There’s something rather special about the Texas landscape painted in vibrant hues of red, yellow and orange. The Lone Star State’s picturesque wooded areas come alive in the fall season, as oak, cypress, maple, mesquite and other breathtaking trees put on a spectacular show of transition. If you’re longing for crisp air and autumnal color schemes but can’t quite squeeze in a full vacation, plan a day trip with this Texas fall foliage guide.
Garner State Park
Optimum Time to Go: Early November
Entrance Fee: $8/day
Distance from Major Texas Cities: 3.5 hrs – Corpus Christi | 1.5 hrs – San Antonio | 3 hrs – Austin | 4.5 hrs – Houston
Tree Spotlight: Cypress, oaks, mesquites and persimmons in the area all transform into hues of red, yellow and orange, putting on a show for all who visit.
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Entrance Fee: $6/day
Optimum Time to Go: Late October
Distance from Major Texas Cities: 3.5 hrs – Corpus Christi | 2 hrs – San Antonio | 3 hrs – Austin | 4.5 hrs – Houston
Tree Spotlight: This area is home to a rare tree, the Uvalde bigtooth maple. Native to the sheltered canyons of the area, it is a relatively small tree growing up to 50 ft. tall and boasts fiery red and golden yellow leaves come late October.
McKinney Falls State Park
Optimum Time to Go: Late October
Entrance Fee: $6/day
Distance from Major Texas Cities: 3 hrs – Corpus Christi | 1.5 hrs – San Antonio | 30 mins – Austin | 2.5 hrs – Houston
Tree Spotlight: Keep an eye out for bald cypress trees as they transform into a showcase of fiery crimson and orange. One of the oldest bald cypress trees in the state of Texas, “Old Baldy,” resides in this park, coming in at a whopping 500 years old, 103 ft. tall and a trunk 195 in. around.
Guadalupe River State Park
Optimum Time to Go: Late November
Entrance Fee: $7/day
Distance from Major Texas Cities: 2.5 hrs – Corpus Christi | 45 min – Austin | 1.5 hrs – Houston
Tree Spotlight: Cypress, sycamore, elm and hackberry trees’ green leaves undergo a metamorphosis with various shades of red, orange and yellow taking over. Pro tip: The Bald Cypress Trail is supposedly one of the best for photos.
Tyler State Park
Optimum Time to Go: Late November
Entrance Fee: $6/day
Distance from Major Texas Cities: 6.5 hrs – Corpus Christi | 5 hrs – San Antonio | 4 hrs – Austin | 3.5 hrs – Houston
Tree Spotlight: Oaks, sweetgums and maples all offer fabulous fall colors in Tyler State Park come late November. Most of the trees in this area are 75 years old or older, and due to the park’s unique location at the western edge of the Pineywoods ecoregion, trees from there and Post Oak Savanah region thrive in the area.
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Optimum Time to Go: Late October
Entrance Fee: $5/day
Distance from Major Texas Cities: 8 hrs – Corpus Christi | 6 hrs – San Antonio | 4.5 hrs – Austin | 4.5 hrs – Houston
Tree Spotlight: From late October to late November, this state park’s red maple, hickory, cypress and sweetgum trees transform into various shades of burnt sienna, marigold and maroon.
Daingerfield State Park
Optimum Time to Go: Mid-November
Entrance Fee: $4/day
Distance from Major Texas Cities: 7.5 hrs – Corpus Christi | 6 hrs – San Antonio | 4 hrs – Austin | 5 hrs – Houston
Tree Spotlight: Located in the Piney Woods region, idyllic sweetgum, oak and cypress trees are the real stars come fall. Though a bit farther than other parks on this list, the brilliant fall shades are worth the trip.
