Trip: Lone Star (Texas) –

The Lone Star (Texas) Trip

9 Days driving and hiking the hills and mountains of Texas

This 9-day trip focuses on two Texas cities -- Austin and San Antonio -- as well as the scenic Texas Hill Country, and the mountainous and sparsely populated West Texas region. Along the way, it visits both of the National Parks in Texas, a hike to the Lone Star State's highest point, and a canoe trip along the Rio Grande.

Day 1

Exploring San Antonio

Eating My Way Across Texas, Part 1: Rudy’s

As a thrifty traveler, I try to save as much money as I can when I’m traveling. The food budget ...

Texas

Dec 21, 2015

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San Antonio: The Alamo

There are many reasons San Antonio proudly boasts that it is “Deep in the Heart” of Texas. Geographically, the definition ...

Texas

Dec 21, 2015

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San Antonio: Riverwalk and Downtown

It seems like everybody loves downtown San Antonio. Unlike other cities, San Antonio is alive and vibrant, for tourists and ...

Texas

Dec 21, 2015

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Day 2

Exploring the Hill Country, and Austin

Lady Bird Lake & Austin’s Urban Bat Colony

To fully appreciate Austin’s downtown skyline, you’ll need to stick around until dusk. The city center is located on the ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Eating My Way Across Texas, Part 2: Hula Hut

After touring the Texas Capitol, I wanted to walk along the lakefront and take a few pictures of Austin’s beautiful ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Texas State Capitol Building

By now you’ve noticed, Texas is a pretty darned big state. So it only makes sense that Austin would have ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Mount Bonnell, overlooking Austin

To quickly get a lay-of-the-land, I made Mount Bonnell my first stop on my way into Austin, Texas. For more ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge

Instead of taking the fast route, TX 71, from Marble Falls to Austin, I opted for the scenic route through ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Marble Falls, Texas

First, the bad news. You’re not going to find a beautiful waterfall, cascading over sparkling marble rock, in Marble Falls, ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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LBJ Settlement, Johnson City, Texas

If you have a big interest in the 36th President of the United States, you’ll get a satisfying dose of ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Johnson City, Texas

You can’t even get into Johnson City, Texas, without being reminded of this small town’s ties to the White House. ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Blanco, Texas

Blanco is one of the quiet little towns that give the Texas Hill Country its “Good Old Days” character. It’s ...

Texas

Dec 21, 2015

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Day 3

More of the Texas Hill Country

Scenic FM 1340, Near Ingram, Texas The Search For ‘Stonehenge II’

I’ve visited a lot of Stonehenges as I’ve driven around the country. There’s a half-size replica cut with jets of ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Downtown Fredericksburg, Texas

A visit to the Texas Hill Country will inevitably include a stop in Fredericksburg, Texas. This tourist-friendly town built by ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Cross Mountain, above Fredericksburg

As I drove towards Fredericksburg, Texas, heading south on FM 965, I spotted a sign for “Cross Mountain”. I didn’t ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Enchanted Rock State Park

There are a few hills in the Texas Hill Country that look much different than all the rest, and they ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Llano, in the Texas Hill Country

After driving for a couple of hours through the Hill Country, Llano feels like a pretty big town. The Llano ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Side Trip: Ranch Road 2341 to Buchanan Lake

The night before this drive, I was scouring the internet, looking for possible places to see as I drove through ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Bertram & Burnet, in the Texas Hill Country

Setting out from Georgetown (north of Austin) on Day 3, I was once again facing cloudy skies that made the ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Day 4

Driving west... for a very long distance

Davis Mountains: TX 118 & McDonald Observatory

I was driving through one of the most beautiful parts of Texas, at the most beautiful time of the day. ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Davis Mountains Scenic Drive: TX 17 to Fort Davis

From Fort Stockton, my final destination for the day (Van Horn) was only 120 miles — that’s a mere 90 ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Fort Stockton: Paisano Pete

After driving for hours through West Texas, Fort Stockton’s wealth of things to see is downright delightful. Any visit should ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Scenic TX 290 through Sheffield, Texas

There isn’t much that can qualify as “scenic” as you drive through West Texas on Interstate 10. The landscape isn’t ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Sonora, Texas

The best reason to stop in Sonora, Texas isn’t even in town. It’s the Caverns of Sonora, eight miles away ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Rocksprings, Texas

After leaving Camp Wood, there isn’t much to see for about 30 miles, until you arrive in Rocksprings. There isn’t ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Hill Country: Scenic TX 16, Farm To Market 337

As Day 4 began, I hoped to accomplish two goals. For one, I needed to make my way across Texas, ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Day 5

A hike to the Top of Texas, plus a little New Mexico

Salt Flat Sunset, near Guadalupe Mountains

For the final fleeting moments of Day 5’s daylight, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. During my 2006 ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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The Big Room at Carlsbad Caverns

After my long hike to Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park (just a few miles down the road from ...

New Mexico

Dec 28, 2015

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Hike to Guadalupe Peak: Highest Point in Texas

On Day 5, I posted a status update on Facebook that I had hiked to the top of Texas. A ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park

As Day 5 began, I had just one goal: go for a hike in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. That seems ...

Texas

Dec 28, 2015

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Day 6

Destination: The Big Bend

Which city has the best rental car deals, and some bargain-hunting tips

Nothing can torpedo your travel budget as quickly as a crazy expensive rental car. So what U.S. cities are most ...

• Start Here

Mar 16, 2021

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Hammond or Hohman? The town where A Christmas Story was born

Every year, A Christmas Story takes us back to a simpler time when the holidays were actually pretty complicated. Ralphie’s quest ...

Indiana

Nov 28, 2020

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Indiana Dunes National Park: Worth the drive from Chicago?

The south end of Lake Michigan is crowded with industrial areas and steel mills. It makes the idea of a ...

Indiana

Nov 25, 2020

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Yes, I really did walk around Gary, Indiana

It’s probably a good thing I didn’t Google “is Gary, Indiana safe?” before I paid a visit. I knew that ...

Indiana

Nov 25, 2020

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April Road Trip: Where to Travel in April, Spring Trip Suggestions

Spring has arrived and it’s time to hit the road! The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, ...

• Where To Travel This Month

Jan 28, 2019

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May Road Trip: Where to Travel in May and Late Spring

Summer has almost arrived, but the kids are still in school. That’s good, if you’re looking for a bargain on ...

• Where To Travel This Month

Jan 28, 2019

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June Road Trip: Where to Travel in June

Summer has arrived, and suddenly you have a million choices of where you should go on a June road trip. ...

• Where To Travel This Month

Jan 28, 2019

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July Road Trip: Where to Travel in July

July is a great time to travel just about anywhere in the U.S. The weather is great, snow has melted, ...

• Where To Travel This Month

Jan 28, 2019

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August Road Trip: Where to Travel in August & Late Summer

Summer is starting to wind down, but the weather is still nice and warm across the U.S. It’s the perfect ...

• Where To Travel This Month

Jan 28, 2019

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Guide to Big Bend National Park

Includes Day 6, 7, 8, and 9

Day 9

Leaving Big Bend, and back to San Antonio

US 90 Across Texas: Pecos River

During my final morning in Big Bend National Park, I spent every last moment possible hiking, before setting out on ...

Texas

Dec 30, 2015

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Marathon, Texas

With the Big Bend area behind me, a long drive awaited. It’s the unfortunate but inevitable end to a West ...

Texas

Dec 30, 2015

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Main Menu

The Lone Star (Texas) Trip

9 Days driving and hiking the hills and mountains of Texas

Day 1

Exploring San Antonio

Day 2

Exploring the Hill Country, and Austin

Day 3

More of the Texas Hill Country

Day 4

Driving west... for a very long distance

Day 5

A hike to the Top of Texas, plus a little New Mexico

Day 6

Destination: The Big Bend

Guide to Big Bend National Park

Includes Day 6, 7, 8, and 9

Day 9

Leaving Big Bend, and back to San Antonio