Texas Road Trips for your next Miata weekend!

Hill Country and West Texas are Miata country: linked corners, helpful camber, and long sightlines that reward light, communicative cars. Before any of these drives, top off the tank, stash a couple liters of water per person, and toss a basic tool kit and tire plug/inflator in the trunk. Run early for cooler temps and empty roads, and always leave margin for cyclists and ranch traffic.

Route 1 ,  The Twisted Sisters (RR 335/336/337): Medina–Leakey–Vanderpool–Camp Wood Loop

The Twisted Sisters are Texas’ best-known driver’s loop, a cluster of ridge roads that thread across canyons and limestone hills. The experience is classic Hill Country: fast sweepers along the ridgelines, short sightlines as you dip into draws, and just enough elevation to keep you honest. It’s a half-day adventure even if you only stop for coffee and a couple of photos.

This loop is all about precision and momentum. Linked corners, occasional decreasing-radius turns, and elevation transitions let a Miata’s balance and steering feel do the talking. You never need huge power; clean lines and smooth weight transfer make the car feel scalpel-sharp.

The classic clockwise lap starts in Medina, runs RR337 to Leakey, then climbs RR336 north to TX-41, cuts east on TX-41, drops south on RR335 to Camp Wood, and finishes by taking RR337 east back toward Leakey and Medina. Leakey works well as a hub if you’re staying nearby; Medina or Camp Wood also make easy staging points.

Expect roughly 100–120 miles for the full loop and plan a half day with coffee, photo, and fuel stops. If you’re pressed for time, the RR337 leg from Leakey to Camp Wood is about 21 miles and makes a solid warm-up out-and-back.

RR337 from Medina over to Leakey and on to Camp Wood is the headliner: big-sky vistas and flowing sweepers with a few downhill corners that tighten late. RR336 from Leakey up to TX-41 tightens the rhythm and shortens the sightlines; surface changes appear in patches, so look through the corner. RR335 from TX-41 down to Camp Wood opens back up, with faster arcs and the occasional ranch driveway or river-crossing gust to keep you attentive.

You’ll find fuel and food in Medina, Leakey, Vanderpool, and Camp Wood, but services are sparse in between. Cell coverage can get patchy in canyons and low spots, so download maps and share your plan with a friend if you’re solo.

When visiting during spring and fall, bring cooler temps and wildflowers, which make the ridgeline views pop. Summer heat loads tires and brakes quickly, so start at sunrise, keep the pace tidy, and take shade breaks.

Watch for gravel kicked in from shoulders, open-range livestock, cyclists, and packs of motorcycles on pretty weekends. Many sections have limited guardrails; brake in a straight line, look long, and leave a safety buffer for oncoming traffic.

Ridgeline pull-outs on RR337 west of Vanderpool deliver the money shots. The Frio River has a few public access points for a cool-down, and Lost Maples State Natural Area is close if you want a foliage add-on in late fall.

Route 2 ,  FM 170 “River Road / El Camino del Rio”: Lajitas → Presidio (Big Bend)

170 is a desert ribbon that traces the Rio Grande between rocky folds, with the river glinting below and Mexico in view across the water. It’s one of the most scenic paved drives in Texas, mixing long-range vistas with roller-coaster elevation whoops that never feel out of control.

road’s camber and rhythm make a light chassis sing. You can settle into a steady, flowing pace that feels quick without being reckless, letting the suspension breathe over rises and the steering load and unload naturally.

Run FM 170 between Lajitas and Presidio along the southern edge of Big Bend Ranch State Park. Many drivers prefer east-to-west in the late afternoon for golden-hour light on the cliffs, but either direction is outstanding.

The core driver’s section is a bit over 30–60 miles depending on how you define your endpoints. Plan a half day to enjoy overlooks and a couple of short hikes; it’s easy to lose track of time pulling over for the views.

From Lajitas to the Big Hill Overlook you’ll hit the signature rollers and cambered sweepers with grandstand views over the river. Around Closed Canyon and the Hoodoos area the road tightens and uncoils with arroyo crossings; trailheads sit right off the pavement if you want a 20–40 minute leg-stretcher.

Fuel is available at Lajitas and Presidio, with nothing mid-route. The Barton Warnock Visitor Center near Lajitas is a smart first stop for maps and current notes. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent in stretches; pack extra water and let someone know your plan.

Late fall through spring offers manageable temperatures and clearer air. A westbound run toward sunset piles on the drama with long shadows and saturated color. Summer heat here is no joke, start very early if you go in June–August.

Heat, remoteness, and wildlife are the big three. After rains, sand and small gravel can settle in low crossings. Expect occasional Border Patrol activity. Drive self-sufficient, respect pull-out etiquette, and never stop in the lane for a photo.

Stop at the Big Hill Overlook for the classic bend-in-the-river shot. Closed Canyon and the Hoodoos Trail make quick, rewarding hikes. On the Presidio end, Fort Leaton offers a history break, and back near Lajitas you can detour for a resort meal if you’re mixing in non-car fun.

Top off in Lajitas, grab updates at Barton Warnock, time your approach to hit Big Hill near golden hour, park for a short Hoodoos or Closed Canyon hike, then cruise into Presidio for dinner and a refuel before heading back to your base. With frequent stops, three to five hours disappears fast.

Route 3 ,  Davis Mountains Scenic Loop: Fort Davis → TX-166 → TX-118 → Fort Davis

The Davis Mountains deliver high-country West Texas: thin traffic, long sightlines, and broad-arc sweepers that reward smooth hands. It’s one of the state’s most beautiful paved loops and a great way to cool off after a desert day.

Elevation plus wind highlight a Miata’s stability and steering precision. You can keep the car in its sweet spot, flowing corner to corner at a brisk momentum pace without touching big speeds. A spur to McDonald Observatory adds a short, satisfying climb and panoramic payoff.

Base in Fort Davis. Run TX-166 west/south through open ranch country, then pick up TX-118 north back into Fort Davis. Reverse the direction if you want the observatory climb earlier in the day.

The loop is roughly 75 miles and takes around two hours at a relaxed, photo-friendly pace. Add time for the observatory spur, a picnic stop, or a quick wander through the state park.

TX-166 paints wide basins and distant ridgelines across your windshield; crosswinds and pronghorn sightings are common. TX-118 brings gentle climbs and descents with Blue Mountain views, plus the short, curvy branch up to the McDonald Observatory if the schedule allows.

Fuel in Fort Davis (and Alpine if you’re staging from the east). Once you’re on the loop, services thin out. Point of Rocks offers a scenic picnic area, and cell coverage comes and goes, download maps in town.

This one works year-round, with milder summer temps than the desert floor. Sunsets are particularly good, and on Star Party nights the observatory can anchor your evening.

Open-range cattle and wildlife activity pick up toward dusk, and gusty crosswinds can nudge the car mid-corner. Summer thunderstorms can build quickly over the peaks; check radar before you roll and keep your eyes on cloud development.

Point of Rocks provides an easy pull-off with big views. The McDonald Observatory is a worthy detour, and Davis Mountains State Park and Fort Davis National Historic Site add hiking and history if you’re making a day of it.

Top off in Fort Davis, cruise TX-166 with a couple of scenic pull-outs, swing onto TX-118 north, stop at Point of Rocks for a breather, detour up to McDonald Observatory for the views, then roll back into town for dinner. With a picnic and the spur, budget two to three hours!