Perfect Getaway Destinations Near Houston for Your Next Weekend Road Trip

Perfect Getaway Destinations Near Houston for Your Next Weekend Road Trip

We might be thinking by now that this isn’t the way we planned the year without road trips. But does that mean that we really can’t travel even for weekend trips by car? The article highlights all the possible pandemic weekend holidays via road trips that are very close to Houston. The destinations include beautiful places to be explored in Texas with safe social distancing protocols and fun-filled outdoor adventures.

But before we plan for even a small holiday road trip, we must be sure about the weather conditions. On small holiday trips, we hardly get enough time to spend, and in addition, any unwanted weather conditions can play spoilsport. 

Check weather websites like Tomorrow.io to get details of Houston and nearby places so that you can enjoy your weekend holiday road trip. Some of these weather websites have access to hyper local weather radar in Houston that provide the latest updates. 

Getaway Destinations Near Houston

1. Austin, Texas

Austin has a mixed relation of love and hatred with Houston. Yet the place has a little bit of everything: from entertaining outdoor activities to beer bars to food truck areas to mouth-watering delicacies. Places to explore in Austin include:

  • The Greenbelt which is a 12+ mile biking and hiking trail;
  • Mount Bonnell to have a wide-stretched city view;
  • Lady Bird Lake for one-side biking and hiking, standing paddle-boarding, and kayaking;
  • Enjoy a picnic at Zilker Park with pandemic guidelines of maintaining 6 feet distance from others;
  • Barton Springs to explore the gigantic natural pool, however, closed for swimming during pandemic times.

Austin is 165 miles drive from Houston and a drive of around 2 hours and 40 minutes by car. Don’t forget to taste the barbecues from the legends like la Barbecue and Franklin Barbecue during your visit.

2. Fredericksburg, Texas

Right in the middle of the Texas Hill Country is Fredericksburg town, a romantic and amiable small town to relax and rejuvenate. The town also hosts a number of open-air wineries.

In the village of villas and suites, you can plan a stay:

  • At the luxurious Hoffman Haus;
  • A romantic stay at Messina Hof Winery’s Manor Haus;
  • A non-disturbance and unnoticed holiday stay at Trois Estate;
  • Stay at the Magnolia House to experience pampered-filled services.

You can walk down the wine road to find 19 wineries, including Grape Creek Vineyards, Messina Hof, and Pedernales Cellars. Stroll through the Fredericksburg main street to explore bakeries, cafes, galleries, shops, and some tasting rooms.

Fredericksburg is 230 miles from Houston and takes around 3 hours and 40 minutes by car.

3. Lockhart, Texas

If you like to have some conventional-style smoked meat, then this flavoring-packed barbecue town is a must-visit. You can even plan a single day trip to the place but remember to pack some exotic food back home. Don’t forget to eat at the Big Three: Smitty’s Market (since 1948), Kreuz Market (since 1900), and Black’s Barbecue (since 1932).

Lockhart is 156 Miles from Houston and takes roughly around 2 hours and 15 minutes by car.

4. Galveston Island, Texas

Plan a stay at luxurious places like Hotel Galvez & spa or 1839 Tremont House or book through Airbnb for more alternatives. Most of the famous eateries of the island are still open for dine-in and takeout during these pandemic times as well. To name a few includes Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar, Rudy & Paco, Porch Café, and Mosquito Café.

On beach days, you can have fun at the beach. While on other days, you can walk around the famous Strand District, which displays festivity during holidays. However, the 70-block is open all year-round and hosts many museums, confectioneries, shops, theaters, and boutiques. 

Galveston Island is just 50 miles from Houston and is reachable within an hour.

5. San Antonio, Texas

Both River Walk and the Pearl are open during these pandemic times for the visitors. The place does continuous disinfecting and has sanitizing stations to encourage visits. You can stay at a hotel on Riverwalk and begin your morning with breakfast delights like potato pancakes and tacos. Or visit Hotel Emma in Pearl District and explore its chain of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

You can also plan for a short trip to the fabulous Alamo to revisit its history and spend the rest of your time at the historical Spanish colonial works. For amusement, you can visit SeaWorld and the Six Flag Fiesta.

San Antonio is 197 miles from Houston and an approximately 3-hour drive by car.

Enjoy Weekend Breaks Around Houston with Safety

Houston is in itself a fabulous city, but there are times when we want to ditch its traffic and humidity and plan a short holiday. Houston has many exotic places around it, which makes nearby getaways filled with entertaining road trips.

To get a break from this pandemic stress, plan a weekend trip with your soulmate, family, kids, or an entertaining road trip with friends. Make some memories over the long weekends. The road tours from Houston have too much to offer and that too within Texas.

Just don’t forget to pack the sanitizers and masks and plan for a wild and entertaining drive that you’ve waited for months.