history trip many, many years ago. San Antonio is full of history, the most delicious food, and has always been a fun destination to visit!
If you follow our travels you might already know that I am a huge fan of our country’s history. So naturally, The Alamo ranks high on my list! The grounds around the Alamo are beautiful and the museum cannot be missed. Across the street from the Alamo you will also find some touristy places like a Ripley’s Believe it or Not, a haunted house, and a wax museum. These are fun if you’re looking for something extra to do!
The Alamo
The River Walk is one of my favorite attractions in Texas! It is absolutely gorgeous and I love nothing more than walking along the river taking in the all sights, stopping to eat Mexican food and sip a margarita, and shopping! There are several amazing restaurants and hotels right along the river. If you visit, you have to take a guided a boat ride on the river! We especially love visiting in December. They really do Christmas right and the millions of lights along the River Walk are magical!
River Walk decorated for the holidays!
I just recently visited the Historic Market Square and it truly felt like we were walking along the streets in Mexico. The colors, the sounds, the smells, ah I loved it all! But I didn’t take a single photo! The weather was so mild in December, we were able to sit outside on the patio and have Mexican food while listening to a singer perform. This was a fantastic stop on our way out of San Antonio and back home.
Natural Bridge Caverns is a great stop if you have kids or just really enjoy caves. We like to stop here on our way into San Antonio. It’s a nice way to get out of the car and stretch your legs. And there’s just something so fascinating about caves! I don’t have any recent digital photos here, but there are several on the website I linked above.
Click here for more information about visiting San Antonio, Texas!
There are so many other places to visit in Texas! I am including a list of other Texas destinations to add to your Texas travel bucket list! I have been to several of these places, but not recently and I only want to share places that I feel I can adequately give you details & share recent photos and recommendations about.
More Texas Travel Destinations:
Austin – Check out the TX state capital building, enjoy live music & great eats, hike or swim at one of the many parks/lakes!
Check back for more to come, I’ve realized that we need to take a few local trips in our home state! If you have a Texas destination or recommendation, I’d love for you to leave a comment!
Road Trip Queen 