We’re truly trippin’

Texas cruises to No. 2 spot on list of best states for summer road trips

There's plenty of Lone Star State to explore.

Courtesy photo

With nearly 680,000 miles of roads, Texas outranks every other state for the amount of vehicle routes. It should come as little surprise, then, that Texas also ranks among the best states for summer road trips.

A new list from personal finance website WalletHub hails Texas as the No. 2 state for summer road trips. New York (New York?!) lands in the top position.

WalletHub crunched 33 different datapoints about all 50 states to come up with its ranking, designed to “find the most fun, scenic, and wallet-friendly road-trip destinations.” Ranking factors included number of attractions, road conditions, and travel costs.

With a first-place showing being the best, here’s how Texas stacked up:

No. 3 for average gas prices.
No. 4 for lowest price of a three-star hotel room.
No. 5 for number of attractions.
No. 7 for nightlife options per capita.
No. 9 for driving laws.
No. 12 for scenic byways.
No. 19 for vehicle miles traveled per capita.

From Palo Duro Canyon to Padre Island, the Lone Star State delivers near-endless opportunities for road trips. AAA Texas predicts a sharp rise in overnight road trips this summer compared with the previous two years.

“There’s absolutely no better way to explore the Lone Star State than on an epic Texas road trip. … From Texas’ largest cities to its open plains, from its laid-back beach towns to its wine country, there is no shortage of variety when it comes to what you can experience in Texas,” the Lone Star Travel Guideobserves.

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festival news

Hill Country festival to showcase 30+ local wineries in November

Vinovium.wine

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Locals looking for a break from the madness of Austin's busy festival circuit will find a fun autumnal adventure at the Texas Wine Jam, which is making its return from November 7-10 in Johnson City.

The annual fest brings together Hill Country wineries and local musicians for a four-day weekend full of delicious sips, bites, and live music performances at Vinovium Winery, located at 214 Edmonds Ave. in Johnson City. The festival benefits local nonprofits the SIMS Foundation and Texas Wine Community Scholarships; $4 from every ticket sale will be donated to the two organizations.

The 31 participating wineries at this year's extravaganza include 12 Fires Winery & Vineyard, Blackmon Wines, Farmhouse Vineyards, Lost Draw Wines, Lost Oak Winery, Michael Ros Winery, Rivenburgh Wine, Texas Heritage Vineyard, William Chris Vineyards, Wine For The People, and many more.

The festival's music lineup, hosted by international comedian Jacob James Garcia, includes Fun Gus & The Shrooms, Above The Law, Square Grooves, Tropicana Joe, and more. While enjoying the live sets, attendees can also browse from a selection of local artisan vendors and dine on culinary offerings from Mystic Lobster Rolls, Reel Deal, and Jax Hill Country Kitchen, among others.

Notable happenings during the festival include:

Thursday, November 7 from 7-10 pm – Merlot tasting and Dueling Blues performances by Ben Beckendorf & Todd Roth
Friday, November 8 from 6-9 pm – Syrah pairing dinner at Bryans on 290
Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10 from 12-5 pm (VIP entry at 11 am) – Main festival days

Exclusive perks will be available throughout the weekend, such as day-of wine deals from participating wineries. Attendees who purchase bottles of wine can take advantage of the festival's "bottle check" service to avoid lugging around (or dropping) their bottles. Plus, those who buy six bottles of wine will have the opportunity to win a seventh by playing a carnival-style ring toss game.

In the event of inclement weather, Texas Wine Jam will be rescheduled during the weekend of November 16-17, 2024.

Early bird tickets are available now, ranging from a $55 single-day general admission pass to a $90 two-day pass. The $65-115 VIP tickets include early entrance, complimentary parking, and festival-branded merchandise. Ticket prices for the Merlot tasting event are $55, and Syrah pairing dinner tickets cost $165. Parking is $5 per car, or free with an equivalent value donation of non-perishable food to JC Food Pantry. (As a note, no glass containers will be accepted). Tickets can be purchased online at vinovium.wine.

More information about the festival can be found on txwinejam.com.

wineries hill country johnson city festivals music austin