We love SETX, but sometimes you just need to get away. And one of Beaumont’s biggest selling points is accessibility -- how easy it is to get somewhere else and how many different environments and regions you can explore within a few hours. As the year of road trips continues, we have plenty of suggestions whether you’re looking for a beach, city, or small town for a quickie drive or extended jaunt thanks to Beaumont’s central southern location.
Austin (3.5 Hours)
One of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Austin’s cool factor isn’t exactly a secret, but a major draw. A college town jigsawed into the state capital; it’s an eclectic mix of hipster finds, great music, foodie spots, and street art that’s second to none. Their slogan of “keep it weird” is rightfully earned between bars hosting quirky events like chicken shit bingo and cathedrals of junk major being attractions.
Distance: 250 miles
Recommended Length: 2-3 days
Trip Type: Foodie Fun, Weird/Wacky Finds, Photography/Art Enthusiasts
Best For: Girlfriend Getaways, Mancations, Solo Travelers
Don’t Miss: Meandering Sixth Street, paddling Lady Bird Lake, finding your favorite food truck, mural hopping, and seeing the largest urban bat colony in North America on Congress Bridge
If You Have More Time: Spend a few days in Fredericksburg and Hill Country, Texas’s wine region, or hit up one Texas’s natural spring swimming holes like Barton Springs.
Dallas/Fort Worth (4 Hours)
If you’re craving a city escape that’s a little further afield than Houston, Dallas and neighboring Fort Worth, are metropolitan, millennial hubs with plenty of murals and public art, great eats, and eclectic attractions. From history to botanical gardens, take in the sights, catch a game, eat your way around town, and explore the vibrant neighborhoods like Deep Ellum.
Distance: 285 miles
Recommended Length: 2-3 days
Trip Type: City Escape, Foodie Fun, Sports Lovers, Cultural Connoisseurs
Best For: Families, Girlfriend Getaway, Couple’s Retreat, Mancations
Don’t Miss: The Stockyards’ daily cattle drive, The Sixth Floor Museum (where JFK was assassinated), and Cowboy’s Stadium, the largest domed structure in the world, which you can tour year-round
If You Have More Time: Extend your trip to Plano and cool off at the famous Texas-shaped pool.
New Orleans, LA (4 hours)
“The Big Easy” is one of America’s most sought-after cities for its vibrant music scene, Cajun cuisine, and unique melting pot of culture. It embodies the Mardi Gras spirit year-round with colorful characters, festive parades, voodoo undertones, haunted history, and European-inspired architecture. It’s the place to let loose with a to-go cocktail, find your new favorite performer, and get lost in more sense than one as every day is a reason to celebrate life in Nola.
Distance: 260 miles
Recommended Length: 3-4 days
Trip Type: Festival Enthusiasts, Foodie Fun, History Lovers, Booze-Infused Getaways
Best For: Girlfriend Getaways, Mancations, Couple’s Retreat, Solo Travelers
Don’t Miss: Meander beguiling Bourbon Street, listen to live jazz, go on a ghost tour through the French Quarter and see the Cemetery, eat everything from beignets to po’ boys
If You Have More Time: Hit the tables in Lake Charles, the Vegas of the South on the way back.
San Antonio (4 Hours)
A city where everything old is new again, San Antonio is home to one of the Lone Star State’s most important landmarks. Dedicated to the Texas Revolution and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while history abounds, at the Alamo and the Missions, that contrasts with the modern development of the River Walk, the largest urban ecosystem in the nation. Lined with restaurants and shops, you can explore on foot or by boat taking in the sights and sounds smells of Texas.
Distance: 280 miles
Recommended Length: 2 days
Trip Type: History Buffs, Ancient Marvels, Arts and Culture
Best For: Families, Solo Travelers
Don’t Miss: The Alamo, The Riverwalk, The Missions National Historical Park, Natural Bridge Caverns
If You Have More Time: Combine it with a trip to Austin or Hill Country.
Corpus Christi (4 hours)
One of Texas’s most desirable coastal getaways, Corpus Christi has both city and shore for a beach getaway unlike any other. Try windsurfing at Padre National Seashore and relax on the sand at one of the world's longest barrier islands. Watch the waves from the seawall, pay homage to local legend Selena, at her namesake museum and singing statue, and admire the marine life at one of the best aquariums in the country overlooking the water.
Distance: 290 miles
Recommended Length: 2-3 Days
Trip Type: Beach Getaway, Watersports, R&R, Active Adventure
Best For: Couples, Families
Don’t Miss: Touring the USS Lexington, the Texas State Aquarium, Horseback Riding on the Beach
If You Have More Time: Keep heading down the coast to Mustang or South Padre Island.
Hot Springs, Arkansas (6 Hours)
As America’s first resort town and spa getaway, Hot Springs is a curious mix of culture with something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to get off the grid or explore a charming Midwest town, there are mountainous overlooks, waterfall trails, and lakes aplenty, plus eclectic museums (dedicated to the area’s mobster past), one of the finest racetracks in the country, eclectic eats and boutiques. Home to America’s first national park, it’s a place to enjoy the historic bathhouses, get lost in nature, and embrace being a tourist on a carriage ride or duck boat. There’s a little bit of everything from baseball history to political memorabilia.
Distance: 380 Miles
Recommended Length: 2-3 Days
Trip Type: Spa R&R, Nature Reprieve, Small Town Charm
Best For: Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Rendezvous, Family Travelers
Don’t Miss: Garvan Woodland Gardens, which is home to architectural marvels like Anthony Cathedral and a 1.8 million dollar treehouse, Lake Catherine State Park where you can rent boats or go for a waterfall hike, Hot Springs National Park, the first and smallest national park in the country, Bathhouse Row for sp-aaah time
If You Have More Time: Extend your trip to Little Rock, which is just an hour further.
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