Best road trip destinations for Texas wildflower season

  

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Texas wildflower season is here, bringing lively and vibrant colors of nature across the Lone Star State.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the official botanical garden and arboretum of Texas, predicts 2024 will be a great year for wildflowers to bloom at its fullest.

Courtesy of Frank Maldonado

The Bluebonnet, also known as the Texas state flower, is one of many wildflowers that indicate that springtime has begun.

“On a scale from one to 10, this year looks like it could be an eight, for bluebonnets in particular, if not even better,” said Andrea DeLong-Amaya, Director of Horticulture with Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

DeLong-Amaya acclaims the vast wildflower growth to weather events that occurred in 2023.

“This fall and winter we’ve enjoyed adequate rainfall that’s been well-spaced, which is really key to wildflower development,” DeLong-Amaya continued.

Where to see the Texas Wildflowers

Texas is home to over 5,000 species of wildflowers, all which can be seen in different regions of the state.

A scenic wildflower drive can make the perfect spring road trip for you and your loved ones.

Texas Highways, a magazine by The Texas Department of Transportation, recommends traveling to these regions in order to get the most of your wildflower adventure.

  • South Texas Coastal Plain (Cuero, Goliad, Victoria, Refugio area north of Corpus Christi)
  • Highland Lakes (Llano, Burnet and Marble Falls area)
  • Washington County (west of Houston, east of Austin)
  • The Hill Country (Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock, Johnson City area)
  • Western Hill County (Leakey, Bandera, Utopia area)
  • Blackland Prairie (San Antonio, Austin, Ennis and Athens area)
  • East Texas (Nacogdoches, Caddo Lake area)
  • North-Central Texas (Stephenville, Hico, Comanche area)
  • Panhandle (Amarillo, Lake Meredith, Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyons area)
  • Upper Coast (Brazos Bend, Beaumont, Brazoria, Sandyland, Houston area)
  • Big Bend and David Mountains (Big Bend National Park, Fort Davis, Marfa, Alpine areas)
  • Far West (El Paso, Guadalupe Mountains, Franklin Mountains area)