Lubbock Day Trips on the Weekends
Although Lubbock, Texas might seem like a small town, do not underestimate its all-around West Texas charm. Amaze yourself with many of the best Lubbock day trips. If you find yourself in West Texas thinking that there is nothing to do, here are some great little day trips. Just a short drive away that you along with your family and friends will enjoy exploring for the day or even for a weekend.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
If you want to explore the outdoors, Palo Duro Canyon Park is one of the most popular places to go in West Texas. The canyon is around 120 miles long and has a width of about 6 to 20 miles. Depending on the location, making it the second-largest canyon in the United States. Palo Duro is located at 11450 State Hwy Park Rd 5, Canyon, TX 79015; just a short drive away from Lubbock, Texas.
Palo Duro attracts visitors with its amazing landscape, unbelievable geography, wildlife, and vegetation. Don’t forget about this canyon’s incredible geology. See the multicolored layers of rock due to erosion that you definitely need to go check out.
Due to Palo Duro’s popularity and its vast amount of tourists every year. They cater to their visitors by providing them with great amenities like picnic tables, restrooms, showers. Along with trails where you can go on a hike, take a bike ride, run, jog, even go horseback riding. Within the amenities, there is also a souvenir shop and restaurants. If you are into the arts, you can go see the Texas Outdoor Musical. interested in the park’s history and natural features? You can join their Ranger Programs.
If you desire to extend your stay, there are many camping sites available for all types of camping. In case traditional camping is not your thing, Palo Duro also offers luxurious camping while in the wilderness, it is their newest ‘glamping’ addition. This glamorous way of camping offers air conditioning, fully furnished rooms, refrigerators, microwaves, gas firepits, among more of the same commodities you would get at your house.
Hours and Times
The park is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. through 7 p.m. Friday through Saturday. The entrance fee is $8 for adults and free for children under 12 years old.
I recommend to make Reservations at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon or call (806) 488-2227.
Get out of the city and take a short drive to see this unique canyon near the city of Lubbock. It is like an outdoor museum!
Casinos in New Mexico
If you want the Las Vegas experience in West Texas, take a 2-hour road trip to New Mexico is the best option.
There are a plethora of casinos in New Mexico. Some are only made up of machine slots, while others have table games, poker, and even horse racing tracks. Many casinos reside within luxurious hotels and resorts where visitors can enjoy a full weekend of fun. Within these amazing hotels and resorts, you can find fine-dining, huge swimming pools, spas, and even a golf course.
New Mexico is not only known for its great casinos, it is also popular for amazing skiing resorts on the mountains. Also, for its rich Native American historical sites, museums, and much more. This is one of many places the whole family will enjoy. Get out of the house and come see all the great features this city has to offer.
Prada Marfa (Valentine, Texas)
Prada is one of the most renowned high-end Italian brands in the world of fashion. If you are into fashion, arts, or enjoy taking aesthetic pictures, Prada Marfa is the place for you.
Opened in 2005, by Elmgreen and Dragset, Prada Marfa is a sculpture and permanent art installation in Valentine, Texas. Only 26 miles northwest of Marfa, Texas. This installation is exactly located at 14880 US-90, Valentine, TX 79854, off U.S. Highway 90, 350 miles away from Lubbock, TX.
This installation was provided by Ballroom Marfa, a contemporary art museum in the small town of Marfa, Texas. their mission is to help artists and musicians achieve their career dreams. By going to this site, not only are you obtaining great content, you are also helping promote artist’s careers by showcasing their art.
For more information about this installation or Ballroom Marfa, visit their website at https://www.ballroommarfa.org/.
Buffalo Springs Lake
Buffalo Springs is a lakeside park located at 9999 High Meadow Rd, Buffalo Springs, TX, 79404 near Lubbock, TX. If you are a fanatic of the outdoors, Buffalo Springs might be the place for you.
Buffalo Springs is a place where visitors can spend an afternoon with the family doing lots of fun outdoor activities. Enjoy fishing, boating, tanning by the beach, playing outdoor and water sports, the options are endless. If you desire to extend your stay, Buffalo Springs also has RV and tent camping sites.
For further information, or to reserve an RV or tent camping site, visit https://buffalospringslake.net/ or call (806) 747-3353.
English Newsom Cellars (Lubbock, Texas)
The English Newsom Cellars is a Texas winery, a wine tasting room, an event venue. They are also one of the largest wine production facilities in Texas. The winery is located at 408 E Woodrow Rd, Lubbock, TX 79423.
The grapes used to produce the English Newsom Cellars wine are locally grown in Sundown, Texas, located in Hockley County. The grapes are produced by a family of grape -growers, so all the wine is guaranteed to be 100% Texas-made.
Experience the English Newsom Cellars tasting room for only $12 per person; It includes five, 2 oz pours, and a free lead-tour. If you have a group of eight or more people, making a reservation is required.
The most unique part about this winery is its barrel tasting tours. Here you get to meet the winemaker and learn the grape-growing process. You can have this unique experience for only $30 per adult. This exclusive tour is offered on the first Saturday of every month at 2 pm. Only 18+-year-olds are allowed in.
The English Newsom Cellars are family-friendly, so the entire family can tag along on this little trip. At the end of your tour, you can also purchase their unique wines. You can take them on the road with you to enjoy on your own.
The winery is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 12 to 6 p.m., Thursday from 12 to 7 pm, from 12 to 8 pm. on the weekend, and closed Monday and Sunday.
For further information on tours, prices, hours, and more visit https://www.englishnewsom.com/ or call (806) 863-2704.
Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, Texas)
The Cadillac Ranch is an art installation located at 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 79124, in Potter County. Potter County is a town only a small 2-hour trip away from Lubbock, TX.
The installation, deserving to be in a museum, was made in 1974 by artists Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez, and Doug Michels. They are all members of the Ant Farm group.
When first made, this Amarillo art installation resembled ten Cadillacs buried in the ground nose-down. Over the years, the formerly clean Cadillacs have been spray-painted with various graffiti designs by its visitors. This incredible art piece makes for a perfect picture opportunity. It is one of the main tourist attractions when visiting Amarillo, TX.
If you want to get out of the house and looking for small weekend getaways, Amarillo is perfect. Amarillo contains amazing history, top restaurants, many attractions, hiking trails, incredible art pieces, and much more to explore and see.
For more information about Cadillac Ranch, you can check them out on Facebook @1974CadillacRanch.
Ski Apache Resort (Ruidoso, New Mexico)
Ruidoso is a village in New Mexico, located on Sierra Blanca Mountain. It is only a 4-hour road trip away from Lubbock, TX. Ruidoso has miles of amazing hiking trails, beautiful waterfalls, top luxurious skying resorts. They also have a museum, Native American history, and much more to explore while in the area.
One of Ruisdoso’s most popular attractions is the Ski Apache Resort, located at 1286 Ski Run Road Alto, NM 88312. The Ski Apache Resort is a ski and snowboarding resort operated by the Mescalero Apache tribe. The resort began operating in 1963 and remains one of the most well-known skiing resorts in New Mexico.
This Ruidoso resort has many great features like hiking, mountain biking, the best restaurants, the only eight-passenger gondola in New Mexico, and more. If you want to extend your stay, they also offer guests 2 great lodging options near the area, including The Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino for those wanting a luxurious stay or the Ruidoso River Resort for those looking for a more traditional cabin-like experience.
If you don’t know how to snowboard or ski, do not worry, the resort offers group and private lessons to its visitors as well so no one is left out of the fun.
The resort’s hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for the gondola, skiing, and snowboarding, but are subject to change depending on the weather.
So, get out of your house and come enjoy the snow at the Ski Apache Resort as one of the best Lubbock day trips.
For reservations, hours, prices, and more on the Ski Apache Resort visit https://www.skiapache.com/.
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trail (Quitaque, Texas)
Quitaque, Texas, also known as the Official Bison Capital of Texas, is a small town with a population of only about 432 people located on Texas Highway 86, 45 miles east of Tulia, Texas.
Although a very small town, Quitaque is popular for its main attraction, the Caprock Canyon State Park and Trail, which draws the attention of many tourists each year. This state park is located at 850 Caprock Canyon Park Road, Quitaque, TX 79255 and it is the third-largest state park in Texas with 15,314 acres.
What makes this state park so attractive is its 90 miles of trails surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna where you can mountain bike, hike, go on a run, set-up camp, or whatever else you desire. The best part about this park is that bison herds can be seen roaming around freely while you explore the outdoors. You can also go to the Clarity Tunnel where you will find a plethora of bats.
Within the park, you will also find Lake Theo where you can do fun activities like fishing, swimming, or simply lay by the lake and admire its beauty.
The gates are open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The entrance fee is $5 per adult, free for children under 12-years-old, and $3 for adults who come in a group.
For further information check out https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/caprock-canyons or call (806) 455-1492.
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in the Southeastern part of New Mexico and it is less than 3 hours away from Lubbock, Texas. New Mexico makes a perfect Lubbock day trip.
It is best known for its alleged UFO crash in 1947, within various other UFO sitings throughout the years. If you are curious about UFOs, the International UFO Museum and Research Center should be at top of your list.
If you are not into UFOs, Roswell also has outstanding art museums; the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, Roswell Museum, and Art Center. Roswell has incredible Native American history displayed at the Historical Center for Southwest New Mexico. Experience various antiques, artifacts, and galleries.
For more information check out https://www.newmexico.org/places-to-visit/regions/southeast/roswell/.
Lake Alan Henry
Lake Alan Henry is a 2,880-acre water reservoir in West Texas located at Garza County, TX, in the upper Brazos River Basin, only a 45-mile trip south of Lubbock, Texas.
If you enjoy fishing, Lake Alan Henry is the perfect spot for you. This lake is best known for being home to at least six different species of fish that are over 13 pounds or larger. Lake Alan Henry also has various fishing tournaments for those who love a little competition.
If you are wanting to spend the night at Lake Allan Henry, visitors can rent a lodge or reserve a spot at an RV park. In case you do not have a boat to go fishing with or do not want to bring your own, you can also rent a boat. Look no further for one of the best Lubbock day trips at lake Alan.
For more information visit http://www.lakealanhenry.com/ or call (806) 777-0337.
Silver Falls Park (Crosbitoy, Texas)
Silver Falls is one of the largest roadside parks in Texas. This park is located at 221 W Main St, Crosbyton, TX 79322, only a quick 38-mile trip away from Lubbock, Texas.
The city of Crosbyton might look like a small town, but it is an interesting one nonetheless. Silver Falls is a house to impressive Native American history and is the perfect place to take a quick stop and enjoy nature. Within the park, there are picnic tables, great hiking trails, abundant vegetation, and beautiful waterfalls.
If you want to learn more about the Native American history behind this park, you must visit the Wayne J. Parker Center for the Study of Native American Studies within the Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum. This museum contains over 23,000 Native American artifacts that will make you feel as if you were going back in time.
For more information visit https://texasplainstrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/cities/crosbyton or call (806) 675-2301.
Explore The Best Lubbock Day Trips!
What are you waiting for? Come visit these wonderful places for Lubbock day trips. Every town, city, park, or museum on this list will definitely be a sight to see.
Want to read more? Check out
Story by Fernanda Tronco, Campus Live intern