The May 2026 issue isn’t about the destination—it’s about the journey. As we head into the first weeks of summer and a season of restless weekends begins, the road calls. Texas has more miles of public roads than any other state in the country. Our May issue highlights several incredible ways to explore some of them.
In “Going the Distance,” we asked five writers to share their favorite leisurely detours around the state. The routes range from a trip through the most northern part of the Texas Panhandle to an exploration of the entire Rio Grande Valley. Follow their drives exactly, or use them as jumping off points for your own wandering—there’s no wrong way to explore Texas.
“Weather the Storm” features photography by astrophotographer Erin Newman-Mitchell, whose images capture the violence and beauty of the state’s diverse landscapes. Contributing writer Paul L. Underwood details Newman-Mitchell’s process in his accompanying story. “One thing I love about Texas is that it has such a range,” Newman-Mitchell tells Underwood. Her photographs display a stunning array from within that range.
Elsewhere in the issue, contributing writer James Wade braves the road with young kids in “Are We There Yet?” The story features moments of levity along with the beauty that accompanies seeing the state through fresh eyes. We also visit the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, take a weekend getaway to Elgin, and find an elevated comfort food destination in Marfa. See y’all on the road.
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From childhood drives west of Fort Worth to a West Texas road to nowhere, explore the state via our highways.
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Digital Strategy Manager Danielle Lopez grew up in the Rio Grande Valley but didn’t become obsessed with learning every part of her home region until she moved away as an adult. For our May issue, Lopez drove the entire length of the RGV in two days—from Roma in the west to South Padre Island on the easternmost end—Lopez’s favorite place in Texas. “I pick a beach access, pull out my chair, plop it in the sand, and watch the sun set,” she writes. “I’ve arrived in paradise.” Pictured here is Lopez’s husband, Van Hoang, walking the iconic skybridge in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, a stop along the drive in Alamo.
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Writer James Wade and his wife, Jordan, took their two young kids on a series of road trips across Texas for Wade’s story in our May issue, “Are We There Yet?” The trips were marked with tremendous highs, like the joy of witnessing familiar parts of the state through fresh eyes, and a few stressful lows, like the backseat meltdowns that accompany bringing a 2-year-old on seven-plus-hour drives. But, as Wade tells us, this is far from the last time he and his family will embark on such an adventure.
TH: What would you tell parents who are thinking about taking their kids on a road trip through Texas?
JW: I would do it again, and will do it again in a heartbeat, because for every low there is at least an equal or greater high. And that’s what made it worth it for Jordan and me, was just being able to have those experiences that we would not have been able to have at home.
TH: What practical advice do you have for people planning a Texas road trip with young kids?
JW: The first is to give yourself so much grace. If your kids have to look at a screen, just give yourself grace to let them do that for a while. And something Jordan does that’s so smart is she goes to the dollar store and buys a bunch of silly little toys, puts them in a bag, and any time one of the kids is about to have a full-on meltdown, she’ll take one new toy out of the bag. Maybe that buys you 20 minutes, but when you’re on the road for six, seven hours with kids … I thought it was genius to have a bag of new distractions to put in front of them.
TH: Your story does such a great job at capturing those lows and highs. Is there a nice moment from one of your family road trips that didn’t make it into the article?
JW: Oh man, yeah. There were just so many beautiful one-on-one moments. My son was listing the planets, which I love that he can do at 2 years old, and he calls Jupiter, “Juniper,” which is our daughter’s name. He does the planets perfectly in order, starting with the closest to the sun, and call tell you what color each one is, but he will call Jupiter “Juniper.”
TH: What do you hope your kids will remember from this trip as they grow up?
JW: The sense of wonderment that often accompanies discomfort. I believe that, as a parent, if you allow yourself to really see the world through your kids’ eyes, you can still touch it the way they can. You can get close to that experience of magic that just sort of naturally fades in adulthood. We get accustomed to things—even the most beautiful, marvelous things—but children don’t know how to take things for granted yet. There’s just this constant sense of wonderment and amazement.
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Shenandoah’s great location, tremendous value, and slew of super shopping, dining, entertainment, and hotel options make it a wonderful place to visit and explore.
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Our May cover story, “Going the Distance” (Page 48), may be all about weekend drives, but photographer Trace Thomas took to the sky to capture this image near Denver City. He used a drone to shoot Farm-to-Market Road 769, along the Texas Panhandle’s border with New Mexico.
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COURTESY TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM
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My family and I have visited the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi many times, and we always have a blast. We love touching the stingrays, watching the otters frolic, and catching the dolphin show. (Pro tip: Don’t ignore the “splash zone” warning signs. You will get doused. Ask me how I know.) But one of the best things about the Texas State Aquarium is there’s a splash pad. Even better: An updated, larger one debuted in March. The $2.8 million addition features 15,000 square feet of fun, including a multilevel slide structure and interactive water features. There are also sand pits, on-site restaurants, and lounging areas for parents who want to watch their kids without getting wet. The aquarium is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 for ages 13 and up and $37 for ages 3-12. —Erin Quinn-Kong, Managing Editor
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Your insider’s guide to events, stays, and reservations to plan ahead of the curve for future travels.
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Day passes for Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale, home of the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool, go on sale 30 days in advance. Book soon for June or July dates. texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com
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Make plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road next month in the Panhandle during the region’s 10-day Texas Route 66 Festival, June 4-13. visitamarillo.com/events/route-66
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Major League Cricket season commences with matches at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in June and July. Book tickets now for one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. majorleaguecricket.com
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Snag tickets to next month’s Fort Griffin Fandangle for a live historical reenactment, performed by Albany locals since 1937. fortgriffinfandangle.com
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Texas Highways Magazine
6230 E. Stassney Lane
Austin, TX 78744
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Published ten times annually by the Texas Department of Transportation’s Travel Information Division, Texas Highways, the official travel magazine of Texas, encourages travel to and within the Lone Star State and tells the Texas story to readers around the world.
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