Day Trippin' › Texas › From Beaumont
From Beaumont, the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum is minutes away, Village Creek State Park about 20, the Big Thicket National Preserve about half an hour, Sea Rim State Park under 45, and Houston's Space Center and Kemah Boardwalk under an hour and a half. The best day trips from Beaumont, by drive time.
40 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
National park · 31 min north
Free national preserve near Kountze spanning nine ecosystems, from longleaf pine forest to cypress-lined bayous, with over 30 miles of trails and paddling routes.
Beach · 44 min south
Remote park with nearly 2 miles of Gulf beach, the Gambusia boardwalk through 4,000 acres of marsh and paddling trails from 1.8 to 9.6 miles.
Museum · 1 hr 22 min southwest
Space museum and visitor center by NASA's Johnson Space Center with exhibits, The Moonwalkers show and NASA tram tours.
Family fun · 1 hr 45 min southwest
Galveston attraction with Aquarium, Rainforest and Discovery pyramids, 3D theater, zip line and the new Galveston Children's Museum.
Wildlife refuge · 1 hr 15 min southwest
Nonprofit preserve in Pasadena with 5 miles of walking trails, a boardwalk loop, a bison viewing platform and kayak and pontoon tours on the bayou.
State park · 1 hr 16 min north
Park on B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir with about 14 miles of paddling trails on the Neches and Angelina rivers and sloughs, plus trails for walking and biking.
Beach · 1 hr 56 min southwest
Gulf beach on one side and bay marsh on the other, with about four miles of trails, boardwalks over dunes and marsh, paddling trails and bird blinds.
Bike trail · 1 hr 18 min west
Houston bayou park with trails for walking and biking, the historic Cistern, kayak and bike rentals and the Johnny Steele Dog Park.
Scenic drive · 1 hr 35 min southwest
Free state car ferry with an 18-minute crossing between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.
Theme park · 1 hr 40 min southwest
Waterfront amusement pier in Galveston with rides, midway games, food and shops.
Museum · 2 hr 5 min northwest
A 15-acre complex in Huntsville once owned by Sam Houston, with a museum, two homes where his family lived and the Republic of Texas Presidential Library.
State park · 2 hr 5 min west
Shady park on the Brazos River about 50 minutes west of Houston, with five miles of hiking and biking trails near historic San Felipe.
Family fun · 2 hr 42 min northwest
Vintage steam and diesel excursion trains through the Piney Woods between Palestine and Rusk.
Lake · 2 hr 57 min north
A power-plant-warmed lake with year-round fishing, island campsites and nearly four miles of hiking and biking trails.
Town · 2 hr 12 min north
Calls itself the oldest town in Texas, with red brick downtown streets, the Sterne-Hoya House Museum and gardens that give it the name Garden Capital of Texas.
Wildlife refuge · 2 hr 29 min southwest
Coastal prairie and marsh refuge with an auto tour at Big Slough for wintering waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds.
State park · 2 hr 7 min northwest
Pine forest park around 210-acre Lake Raven with a swim area, kayak rentals, 21 miles of hiking and biking trails and access to the Lone Star Hiking Trail.
State park · 2 hr 10 min southwest
Lakes and moss-draped forest where alligators are common, with 37 miles of hiking and biking trails and the George Observatory.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 77701 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.