Texas Travel FAQ

Whole Texas is a region-by-region guide to Texas travel and culture: the six big regions, the major cities, the food canon, the parks and rivers, and the numbers behind the state. It is part of the WholeTech Network of independent topic sites.

Spring and fall. April is peak bluebonnet season in the Hill Country; October and November bring fall color to Lost Maples and the Piney Woods. Summer is river season — float trips on the spring-fed Frio, Guadalupe, Comal, and San Marcos run from May through September.

268,596 square miles — bigger than France. Driving El Paso to Orange is 857 miles, about 12 hours, without leaving the state. It contains deserts, forests, beaches, canyons, plains, and swamps.

Six broad regions: the Hill Country, the Gulf Coast, Big Bend country, the Piney Woods of East Texas, the Panhandle & Plains, and the Rio Grande Valley. Each one feels like a different country. The home page tours all six.

Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park (the state's highest point at 8,751 ft), Padre Island National Seashore (the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world), and Big Thicket National Preserve — plus 89 state parks and historic sites. The Texas State Parks Pass is $70 a year and is the best value in Texas.

Central Texas barbecue (post oak-smoked brisket — no sauce needed), Tex-Mex (fajitas were invented in Texas), chicken fried steak, Czech kolaches from West, TX, Gulf seafood, and Whataburger — the orange-and-white institution since 1950.

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Content is updated regularly as new information becomes available. The site was redesigned in June 2026. Corrections and suggestions are welcome at info@wholetexas.com.