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Lush landscapes scattered all around
- Even though you’ll feel nowhere as though you’re driving through the mountains of Switzerland, what makes the Texas Swiss Alps drive so special are the lush landscapes scattered all around, even in the peak of summer! With elevations ranging between 1,400 to 2,400 feet above sea level, and deep canyons formed by the Frio and Nueces Rivers.
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May 3, 2024 · Even though you’ll feel nowhere as though you’re driving through the mountains of Switzerland, what makes the Texas Swiss Alps drive so special are the lush landscapes scattered all around, even in the peak of summer!
- Willow City Loop
- Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
- Davis Mountains Scenic Loop
- Lonesome Highway
- Texas Swiss Alps Scenic Drive
- The River Road
- Devil’s Backbone
- Bluewater Highway
- Canyon Sweep
Why you should go:It’s one of the most popular ways to enjoy the state’s wildflowers. 1. Distance:23 miles 2. Drive time without stops: 50 minutes Driving the Willow City Loopdoesn’t require too much preparation seeing as it’s only 23 miles long. While short on distance, the rural stretch of road delivers on views as it’s located in a beautiful par...
Why you should go: Soak up the rugged, majestic beauty of Big Bend National Park. 1. Distance:31 miles 2. Drive time without stops: 45 minutes (one way) Find yourself down south in Big Bend National Park? Then you should make some time for the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. Snaking between the Chisos Mountains and Burro Mesa, this paved route takes you...
Why you should go:See what the mountains of Texas are like on the state’s highest highway. 1. Distance:75 miles 2. Drive time without stops: 1 hour, 30 minutes Texas has mountains? You betchya. Out in West Texas, the Davis Mountains reach an elevation of 8,383 feet (Mount Livermore) and a few other peaks in the range top over 7,000 feet. To get a s...
Why you should go:Be the only car on a drive leading to the Guadalupe Mountains. 1. Distance:59 miles 2. Drive time without stops: 50 minutes When talking about mountains in Texas, you can’t forget about the Guadalupe Mountains. Guadalupe Peak (or Signal Peak) is the highest peak in the range. It reaches an elevation of 8,751 above sea level, makin...
Why you should go:For quintessential Hill Country vistas. 1. Distance:107 miles 2. Drive time without stops: 2 hours Okay, no: you probably won’t feel like you’re in the Swiss Alps along this scenic drivelike the name suggests, but you will be treated to some excellent views that define the Hill Country landscape. There’s lots and lots of green, an...
Why you should go:A remote adventure by the Mexico border for those with the right kind of car. 1. Distance:59 miles 2. Drive time without stops: 4 hours The River Road, also called the El Camino del Rio: this scenic desert drive lies near the Texas-Mexico border and roughly follows the Rio Grande. Depending on who you ask, The River Road usually r...
Why you should go:A loop that takes you through the gorgeous Hill Country. 1. Distance:50 miles 2. Drive time without stops: 1 hour The name may sound intense, but not to worry: The Devil’s Backbone drive is a laid-back route following a ridge through the Texas Hill Country. This loop goes between Blanco and Wimberley, both charming towns with wort...
Why you should go:A seaside drive to rival southern California. 1. Distance:40 miles 2. Drive time without stops:1 hour If coastal drives are your thing, then the so-called Bluewater Highway is for you. This route reaches from Surfside Beach (a city south of Houston that locals simply call “Surfside”) all the way to the tip of Galveston Island, a p...
Why you should go:See two impressive canyons, including the “The Grand Canyon of Texas.” 1. Distance:126 Miles 2. Drive time without stops: 2 hours Did you know that the second-largest canyon in the country is actually in Texas? It’s Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle, and not too far from there, there’s another one at Caprock Canyons State Pa...
- Texas Hill Country
- Willow City Loop. The Willow City Loop is a 13-mile stretch of Hill Country road over hills and valleys, offering stunning views of creeks, meadows, and yucca-filled cliffs.
- Swiss Alps of Texas. This loop spans between 80 and 130 miles, depending on the route and stops you prefer to make. It crosses the Medina and Sabinal Rivers and takes you to the sweeping vistas of the Swiss Alps of Texas in Leakey.
- Gruene-Fredericksburg-Bandera Loop. This beautiful drive follows scenic roads between Gruene, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and Bandera. You can take in stunning views of the countryside, farmland, rivers, ponds, orchards, native flora and rolling hills.
- San Antonio. The 22-acre Pearl mixed-use development was formerly a brewery, and Hotel Emma was the main brewhouse that was transformed into a top 146 room luxury hotel that keeps winning awards.
- Uvalde. Located halfway between San Antonio and the Mexican border at Del Rio, Uvalde has some unique sites along our driving tour. The first floor of the Briscoe-Garner Museum documents the life of Uvalde’s “Cactus Jack” Garner, vice president of the United States during President Roosevelt’s first two terms.
- Leakey. Known as the Swiss Alps of Texas and one of the most picturesque areas of the rugged Hill Country, Leakey (LAY-key) is 35 miles north of Uvalde.
- Bandera. Bandera, known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, is situated on the banks of the Medina River, in the Texas Hill Country, an hour’s drive northwest of San Antonio.
- Highway 16. On a map, Highway 16 looks like a dividing line that cuts the state nearly in half, running straight through the heart of Texas. It starts just 46 miles from the Rio Grande, meanders northward for a whopping 550 miles, and concludes at a Texas small town called Windthorst, just short of the Oklahoma border.
- Canyon Sweep. When you search for the most scenic drives in Texas, Canyon Sweep scores a spot on pretty much any list worth its salt. And it’s easy to see why.
- Highway 207. According to locals, the best views of Palo Duro Canyon aren’t actually in the eponymous state park but along this very route! Highway 207 is a quiet 48-mile stretch of road that leads you deeper into the rocky red landscapes of the Texas panhandle, passing from Claude to Silverton.
- Texas Lighthouse Trail Scenic Drive. So you’ve gotten to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, but did you know you can actually drive through the canyon itself?
River Road. If you want to see the epitome of a scenic Texas drive, try the River Road – it’s where you can explore the Texas-Mexico border, following the winding path of the Rio Grande. It traces through striking West Texas landscapes from the ghost town of Terlingua to Presidio.
Roll on to Leakey, bearer of yet another lofty moniker, the Swiss Alps of Texas. The majestic 2,400-foot rock faces seem beyond compare to me, but you can debate that over a cold one at the...
