Looking for fun things to do in Texas this fall? You’re in luck! Not only is fall the best season of the year, Texas has some of the best fall activities in the country! After all, everything’s bigger in Texas–including fall celebrations! From taking a Hill Country road trip to checking out the Texas Renaissance Festival, I’ve got you covered with all of the best fall activities in Texas!
15 Things to Do in Texas This Fall
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1. See the Fall Foliage
No need to book a flight to New England to admire the leaves changing colors–there are amazing spots to see fall foliage in Texas! From the popular Lost Maples State Natural Area to the underrated Guadalupe Mountains National Park, there’s something for everyone. Pack a picnic lunch for a day trip of colorful views.
Or make it into a weekend road trip to see even more spots!
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
A pumpkin patch is a perfect place to embrace your inner child this fall! You can grab a few to carve, make a pie, or roast the seeds. Or just see who can find the biggest one in the patch–whoever loses has to buy a round of hot cider!
Check out these pumpkin patches in Texas:
- Dallas Arboretum (15 minutes from Dallas)
- Devine Acres Farm (40 minutes from San Antonio)
- Froberg’s Farm (30 minutes from Houston)
- Sweet Berry Farm (1 hour from Austin)
- Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm (15 minutes from Amarillo)
- Portland Pumpkin Patch (20 minutes from Corpus Christi)
Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon with a group of friends? Try a corn maze! You can all go through together for bonding time. Or break into teams and see who can get through the fastest! Here are some of the best corn mazes in Texas:
- At’l Do Farms (15 minutes from Lubbock)
- Rockin’ K Maze (30 minutes from Corpus Christi)
- Graff 7A Ranch (40 minutes from San Antonio)
- Barton Hill Farms (30 minutes from Austin)
- Yesterland Farm (50 minutes from Dallas)
- Dewberry Farm (45 minutes from Houston)
Go Glamping
Glamping is the perfect fall activity because you get to enjoy the cooler nights with all of your normal comforts! Check out the best glamping near Dallas, San Antonio, or Austin — or glamp in your own backyard!
Not Into Glamping? Try One of These Stunning Stays Instead
If you’re more interested in sleeping indoors, there are so many awesome places to stay in Texas on a beautiful fall weekend! Check out my list of gorgeous cabin rentals in Texas for a weekend of R&R!
You can even find amazing yurts or incredible treehouse rentals across Texas if you want a more unique stay!
Take a Hill Country Road Trip
A road trip is a good idea any time of year, but there’s something extra special about a fall road trip! The Texas Hill Country is beautiful this time of year. Plus, all of the small towns have fun ways to celebrate the season, so make sure you take a look at their calendar to plan the best time.
Not sure where to go? Read up on the best Texas Hill Country weekend road trips for itineraries!
Visit a State Park
Embrace the best that Texas has to offer by visiting one (or a few) of our amazing state parks. Hike to your heart’s content in Big Bend Ranch State Park or learn more about the indigenous peoples of Texas at Hueco Tanks State Park. Check out my list of the best Texas state parks to visit for even more options!
Get Spooky - Visit Haunted Texas Places
Fall is the best season to embrace your inner horror fan! You can stick to watching scary movies, but if you really want to test your courage, haunted houses and ghost tours are the perfect opportunities to do so.
Some of the best haunted houses in Texas are:
- Purgatory Scream Park (30 minutes from Houston)
- House of Torment (10 minutes from Austin)
- Cutting Edge Haunted House (downtown Fort Worth)
For the best ghost tours in Texas, check out:
- Dash Beardsley Ghost Tours (downtown Galveston)
- Texas Ghost Tour (downtown San Antonio)
- New Braunfels Ghost Tours (45 minutes from Austin)
Join the Fun at Big Tex: The State Fair of Texas
It’s not a proper fall in Texas without at least one visit to Big Tex, the State Fair of Texas! There’s so much to do, see, and eat, that you could spend an entire week (although I’m not sure I would recommend that). This year it’s open from September 30th-October 23rd.
Never been? Here’s what you can expect to find:
- Live music
- Interactive shows
- Carnival rides
- Livestock shows
- Rodeo
- And lots and lots of delicious food!
Cheer Your Team On at a Texas Football Game
In Texas, football is not just a game… it’s a way of life! Fridays are for high school games, Saturdays are college game day (Hook Em’ Horns!!), and of course, Sundays are for the NFL. Either way, catching a football game is always one of the best things to do in Texas during the Fall!!
Get Groovy at Austin City Limits
With two full weekends of live music, dancing, and fun, Austin City Limits might just be the best fall festival ever! The line-up this year is incredible–The Chicks, SZA, Kacey Musgraves, and more! Plus, you get to sample the best food, drink, and venues in Austin!
If you’re coming from out of town, check out my list of the coolest Airbnbs in Austin for the best trip ever!
Drink Beer at Wurstfest
No, it’s not the worst fest, it’s Wurstfest, where you can celebrate German culture Texas-style! Classic lagers, local craft brews, and lots of bratwursts are waiting for you from November 4th-13th, 2022. Located along the beautiful Comal River in New Braunfels, it’s easy to get to from both San Antonio and Austin!
If you’re not close, but still want to join in on the German fun, check out these other Oktoberfest celebrations in Texas:
- Oktoberfest Dallas on October 1st, 2022
- Fort Bliss Oktoberfest in El Paso on September 16th and 17th, 2022
- Oktoberfest Houston on September 24th, 2022
Prefer Wine? Plan a Girl's Wine Weekend in Fredericksburg
For a more peaceful weekend, head to Fredericksburg with your girls for wine, sun, and gorgeous Hill Country views! There are over 50 wineries in the area. For a totally stress-free trip, book a wine tour, so all you have to think about is which cheese goes best with each wine!
For even more stress-free planning, here’s where to stay for a girls’ weekend in Fredericksburg!
Round Top Antiques Show
Something about fall makes shopping for hidden treasures even more fun! Maybe it’s because all you want is a cozy spot to curl up in at night. Whatever it is, get your fix of amazing antiques in Round Top, Texas!
Make it a fun weekend trip–there are so many other fun things to do in Round Top once you’ve found your treasure!
Check Out a Texas Fall Fest
In such a big state, it’s no wonder there are a ton of different festivals happening all over Texas every weekend in the fall! Here are some crowd favorites worthy of a visit:
- The Texas Renaissance Festival on weekends from October 8th-November 27th, 2022: dress up in your 16th-century best and then head over to the nation’s largest renaissance festival an hour outside of Houston! You can watch live shows, take part in reenactments, or just snack on a turkey leg (or two)!
- Autumn at the Arboretum from September 22nd-November 1st: Dallas’ best fall festival centers around a pumpkin village made of over 100,000 pumpkins! Plus, incredible fall flowers, live music, and cooking classes!
- Food and Wine Festivals in San Antonio from October 27th-30th, 2022, or Austin from November 4th-6th, 2022: for a more upscale weekend of fun, check out a local food and wine festival! You can try homegrown fall produce, meet local chefs, or indulge in some world-class wine!
That’s my list of the things to do in Texas this fall! What are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments below! Or, as always, DM me on Instagram or tag me in your pictures! I can’t wait to see!
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xx Chels
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Love the The State Fair of Texas and with the Oktoberfest is the fall time the best in Texas. Weather not to hot anymore and lot of fun activities.