Pack up the car—we’re hitting the road! Check out these nine detours along I-35, from Gainesville up north to the southern border town of Laredo.
“Everything’s bigger in Texas” is a common cliché, but in terms of the length of road trips, it’s entirely spot on. Driving from the north of the state in Gainesville down to the Mexican border in Laredo is a 487-mile journey. That’s about seven-and-a-half hours with no stops, or five-and-a-half full spins of Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album.
Of course, if you’re making such an extensive drive on a road trip, you’ll want to pause to check out the sights along the way. Here are nine detours worth making, in geographical order from Gainesville to Laredo.
Fort Worth: Stop and smell the flowers at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden
This stop assumes you’re taking the I-35 W route through Fort Worth. I recently took this path myself while driving from Frisco to Austin. My main reason for stopping at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden? To visit the LEGO sculpture works of Nature Pop!, an exhibit being featured throughout the summer.
Yet even if you don’t get a chance to see all these LEGO animals, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden is a worthy detour. The Japanese Garden is one of the most peaceful spots in the entire state. As you walk through the garden’s many acres of flowers, plants, and trees, you just might come across a wedding or other snazzy event. With 23 specialty gardens and a water conservation garden to explore, you’ll discover something new with each visit.
Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden: 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth
Waxahachie: Stop and smell other types of flowers (alongside coffee) at Bloom & Pour
Should you prefer to take I-35 E through Dallas, you’ll still have the opportunity to check out some impressive flower collections. Bloom & Pour is part coffee cafe, part flower shop, part shared workspace. Add it all up, and you have a lovely little spot to perk yourself up for the long trip ahead.
The pastry game is on point—try the everything croissant—and the coffee options (both ongoing and seasonal) are fantastic, from cookie butter lattes to cherry lyte-ades. Unlike just about every other coffee shop, however, you can also walk out of Bloom & Pour with a handful of flowers. Whether you opt for hand-wrapped blooms or the variety of vases, the rest of your ride will be far more pleasant.
Location: 100 S Rogers St, Waxahachie
West: Grab a kolache at Village Bakery
The Village Bakery is the very first Czech bakery in Texas, opening in 1952 and operating out of a building constructed in 1903. Yet for a seven-year span, the bakery was closed. That changed in May 2026; The Village Bakery has returned with new owners, and, thankfully, the same phenomenal taste. It’s a smaller and more local institution than other options in the city.
Beyond the poppyseed kolaches (which are, of course, worth getting in droves), you can also stock up on buchtas, Moravian spice cookies, pies, and a host of other options. West is about 100 miles south of Gainesville, so The Village Bakery is an excellent place to make a pit stop. If you happen to visit during Labor Day weekend, you can also check out the city’s annual Westfest.
Location: 113 E Oak St, West
Waco: Excavate at Mammoth National Monument and Soak in a Beer Spa
Thousands of years ago, Columbian mammoths used to trek across what is now Texan land. These beasts could reach heights of 14 feet and be as heavy as 20,000 pounds. Imagine being stuck behind that on the highway. Alas, these mammoths no longer walk among us, but the Mammoth National Monument offers several trails, on-site field trips, and tours of the dig shelter that dive into the fossils and history of when these mammoths roamed.
All that road trip driving might make you a bit sore, too. Why not book some time at Pivovar Beer Spa? You’ll bathe in a metal tub of soothing water mixed with hops, which are believed to have healing properties. While soaking, you can also sip on a bevy of beers via a flight, or grab a glass of your favorite wine with a variety of charcuterie. If you’re driving, indulge in a sparkling water or soda, but passengers can choose from the entire menu. We took a trip here if you want to learn more about what the experience is like; trust that you’ll feel more relaxed than when you arrived.
Mammoth National Monument Location: 6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr, Waco
Pivovar Beer Spa Location: 320 S 8th St, Waco
Temple: Stock up at Buc-ee’s
If you’re someone who frequently needs bathroom breaks on road trips, seeing a Buc-ee’s is always a welcome sight. There’s no more vast collection of toilets in the entire state. However, simply using Buc-ee’s as a quick stop for the restroom is discounting the many other enticing things the convenience store offers.
You’ll pass by several Buc-ee’s while driving through Texas, though the Temple one is the most exciting to walk through. It spans 60,000 square feet and has a seemingly endless barrage of goofy knick-knacks and merch, plus sandwiches, candy, and jerky to help you refuel (alongside the gasoline that actually refuels your car). Don’t leave without a bag or two of Beaver Nuggets and a sampling of fudge.
Location: 4155 N General Bruce Dr, Temple
Georgetown: Spelunk at Inner Space Cavern
Let’s not kid ourselves: Texas can get brutally hot, especially in the summer. Cooling off during a long road trip is never a bad idea, and Georgetown’s Inner Space Cavern remains a crisp and comfy 72 degrees, no matter the time of year. It also doesn’t flood during rains, making it a perfect escape from the sometimes seemingly endless stretches of I-35.
It’s a cool space in an awe-inspiring way, too. After 10,000 years of hiding, the cave was discovered in 1963 by a Texas Highway Department core drilling team. It opened in 1966 and features radical rock formations, prehistoric animal bones, large rooms to explore, a fascinating backstory, and a thrilling sabertooth zip ride. Tours leave about every 20 minutes, so if you’re tired of driving and want someone else to be in charge for a change, stop by.
Location: 4200 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Georgetown
Salado: Pick up an antique souvenir
The Stagecoach Inn is Salado’s most well-known attraction. While it’s a nifty spot, the small town of Salado has much more quirk to explore. You’ll find several pocket gardens that are home to native plants that can live through even the most intensive droughts, as well as original art from local artists.
It’s also hard to stop in Salado without winding up taking home an antique souvenir. The “old soul” of the town lives on Main Street, with half a dozen antique galleries and bookstores boasting a bounty of treasures to add to your collection. Salado Antique Mall and Fletcher’s Books and Antiques are among the highlights, providing a leg-stretching trek into small-town Texas charm.
Location: Main St, Salado
San Antonio: Take a safari at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
A detour where you don’t even have to leave your car? Talk about efficiency! Despite the distance between Gainesville and Laredo, it’s still a much shorter trip than traveling from Texas to Africa. Rather than cruising to the safari, bring the safari to your ride. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio lets you do just that.
The ranch offers several different tours. For road trip purposes, the self-guided tour is your top bet. You’ll drive your car through over 500 acres of wildlife park, encountering more than 500 animals and 40 species. Take things at your own speed and enjoy the natural beauty of the African (and Texan) wilderness. For even more activities, try a private VIP experience with a giraffe or rhino.
Location: 26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio
Cotulla: Visit the Brush County Museum
Sporting a population of fewer than 4,000 people, Cotulla is a spot many travelers pass through without a second thought. Yet it’s an important part of Texas history. This is the site where future U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson taught fifth, sixth, and seventh-graders at Welhausen School. These students were among the most impoverished in the state, and they were segregated in a showing of systemic discrimination. Johnson cited this experience as the primary reason he signed the Higher Education Act when he became president.
You can still visit the Welhausen School today, though a more entertaining stop is the Brush County Museum. It features over a century of historical photos and artifacts, plus early 20th-century recreations of a bedroom, kitchen, parlor, and doctor’s office. The museum is located in a small white house and school building, so it’s quick to walk through before getting back on the road.
Location: 201 S Stewart St, Cotulla
