Beyond Houston: Day Trips from Montgomery County, TX
Most people know that there is plenty to do nearby Houston, TX but there are plenty of other destinations just a short drive away.
Head Back in Time
Load up the family and take a two-hour drive out to Rusk or Palestine, and board the Texas State Railroad. Journey back to a simpler, more leisurely time on your four-hour roundtrip through the beautiful Pineywoods, a destination in their own right. Enjoy the ride in 1920s vintage cars, with several different models to choose from, including fully climate-controlled options and luxurious presidential cars. You can even arrange for a locomotive ride-along.
Enjoy the Parks
Montgomery County is nearly surrounded by nature, and there are lots of great parks and forests to explore within a two-hour drive. Whether you want to hike, bike, camp, fish, or just get away from it all; you’ve got lots of options. Popular destinations include
Mission Tejas State Park, Fort Parker State Park, Buescher State Park, and the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. Of course, Lake Conroe is very nearby and offers a wealth of fun activities.
Howl Like a Wolf
For something really different, visit the Texas Wolfdog Project. What is a wolfdog? A wolfdog is a hybrid canine that is a cross between a wolf and a domestic dog. The Texas Wolfdog Project is an all volunteer and donation-based rescue dedicated to saving wolfdogs and northern breed dogs. These are beautiful animals that you can visit and adopt, and you can even become a volunteer.
Taste Some Wine
Newcomers to the area may not know it, but there is a lot of wine produced in and around Montgomery County. So much so that there are two different “wine trails” in the region. If you want to head out on your own, plan a trip following the Sam Houston Wine Trail or the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail. If you’d like to leave the driving to someone else, you can take an arranged Winery Tour from the Margaritaville Resort on the shores of nearby Lake Conroe.
Dig up Some Fossils
You don’t have to travel the 4+ hours to Dinosaur Valley State Park or the 5+ hours to Mineral Wells Fossil Park to find interesting fossils. Just head on over to the Highway 21 bridge, also known as the Whisky Bridge west of College Station. You’re almost guaranteed to find fossils, and unlike some other locations, you’re allowed to keep anything that you find. Another popular site, made even better since it’s at the beach, is High Island at McFaddin Beach. And yes, you can take home whatever you find.
Stroll through Downtown
The cities of Conroe, TX and Montgomery, TX both boast beautiful, quaint downtown areas. You can explore small shops, browse in local galleries, or grab a bite to eat. Built during East Texas’ boomtown years of the earliest 20th century, you’ll find some great examples of period architecture. Tall Pines Storage has a number of options for storage in Conroe and storage in Montgomery.
This part of Texas is full of fun opportunities for day tripping. If you’d like more ideas about things to do, check out our articles about fun things to do in and around Conroe, and a more in-depth guide to the wine, beer, and booze scene in the area.
