If you’re thinking about driving from Houston out to Big Bend, I’ll say this upfront — how you get there matters just as much as being there.
This isn’t a trip where you just hop on I-10 and cruise. The route, the stops, your timing, and even when you fill up gas can completely change your experience.
Here’s how our trip went — and what I’d absolutely do again (and what I wouldn’t).
Houston to Marathon — Start Early, Thank Yourself Later
We left Houston at 5:00 a.m., and I can’t recommend that enough.
The drive was honestly easy. Almost surprisingly so. No traffic leaving Houston, smooth sailing through San Antonio around 8 a.m., and we never felt like we had to rush or drive aggressively to make good time.
If you take one thing from this post: leave early. It changes the entire tone of the trip.
Take US-90 — Trust Me on This One
After San Antonio, we made a conscious decision to get off I-10 and take US-90, and I’d do it again every time.
As you get closer to Del Rio and Lake Amistad, the scenery just opens up. You start seeing the rocky terrain, the wide sky, the kind of views you’re actually hoping for on a West Texas trip.
It’s not dramatic at first — but it builds, and by the end of the day, you realize it was 100% the right call.
Stops That Are Actually Worth It
Julio’s in Del Rio
We had to stop for Julio’s tortilla chips — something we already loved — and it turned into a fun little break. Quick stop, grabbed some spicy chips, took a couple pictures, stretched our legs. Nothing complicated, but it set the tone for the day.
Lake Amistad — Diablo East
We took a short detour here, and it ended up being one of those quiet, unexpected highlights. Nobody else around, dry rocky shoreline, tons of prickly pear cactus. It’s not a jump-in-and-swim kind of place, but it’s peaceful and a great way to break up the drive.
Pecos River Bridge
This is where the scenery really starts to show off. We pulled over, took some pictures, and just stood there for a minute taking it in. Only caution — cars and trucks are flying across that bridge. It’s not busy, but it’s fast. Be smart about where you park and walk.
Langtry — Unexpected Favorite Stop
We almost skipped this. We pulled into the Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center mostly just to use the restroom — and ended up staying longer than expected. Small museum that’s actually interesting, old courtroom and living quarters, a peaceful garden area, and tons of travel guides and maps we actually used later. Even my daughter was into it, which says a lot. This is the kind of stop that makes a road trip feel like a road trip.
Real Talk — Gas Is a Big Deal Out Here
Between Comstock and Sanderson, there’s basically nothing for 80+ miles.
I’ll be honest — I wasn’t sure we were going to make it. I have never been happier to see a gas station than when we rolled into Sanderson.
Don’t push it. Fill up earlier than you think you need to.
Where to Stay — Marathon, TX
We stayed at the Gage Hotel, and it ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.
Marathon itself is tiny — basically one main road — but that’s part of the charm.
The hotel had big comfortable rooms with an old western feel, a great courtyard and pool area, the White Buffalo Bar with a really cool relaxed vibe, and one of the better meals we had on the trip at 12 Gage. We also walked over to the Gage Gardens after dinner — nothing fancy, just a quiet peaceful walk after being in the car all day. Exactly what we needed.
Big Bend — Plan Your Day Carefully
We grabbed a quick breakfast and headed into Big Bend National Park. Even though Marathon looks close on a map, it still takes about 45 minutes just to get into the main part of the park — build that into your timing.
Lost Mine Trail — Don’t Miss This One
We got lucky and found a parking spot (there aren’t many), and this ended up being one of my favorite hikes I’ve done anywhere. Great views the entire way, plenty of photo spots, manageable distance at about 2.5 hours round trip. If you do one hike in Big Bend, make it this one.
Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to Santa Elena Canyon
This drive is just awesome. The road winds through different landscapes and there are multiple spots where you’ll want to pull over and take it all in. By the time we got to Santa Elena Canyon it was pushing 95 degrees. We walked around, checked out the trail, and decided not to cross the river to fully hike it. Sometimes the smart travel decision is knowing when you’re done for the day.
Terlingua — One of the Coolest Stays We’ve Done
We stayed at Basecamp Terlingua in bubble pods, and they’re as cool as they look.
Air-conditioned (very important out here), clear ceiling over the bed for stargazing, a big east-facing window, and a private outdoor space with a hot tub. It was brutally hot when we got there, but once the sun went down it completely changed.
Dinner at Starlight Theatre
We ate at Starlight Theatre and it lived up to the hype. Live music, great atmosphere, better food than expected. And yes — the prickly pear margarita was worth it.
The Best Part — The Night Sky
Later that night, sitting outside, we watched shooting stars — probably 5 to 10 over the course of an hour or two. No crowds. No noise. Just a huge sky. That alone made the trip worth it.
More Hiking and Adjusting Plans
The next morning came early whether we wanted it to or not — the sun comes right through those bubble pods.
On the way into the basin, we spotted a black bear just wandering along the road. We later found out his name was Lanky, which somehow made it even better.
We had planned to hike the Window Trail, but after talking to the ranger and realizing the timing and heat, we pivoted. Instead we did the Laguna Trail — less scenic than Lost Mine, still a solid hike, and more importantly doable in the heat. We wrapped up around mid-afternoon, completely worn out.
Dinner in Lajitas
That night we drove over to Lajitas Golf Resort. We couldn’t get into the main restaurant so we ended up at the pizza place — and honestly it was great. Walked around after, saw a skunk casually roaming the courtyard (kept our distance), and enjoyed a slower evening. Back at the pod we wrapped up the night in the hot tub watching more shooting stars.
The Smart Way Back
Instead of pushing all the way back in one shot, we broke it up. Took a different route through Alpine — cooler and more mountainous — then back to I-10.
San Antonio Reset
We stayed at La Cantera Resort & Spa, and it was the perfect way to end the trip. After a few days in the desert this felt like a reward. Pool time, good food, relaxed atmosphere. We even caught fireworks from Six Flags Fiesta Texas from the overlook, which was a great unexpected bonus.
Final Takeaways — What Actually Matters
Do this:
- Leave Houston early
- Take US-90
- Fill up gas often
- Start hikes early
- Book Terlingua well in advance
Skip this:
- Don’t rely on finding gas
- Don’t hike big trails mid-day in summer
- Don’t assume shortcuts are worth it
This trip isn’t complicated — but it rewards you for doing the basics right.
The best parts weren’t just the destinations — they were the small decisions along the way. Taking the scenic route. Stopping when we didn’t plan to. Knowing when to push and when to call it.
Get those right, and this becomes one of those trips you’ll talk about for a long time.
