Texas Plains Trail
State: Texas
Length: 1104.0 mi / 1776.7 km
Time to Allow: Take approximately four days for a full tour, or ten hours for a quick look.
At the top western portion of the state sits the unique Texas Plains Trail. Covering 53 county regions, this little area of Texas crosses 50,000 square miles because there is nothing small about Texas! The Plains has been inhabited for centuries as home to Native Americans, Spanish explorers, cowboys, and homesteaders. While the land may be flat, the history in this area is not, and it’s ready to delight you with wonders and four presidents.
Start your tip in Canyon in the panhandle for cultural and natural heritage. Visit the Palo Duro Canyon State Park to see ancient ruins, a trading post, and local wildlife while hiking. Enjoy gorgeous vies trailing the Lighthouse Trails or visit the Buffalo Lake Wildlife Refuge. Stop at the Creek House Honey Farm for lavender products and honey. Spend a few days and catch all the sights, including zip-lining, horseback tours, vineyards, and specialty shops.
Amarillo lives in the Texas Plains Trail, and it’s a large city ready to fill your vacation with fun and culture. Check out art museums, the zoo, botanical gardens, Air and Space Museum, and the Wonderland Amusement Park. Get a quality Texas steak, too, at the Big Texan Steak Ranch to fill up on your favorite cut of beef and all the fixings. Check out Bill’s Backyard Classics to see classic cars and an RV museum too. Enjoy the Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West ranch for guided horse tours too.
While out driving on Route 66, drive through Conway (Carson City) for the best stretch of land and to see the VW Slug Bug Ranch. No far away, you can see a statue of Jesus and a leaning water tower. Museum and military lovers will enjoy Big Spring as they can go to the Hanger 25 Air museum and the Heritage museum along with a Vietnam Memorial. Stay for a day at the state park, trails, Moss Creek Lake, and a local water park too.
Take some time to visit the city of Lubbock, a Texas landmark filled with museums, wineries, and entertainment. The Cactus Theater serves as a historic landmark, and it’s fully restored for broadway shows, musicals, and concerts. Catch a ballet too with performances from local dancers. Take the kids to the Joyland Amusement park for hours of fun on over 30 rides. Do not skip the Lake National Historic Landmark to see archeological and historical treasures.
Make a detour to Friona, the cheeseburger capital of Texas, and enjoy a themed festival and cook-off. Spend a day in Colorado city for beautiful parks, wildlife areas, antique shops, and specialty museums. Stop in Canadian to go over the Canadian River Wagon Bridge for gorgeous scenic views of the Canadian River. Last of all, in March, visit Shamrock, Texas, for festivals and tons of antiques, including beautiful architecture.
Local Information
Texas Heritage Trails – Plains Trail – Visit this site for information about itineraries, attractions, events, photos, maps, and history on the Plains Trail. Download a guidebook, request a DVD, or build a customized itinerary.
More Texas Byways
You can check out additional Byways in Texas by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the Texas Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.