Sure, there’s plenty to do in the diverse city of Houston, Texas, where you can spend a day browsing museums, shopping, playing at the beach or park, or trying various restaurants. But, there’s even more to do if you widen your scope and consider the many great day trips from Houston. Here are some of our favorites, easily accessible excursions when you need a break from the urban jungle.
Day Trips Less Than an Hour from Houston
Kemah Boardwalk (45 mins from Houston)
The whole family will love Kemah Boardwalk, complete with amusements, shopping and dining. Hop on the Ferris wheel or ride the double-decker carousel, play midway games and at the arcade and blow off steam at the playground. There are entertaining seaside shows and plenty of shopping and restaurants for all tastes.
Space Center Houston & Johnson Space Center (40 mins from Houston)
Have a great time and learn a lot, too, when you visit Space Center Houston and the Johnson Space Center, one of the area’s most famous attractions. Learn about space shuttles from various eras of the space program, read about the astronauts who flew in them and take a look at the inside of a replica Independence shuttle. There’s an interactive Mission Mars exhibit as well as the chance to tour astronaut-training facilities and mission control in the Johnson Space Center. This is a day trip that’s just as much fun for parents as it is for kids!
Katy (30 mins from Houston)
Get back to Texas’ cowboy roots in Katy, home to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. Attend a horse show, rodeo or livestock event, then cool off at the Typhoon Texas waterpark. Or, spend a shady afternoon in the Katy Railroad Heritage Museum, Katy Heritage Museum or Katy War Veterans Memorial and Museum.
Conroe (40 mins from Houston)
Spend a fun day at the lake at Conroe – home to jetskiing, kayaking, rafting and boating. Out of the water, you can go mini golfing, go-karting, bowling and even take on an outdoor obstacle course. At day’s end, visit Bartletts Distillery or Southern Star Brewing for a tasting.
Blessington Farms (50 mins from Houston)
Pick vine-ripe berries and vegetables, and meet the adorable animals, at Blessington Farms in Wallis. You can fish here, too, but bring your own bait. Feed the Quaker parrots, climb the Spider Web, play in the sand mountain and take a barrel train ride.
Brazos Bend State Park (50 mins from Houston)
Get out in nature on hikes, bike rides and horseback rides at Brazos Bend State Park. Fish from the shore or pier – no fishing license necessary.
Galveston (1 hr from Houston)
Galveston is just as much fun as you’ve heard and one of the most popular day-trip destinations from Houston. Plus, it’s the closest beach to Houston. Swim at Galveston Beach, Porretto Beach or East Beach, then head to the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier for amusement rides, midway games and family-friendly fun. There are lots of local restaurants to try, as well as breweries to visit. Check out Moody’s Mansion, the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum, The Strand District and the Galveston Island Railroad Museum.
Sam Houston National Forest (1 hr from Houston)
Lose yourself in the Piney Woods at Sam Houston National Forest, home to a network of beautiful hiking trails, great camping and canoeing and kayaking spots.
Navasota & Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
If you’re a history buff, take a day trip to Navasota and the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, known for antiquing and interesting Texas historical sites. Search for treasures at Circle P Antiques and Collectibles, Bluebonnet Village Collectible, Pink Champagne Antiques and Stonecroft Marketplace. Outside Navasota, you’ll find the site where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed and the 1850s Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site.
Day Trips Under 2 Hours Away from Houston
College Station (1 hr, 30 mins from Houston)
If you can, time your trip to College Station with football season so you can catch the Texas A&M University team playing at historic Kyle Field. Even if you’re not there in the fall, you’ll enjoy exploring the campus of this beautiful university, home to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which includes a replica Oval Office and the Presidential limousine. Check out the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, the Brazos Valley National History Museum, the Children’s Museum (in nearby Bryan) – and definitely indulge at Lamar and Niki’s Pit Barbeque and Soul Food before leaving town.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (1 hr, 20 mins from Houston)
Commune with the wildlife at Anahuac as you hike the nature trails, take a guided walk or go boating. The Butterfly Garden is known for its beautiful flowers, plants and tiny winged gems, while The Willows is home to migrating birds in the spring and fall.
Beaumont (1 hr, 15 mins from Houston)
Perhaps the most popular attraction in Beaumont, the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown living museum will teach you all about life in a boomtown at the start of the 20th century. Be sure to watch the Lucas Gusher reenactment. While you’re in town, visit the McFaddin-Ward House Museum, the Fire Museum of Texas and the Clifton Steamboat Museum. Then, get outside to explore the Beaumont Botanical Gardens and the Warren Loose Conservatory with their modern and antique roses and native plants. And don’t miss the huge, dalmatian-spotted fire hydrant outside Beaumont – one of the state’s most famous and recognizable roadside attractions.
Day Trips Under 3 Hours Away from Houston
Austin (2 hrs, 30 mins from Houston)
If you’re committed to a very long, but rewarding day, take a day trip to the capital of Texas – Austin. Start early to avoid traffic. Known as the live music capital of the world, Austin is home to up to 100 live performances per night – and hosts some of the world’s best music festivals. Join the locals for music and nightlife on Dirty Sixth, West Sixth or Rainey Street. By day, take a walk down South Congress for eclectic boutique shopping, go hiking or canoeing in Zilker Park, swim in the natural Barton Springs Pool or take a tour of the state capitol building, the governor’s mansion or the Bullock Texas State History Museum.