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What's the best road trip route from Texas to California?

My partner and I are planning to head to California from Austin, TX, and want to make it an epic road trip. There seem to be almost too many options for road trip stops online, though. What’s the best way to travel to California from Texas?

avatar
Kaitlin May · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That’s going to be a trip for the books! It’s great that you’re open to making plenty of stops because a
Texas
to
California
road trip crosses four states, three time zones, and clocks between 1,600 and 2,100 miles depending on the route you choose. To check off a few bucket list items on the drive, it’s best to travel via I-10.
Ideally, you’ll want to plan at least five days to explore both California and the stops leading you there. If you have the flexibility, seven to ten days is an even better length of time to get the full, round-trip experience
Some top cities to stop in are
El Paso
,
Las Cruces
,
Tucson
, and
Palm Springs
. If you want to narrow down your itinerary even further, you can put these attractions on your list:
  • Johnson Space Center in Texas
  • Newman’s Castle in Texas
  • Buc-ee’s Gas Station in Texas
  • Carlsbad Caverns National Park in
    New Mexico
  • Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue in New Mexico
  • White Sands National Monument in New Mexico
  • Saguaro National Park in
    Arizona
Once you reach California’s state line, you’ll be in a prime position to explore
San Diego
. If you surf, make sure to pack your board so you can experience some of the best waves the Golden State has to offer.
While it’s a great idea to map out your trip ahead of time, there are some unexpected snags that can arise along the way. Car troubles can set you back on your road trip, but nothing makes them easier to manage than
towing and labor
coverage. Download the
Jerry
app to make sure you have this add-on in your policy, or make it a part of your plan if you don’t have it yet.
With Jerry, you can find a great quote in minutes, and even save over $800 per year on car insurance!
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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