Our last road trip of the year is definitely one you don’t want to miss. We made our Christmas towns in Texas article into an unforgettable vacation full of lights, festivities, and holiday magic. The entire trip is around 750 miles and 13 hours long, but you’ll want to spend the night in the towns that are far away from each other so you have ample time to enjoy each place to the fullest. As usual, we’ve created a Google Map which can be found here. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Google Maps
- San Antonio
Flickr/brianmoranhdr Our trip starts off with none other than San Antonio. The River Walk is one of Texas’ most iconic holiday decorations, with trees wrapped head to toe in sparkling, multicolored lights and gondolas driven by Santa himself. There are few places more festive in the entire state and possibly the country. San Antonio, TX, USA
- Wimberley
YouTube/scotnet55 Next up is Wimberley, a charming little town most well-known for Jacob’s Well, the amazing natural phenomenon located here. However, Christmas is just as big of a deal as nature to the locals. The Holiday Trail of Lights is an eight-acre walkthrough display illuminated by a brightly burning Yule Log that you can roast marshmallows and hot dogs over. It’s the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit with the whole family. You can visit Wimberely’s website to learn about all the festive activities. Wimberley, TX, USA
- Johnson City
Flickr/jmtimages Johnson City is home to one of the most decorated courthouses in Texas. Over 100,000 lights adorn it during the holiday season, and the trees surrounding it are just as decked out. The entirety of downtown looks like a city of gold, and every weekend in December, there are fun events like holiday markets and Christmas crafts for the whole family to take part in. Find out more about how Christmas in Texas is done right in Johnson City. Johnson City, TX 78636, USA
- Marble Falls
Flickr/matthigh Marble Falls is an absolutely gorgeous suburb of Austin with rolling hills and stretches of open land abound. Its Christmas celebration isn’t one to overlook - the Walkway of Lights boasts over two million lights, 400 sculptures, photos with Santa, and more holiday magic than you’ll know what to do with. Marble Falls, TX 78654, USA
- Cleburne
Facebook/whistlestopchristmas So many people don’t know about the tiny town of Cleburne, but that changes with this road trip. Whistle Stop Christmas has parades, 11 acres of lights, pictures with Santa, pony rides, and more. The nostalgia is heavy and the Southern charm is laid on thick in this charming town, so it’s the perfect place to celebrate the holidays. Cleburne, TX, USA
- Arlington
Texas Christkindl Market/Facebook This is the Christkindl Market, a German Christmas market with gifts, decorations, authentic German food and drinks, live entertainment, and activities for children. This is the kind of place that truly ignites the magic of the holiday season. Check out the official website for all the details to help plan your stop along your Christmas road trip in Texas. Arlington, TX, USA
- Grand Prairie
Facebook/PrairieLights Our next stop is Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie’s amazing drive-through light display. It’s two miles long, but halfway through you can stop at the Holiday Village and enjoy seasonal food, souvenirs, an indoor laser show, and a forest of enchanting, brightly-lit trees. When you return to your car, you get to end your experience with a mesmerizing mile-long light tunnel. Grand Prairie, TX, USA
- Grapevine
Flickr/branditressler One of our last (but certainly not least) stops is the “Christmas Capitol of Texas,” Grapevine. It holds a plethora of festivities every year including an ice sculpture exhibit, a parade, and a Polar Express train. It’s a winter wonderland - well, minus the snow - but you’ll overlook that tiny detail as soon as you lay eyes on the nearly 100-foot tall tree in the Gaylord Hotel. Read all about the Gaylord Hotel and all its beautiful decorations as you prepare for your road trip! Grapevine, TX, USA
- Jefferson
Facebook/Jefferson Texas Candlelight Tour of Homes Jefferson has an old-world, Victorian ambiance that permeates every place in the town. The annual Candlelit Tour of Homes takes you on a journey through the town’s oldest homes that have been elegantly and extravagantly decorated for Christmas. There’s also an Enchanted Forest, a walk-through display of over 100 lighted trees, and the melodic caroling of the First Baptist Church’s choir will cover the town like a blanket while you’re enjoying the magical sights. Their Facebook page has all the important details you need. Jefferson, TX 75657, USA
- College Station
Facebook/Santa’s Wonderland- A Texas Christmas Experience Our final stop is Aggieland, home of the famous Santa’s Wonderland. This enormous holiday village of sorts includes hayrides, millions of lights, live music, a Western Christmas town with unique holiday gifts, Christmas movies on a big outdoor screen, snow machines, and more. Our road trip is ending with a bang, that’s for sure. College Station, TX, USA
Are you as excited as we are about this awesome trip? Christmas in Texas is a truly magical time, and we hope this Christmas road trip in Texas helps you to experience as much and as many festivities as possible. If you have been to any of these towns during the holidays, let us know in the comment section. We would love to hear from you!
Google Maps
Flickr/brianmoranhdr
Our trip starts off with none other than San Antonio. The River Walk is one of Texas’ most iconic holiday decorations, with trees wrapped head to toe in sparkling, multicolored lights and gondolas driven by Santa himself. There are few places more festive in the entire state and possibly the country.
San Antonio, TX, USA
YouTube/scotnet55
Next up is Wimberley, a charming little town most well-known for Jacob’s Well, the amazing natural phenomenon located here. However, Christmas is just as big of a deal as nature to the locals. The Holiday Trail of Lights is an eight-acre walkthrough display illuminated by a brightly burning Yule Log that you can roast marshmallows and hot dogs over. It’s the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit with the whole family. You can visit Wimberely’s website to learn about all the festive activities.
Wimberley, TX, USA
Flickr/jmtimages
Johnson City is home to one of the most decorated courthouses in Texas. Over 100,000 lights adorn it during the holiday season, and the trees surrounding it are just as decked out. The entirety of downtown looks like a city of gold, and every weekend in December, there are fun events like holiday markets and Christmas crafts for the whole family to take part in. Find out more about how Christmas in Texas is done right in Johnson City.
Johnson City, TX 78636, USA
Flickr/matthigh
Marble Falls is an absolutely gorgeous suburb of Austin with rolling hills and stretches of open land abound. Its Christmas celebration isn’t one to overlook - the Walkway of Lights boasts over two million lights, 400 sculptures, photos with Santa, and more holiday magic than you’ll know what to do with.
Marble Falls, TX 78654, USA
Facebook/whistlestopchristmas
So many people don’t know about the tiny town of Cleburne, but that changes with this road trip. Whistle Stop Christmas has parades, 11 acres of lights, pictures with Santa, pony rides, and more. The nostalgia is heavy and the Southern charm is laid on thick in this charming town, so it’s the perfect place to celebrate the holidays.
Cleburne, TX, USA
Texas Christkindl Market/Facebook
This is the Christkindl Market, a German Christmas market with gifts, decorations, authentic German food and drinks, live entertainment, and activities for children. This is the kind of place that truly ignites the magic of the holiday season. Check out the official website for all the details to help plan your stop along your Christmas road trip in Texas.
Arlington, TX, USA
Facebook/PrairieLights
Our next stop is Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie’s amazing drive-through light display. It’s two miles long, but halfway through you can stop at the Holiday Village and enjoy seasonal food, souvenirs, an indoor laser show, and a forest of enchanting, brightly-lit trees. When you return to your car, you get to end your experience with a mesmerizing mile-long light tunnel.
Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Flickr/branditressler
One of our last (but certainly not least) stops is the “Christmas Capitol of Texas,” Grapevine. It holds a plethora of festivities every year including an ice sculpture exhibit, a parade, and a Polar Express train. It’s a winter wonderland - well, minus the snow - but you’ll overlook that tiny detail as soon as you lay eyes on the nearly 100-foot tall tree in the Gaylord Hotel. Read all about the Gaylord Hotel and all its beautiful decorations as you prepare for your road trip!
Grapevine, TX, USA
Facebook/Jefferson Texas Candlelight Tour of Homes
Jefferson has an old-world, Victorian ambiance that permeates every place in the town. The annual Candlelit Tour of Homes takes you on a journey through the town’s oldest homes that have been elegantly and extravagantly decorated for Christmas. There’s also an Enchanted Forest, a walk-through display of over 100 lighted trees, and the melodic caroling of the First Baptist Church’s choir will cover the town like a blanket while you’re enjoying the magical sights. Their Facebook page has all the important details you need.
Jefferson, TX 75657, USA
Facebook/Santa’s Wonderland- A Texas Christmas Experience
Our final stop is Aggieland, home of the famous Santa’s Wonderland. This enormous holiday village of sorts includes hayrides, millions of lights, live music, a Western Christmas town with unique holiday gifts, Christmas movies on a big outdoor screen, snow machines, and more. Our road trip is ending with a bang, that’s for sure.
College Station, TX, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Christmas in Texas November 03, 2022 Katie Feldkamp What is Christmas like in Texas? From up north to down south, Texas weather can have a surprising range depending on where you are in the state. So while there may not be a guarantee of a white Christmas, especially in our southern cities, one thing is for sure. No matter where you are in the Lone Star State, you will find plenty of Christmas cheer. We have created so many lists to help make the most of the holiday season. From the best Christmas towns in Texas to the best displays of Christmas lights in Texas, we have it all here for you! Are there any German Christmas markets in Texas? You just happen to be in luck as we have the answer to that question! In Arlington, Texas there is an annual Christkindlmarkt that is just brimming with holiday traditions! Visitors can stroll along the outdoor booths and marvel at all the shopping they can do, all the while sipping mulled wine and eating German treats. It is an annual event you don’t want to miss!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Christmas in Texas
November 03, 2022
Katie Feldkamp
What is Christmas like in Texas? From up north to down south, Texas weather can have a surprising range depending on where you are in the state. So while there may not be a guarantee of a white Christmas, especially in our southern cities, one thing is for sure. No matter where you are in the Lone Star State, you will find plenty of Christmas cheer. We have created so many lists to help make the most of the holiday season. From the best Christmas towns in Texas to the best displays of Christmas lights in Texas, we have it all here for you! Are there any German Christmas markets in Texas? You just happen to be in luck as we have the answer to that question! In Arlington, Texas there is an annual Christkindlmarkt that is just brimming with holiday traditions! Visitors can stroll along the outdoor booths and marvel at all the shopping they can do, all the while sipping mulled wine and eating German treats. It is an annual event you don’t want to miss!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
From up north to down south, Texas weather can have a surprising range depending on where you are in the state. So while there may not be a guarantee of a white Christmas, especially in our southern cities, one thing is for sure. No matter where you are in the Lone Star State, you will find plenty of Christmas cheer. We have created so many lists to help make the most of the holiday season. From the best Christmas towns in Texas to the best displays of Christmas lights in Texas, we have it all here for you!
Are there any German Christmas markets in Texas?
You just happen to be in luck as we have the answer to that question! In Arlington, Texas there is an annual Christkindlmarkt that is just brimming with holiday traditions! Visitors can stroll along the outdoor booths and marvel at all the shopping they can do, all the while sipping mulled wine and eating German treats. It is an annual event you don’t want to miss!
