This is designed as a road trip from the Dallas area that explores several charming small towns along and south of I-10 between San Antonio and Houston, specifically centering around the beautiful “Painted Churches of Schulenburg.”
Recommended time of year is spring (Mar-Apr) or fall (Oct-Nov) as summer (May-Sep) would be brutally hot. Winter (Dec-Feb) could be nice although it could also be cold/windy.
| Day | Start point | End point | Distance | Drive time | Speed | Leave start point | Time at stop 1 | Time at stop 2 | Time at stop 3 | Arrive end point | Explore end point | Comments/stops | Lodging | Map |
| 1 | Dallas | Gonzales | 261 mi | 5 hrs | 52 mph | 12:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 2 hrs | Dinner at Johnny’s Cajun Cafe in Gonzales | hotel | map | |||
| 2 | Gonzales | Gonzales | 100 mi | 2.5 hrs | 40 mph | 9:00 AM | 2 hrs | 1.5 hrs | 2.5 hrs | 5:00 PM | 2 hrs | Via Shiner (including Spoetzl Brewery tour), Hallettsville, Yoakum, Cuero. Late lunch at BBQ Shack in Yoakum. | hotel | map |
| 3 | Gonzales | Round Top | 83 mi | 2.5 hrs | 33 mph | 9:00 AM | 2.5 hrs | 1.5 hrs | 1.5 hrs | 5:00 PM | 5 hrs | Via Flatonia & four painted churches, Monument Hill SP, La Grange. Early dinner at Whitebox II in La Grange. | Round Top Inn | map |
| 4 | Round Top | Brenham | 74 mi | 2.25 hrs | 32 mph | 12:00 PM | 2 hrs | 0.5 hrs | 4 PM | 5 hrs | Antique shop & coffee at Round Top Coffee Shop in Round Top in AM. Via Washington-on-the-Brazos SHS, Chappell Hill. Dessert at Jet Set Chocolates in Brenham. | Brenham House B&B | map | |
| 5 | Brenham | Dallas | 221 mi | 4.5 hrs | 49 mph | 11:00 AM | 2 hrs | 4:45 PM | via lunch at LJ’s BBQ in Brenham. Takes back roads. | map | ||||
| total | total | 739 mi | 16.75 hrs | |||||||||||
| average | average | 147.8 mi | 3.35 hrs | 39 mph |
Total accommodations cost: $480
Total food cost: $150
Total gas/petrol cost: $80
Total cost minus entry fees: ~$700
Obviously, this trip could easily be adapted to start from anywhere in Texas. It would be very doable, with far less driving, if starting in the Austin area. Also, the last day driving back to Dallas deliberately spends some time on SH 75 (the old US 75) paralleling I-45. If you want to get back home faster, you can of course simply drive on the interstate.
Rob the Traveler 