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Cheap weekend getaways from Austin

Want a weekend break that’s easy on the budget? Here’s 5 cheap weekend getaways all within a couple of hours drive of Austin, Texas.

A fun Pleasure Pier park in Galveston perfect as one of the places to visit for a Cheap weekend getaway from Austin

If you live in or near Austin, you’ll know that fun weekends are easily found by taking short road trips to places such as Corpus Christi, Galveston and Dallas.

For many of us, however, we want our weekend getaway served with a side of cheap. Luckily, it’s easy to find free or affordable attractions all within a few hours drive of home.

For your next weekend getaway, consider one of the five following locations.

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Gulf coast seawall

Not much beats hanging out at the beach, and any of Corpus Christi’s beaches will deliver sun and surf.

In addition, most offer a variety of of other activities. You can visit the area’s beaches based on your interests, such as surfing and snorkeling.

Mustang State Park is a great spot for a day trip for couples or families.

For a small admission fee, you can spend time paddle boarding in the Gulf of Mexico, watch sea life from the beach or enjoy a beachside camp fire.

North Packery Beach – JP Luby Surf Park to locals – offers great waves and is a perfect spot for surfing, kiteboarding, jet-skiing and snorkeling among other activities. Bring your own gear or rent a surf board or other equipment at the beach.

South Packery Channel Beach is a fishing enthusiast’s haven with surf fishing and shoreline angling available. The beach is also a fun spot for families to play, including swimming and building sandcastles.

Sometimes, however, you just want to relax, lay out a blanket and enjoy some quiet time in the sun. Featuring white sand on the Gulf of Mexico, Whitecap Beach offers the ideal location for soaking up the sun on a towel, enjoying a walk along the shoreline or relaxing with a book or picnic.

Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the Padre Island National Seashore, home to a grasslands trail that provides views to impressive dunes and animals that call the Gulf home.

During summer months, you can time your visit and watch eggs hatch and baby sea turtles make their way to the water.

While the park is accessible to regular vehicles, to visit some areas of the park, you will need a four-wheel drive vehicle. There’s a small vehicle entrance fee for this.

If you enjoy military history, go visit the last World War II-era aircraft carrier to be retired, the USS Lexington. Explore the ship’s lower decks and experience how sailors lived and worked during World War II.

During your tour, you can see more than 20 aircraft on the deck, seemingly poised to take off and serve their nation again. The ship’s tour also includes views of the navigation bridge and arresting gear.

Dallas

The Dallas skyline with the Reunion tower visible - one of the cheap weekend getaways you can take from Austin.

The northern Texas city offers a weekend of history, arts and culture.

The site of possibly the most devastating presidential assassination in the 20th century, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza pays respect to President John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy was visiting Dallas when he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.

The Sixth Floor Museum, the spot Oswald used, honors the president and his life. The museum is often busy, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online for the self-guided tour.

George W. Bush served as the United States’ 43rd president. His presidential library and museum is located on the campus of Southern Methodist University.

With a full-size replica of the Oval Office, the museum and library include more than 40,000 artifacts tracing President Bush’s life and career.

You can also save on admission with a CityPass which includes admission to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Reunion Tower GeO-Deck, and either the Dallas Zoo or Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum.

At 470 feet above ground, Reunion Tower’s GeO-Deck offers a 360-degree view of the MetroPlex. With high-definition zoom cameras, a free selfie photo and interactive monitors, it makes for a perfect date night experience.

Enjoy a special dinner at the Five Sixty Restaurant or drinks at the Cloud Nine lounge to cap your night at the tower. 

With more than 60 boutiques, restaurants and galleries, you can spend an entire day window shopping and browsing through Dallas Bishop Art District.

You’ll find stores offering home décor, antiques and other unique items (just don’t go overboard – this is a cheap weekend getaway, remember!).

Enjoy lunch and dinner at eateries such as 303 Bar & Grill as with a casual menu featuring salads, sandwiches and burgers.

For dinner, grab a seat at Boulevardier, a bistro with a chef-driven menu. You’ll be in for a special dining experience.

As part of a national chain featuring boutique hotels around the country, the Magnolia Dallas Downtown is located in a nearly century-old building standing 29 stories tall.

Around the average price for a four star hotel in Dallas, the rooms afford outstanding accommodations, helping create a special Dallas weekend getaway.

Abilene

An old wagon in Abilene Texas

Take a step back in time to the days when cowboys herded longhorns for the trip up north to market. Frontier Texas! offers a look into Texas’ western history with displays and interactive exhibits that help put you into the middle of being a cowpoke on the range. 

With a unique look at art ranging from classic pieces to contemporary exhibits, The Grace Museum invites you to take in some of Abilene’s art and culture.

With more than 2,500 paintings, photos, sculptures and books to share, the downtown museum’s appeal is enhanced by being located inside a vintage building. 

Paying its respects to the soldiers who served in the US Army’s armored units during World War II, the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum shares their stories about serving as part of the Greatest Generation.

After viewing the artifacts, displays and photos of the men who served in the division, you’re sure to gain a renewed appreciation of the dedication and sacrifices that were made to stop the Nazis and their Axis allies.

With more than 1,000 animals, including spider monkeys, lions and rhinos, living at the 13-acre zoo, the Abilene Zoo offers a fun attraction to visit. 

Enjoy your stay at the MCM Elegante Suites Hotel. With excellent suites and a free breakfast, you’ll appreciate choosing the MCM Elegante for your accommodations.

Galveston

The Galveston pier

Country music legend Glen Campbell sang about Galveston in a classic 1960s song, so he knew back then that the city – about three hours from Austin – offers a special experience for the taking.

The Strand features a historic downtown district perfect for window shopping or a simple stroll.

With plenty of shops and restaurants, you’re sure to find a place to enjoy a nice meal as well as pick up a souvenir or two from your visit to the Gulf of Mexico city. 

Explore Galveston’s pyramids with a visit to Moody Gardens. The pyramids house an aquarium (with penguins!), a rainforest, and a science-heavy discovery center. Enjoy visiting the exhibits in a climate-controlled environment.

Enjoy a date at the pier by visiting Pleasure Pier, a theme park featuring carnival rides, games and shopping opportunities.

Transport yourself back to your high school days and ride a roller coaster over the Gulf or snuggle as you enjoy a spin over the pier on a Ferris wheel. Buy some cotton candy and maybe steal a kiss later in the night.

When visiting Galveston, book a room at the Best Western Plus hotel. Offering a quality stay at an affordable price, the Best Western is an excellent choice and centrally located. 

Houston

The Houston Texas skyline: one of the cheap weekend getaways you can take from Austin.

Houston is a must-visit destination when searching for cheap weekend getaways from Austin.

Home to the Johnson Space Center, it’s no wonder there’s plenty of opportunities to see America’s space history up close.

Visit Space Center Houston see capsules from the Gemini and Apollo missions, then head to the Space Shuttle exhibit.

After touring the replica of the shuttle Independence, tour one of the planes used to carry the shuttles.

Afterwards, take in an architectural marvel with a visit to the Gerald D Hines Waterwall Park.

Designed more than 30 years ago as a private tribute to the Williams Tower (among the 35 tallest buildings in the United States), the waterwall is now part of a nearly three-acre public park.

With almost 200 oak trees, it’s is a beautiful spot to enjoy some quality couple time or just to take in some of the impressive views of Uptown Houston.

Walk among colorful and plentiful butterflies at the Cockerell Butterfly Center. With hundreds of butterflies flitting about, you’ll smile and feel relaxed as they land on you and then quickly fly away.

The butterfly center is part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which also includes permanent exhibits featuring dinosaur fossils, large fish and ancient Egypt, as well as a hall exploring the world of energy.

Located in the heart of downtown Houston, the Club Quarters Hotel offers an outstanding stay, minutes from city attractions. 

Cheap weekend getaways from Austin

From Galveston to Houston, a cheap weekend getaway is just a few hours’ drive from Austin.

With so many free or inexpensive attractions to check out, the time away can be good for both the bank account and your relationship.

(You might also like these cheap weekend getaways for couples, which feature places all over the USA).

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