Explore 3 distinctive road trips you can enjoy from Houston, all within a four-hour drive.

As one of the five most populous cities in the United States, Houston boasts over 2 million residents. In Houston, you have immediate access to a vibrant array of exquisite dining options, the Space Center and NASA, renowned museums, expansive parks, professional sports teams, and much more.

However, there are times when, despite all the attractions in your own city, you crave a change of scenery and a break from the hustle and bustle.

Given that Texas spans approximately 800 miles, if you want to limit your drive to a comfortable four hours in either direction, you likely won’t be crossing state lines for this particular road trip. Within four hours from Houston, you could technically venture into parts of Louisiana or get close to Arkansas or Oklahoma, but you’ll most likely remain in the Lone Star State.

Keeping that in mind, here are three uniquely different road trips within Texas that you can embark on from Houston using less than a single tank of gas.

Texas Hill Country

Travel Time from Houston: 3 hours

Activities: Prepare to disconnect, dip your feet in the refreshing water, and enjoy a chilled beverage.

In the Texas Hill Country, you can explore lakes, rivers, and hiking trails in charming Central Texas towns like Wimberley, New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Fredericksburg, and Luckenbach.

This region is rich in wineries and features must-visit swimming holes. In Wimberley, you can check out Blue Hole (perfect for relaxing and rope swinging) and Jacob's Well (ideal for jumping off the surrounding rocks). About 30 miles west of Austin, you'll discover Hamilton Pool, another excellent spot to refresh in the Hill Country.

Ultimately, for a genuine escape, I favor Wimberley, where you can retreat to a cabin along the Blanco River and easily stroll into town for dining and shopping at local, independent shops when you're ready for a touch of civilization.

When you're ready to take in the scenery, climb the 218 stone steps of Old Baldy for a stunning aerial perspective of the region.

An added perk is that you’ve likely burned enough calories to indulge in an extra snack or drink, which are plentiful in the area.

Accommodation: Reserve a cabin at The Waters Point in Wimberley, offering options from one to three bedrooms. Rates typically range from $200 to $400 per night.

In one of these cabins, like the two-bedroom Pioneer Cabin shown above, you will enjoy exclusive access to half a mile of the Blanco River, and you can easily stroll into town or take a quick three-minute drive to Blue Hole to leap into the refreshing water below.

While it offers a different vibe than Wimberley, if you're looking for a Hill Country experience using hotel points, consider the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort in Bastrop for 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night or the Hyatt Regency Hill Country near San Antonio for 15,000 points per night, or use a Category 1–4 award you receive annually with the World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Dining and Drinking: If you're in Wimberley, be sure to have dinner at Leaning Pear (open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner). We enjoyed everything we ordered, but the wood-fired pizza, Leaning Pear house salad, fried avocado tostada, and fried Brussels sprouts were our favorites.

Don't forget to grab some breakfast pastries from the Sugar Shack Bakery next to the Leaning Pear. This way, you'll have delicious treats ready for the morning. (Make sure to get the cinnamon and sugar croissants if they’re available!) If you’re in the mood for a meal with live music by the river, check out Ino'z in Wimberley.

Bolivar Peninsula

Travel Time: Approximately 1.5 hours, depending on the ferry schedule or if you choose to drive through Winnie without using the ferry.

Activities: You head to the 27-mile stretch of beach on Bolivar Peninsula from Houston to experience the sound, sight, or feel of the waves without spending all day in the car traveling to a more distant beach. To reach Bolivar, you can either take a longer drive to bypass the ferry or enjoy a complimentary 2.7-mile ferry ride from Galveston to the peninsula, accommodating both vehicles and pedestrians. Whichever option you choose, you’ll quickly find yourself far removed from the city.

Many visitors to Bolivar enjoy renting golf carts to cruise along the shoreline. You can also try your hand at fishing, whether from the beach or out in the bay.

Accommodation: If you plan to spend the night in Crystal Beach or other areas of Bolivar, you’ll likely want to rent a beach house. It might surprise you, especially if you haven’t visited Bolivar in some time, but many of the beach houses are quite nice and relatively new. After Hurricane Ike devastated Bolivar in 2008—destroying thousands of homes, claiming lives, and bringing winds exceeding 100 miles per hour along with a significant storm surge—the area has seen remarkable rebuilding efforts.

Now, over a decade later, new beach houses line the shore, many of which can be rented through local companies or platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

If you really want to utilize your points, consider staying in Galveston instead of Bolivar, where you can redeem 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night at the historic beachfront Hotel Galvez. Another nearby option is the Homewood Suites by Hilton, located close to the ferry landing in Galveston, which can be booked for around 30,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

However, for an authentic Bolivar experience, opt for a beach house rental if possible.

Dining and Drinking: Can you say you’ve truly visited Bolivar if you didn’t indulge in a basket of Gulf Coast fried shrimp at Stingarees? Probably not. Located in Crystal Beach along the Intracoastal Canal, Stingarees is celebrated for its seafood, refreshing drinks, live music, and stunning sunsets. My family can’t visit Bolivar without stopping (at least once or twice) at Stingarees. Extra points if you spot tugs and barges passing by during your meal.

Another favored dining destination on Bolivar is Steve's Landing, where my family highly recommends the shrimp and grits. For a quick breakfast when you’d rather not make your own pancakes, stop by Dannay's Donuts or Third Coast Coffee.

San Antonio

Travel Time: 3 hours west via I-10

Activities: San Antonio is just a three-hour drive from Houston (assuming traffic is light), yet it feels like a completely different world. There’s an abundance of things to do, sights to see, and delicious food to enjoy in San Antonio, but you can’t miss spending time on the Riverwalk in downtown. A fun way to familiarize yourself with the area is to take a narrated riverboat cruise along the water. After that, make sure to indulge in some chips, dip, tacos, and maybe a refreshing margarita.

Close to the Riverwalk, you'll find the iconic Alamo. While it's definitely a must-see, it's just one of many missions in the region. The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park features four distinct mission sites you can explore during your visit.

If the outdoor adventures become too steamy (which is likely in the summer), you can escape underground to the Natural Bridge Caverns, plunging up to 180 feet beneath the surface, where the temperature remains a comfortable 70 degrees year-round.

For more family-friendly indoor activities in San Antonio, consider visiting the DoSeum, designed for children up to around 10 years old. For older kids and adults, the Witte Museum is highly recommended and even offers free admission on Tuesday evenings if you plan your visit accordingly.

Where to stay: There are numerous hotels situated on or near the Riverwalk. You can use Marriott points to reserve a room at the historic St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection hotel, for 30,000 to 40,000 Marriott points per night. While the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk may not be as luxurious, it boasts a prime location for 12,000 Hyatt points per night. If you're looking for a more resort-like experience, the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort, located just outside the city, features a lazy river, waterslide, shaded pools, and much more.

Where to eat: You can't visit San Antonio without indulging in some Tex-Mex cuisine, and you'll have a wealth of choices to satisfy your cravings. Popular spots include La Margarita, Mi Tierra (open 24 hours with a bakery), and Boudro's, known for its beloved prickly pear margarita that has its own fan club.

If you're in the mood for chicken wings, Cullum's Attagirl offers a fantastic variety of flavors. TPG's Benet Wilson raves about the Nashville hot and the surprisingly delightful peanut butter and jelly wings. For something sweet, Bird Bakery is highly recommended for its delicious cupcakes and cookies.

In conclusion

When you're in Houston and have a full tank ready to go, you'll find a wealth of experiences just a few hours' drive away, all vastly different from urban life. Whether it's the cool rivers and shady trees of the Hill Country, the lively salsa and rich culture of San Antonio, or the leisurely beach days in Bolivar, there's no reason to confine yourself to the shadow of Houston's skyscrapers—get out and explore!