What to Do in Del Rio, Texas

On a road trip in a state as large and as vast as Texas, you end up with miles of nothing. Driving between major cities like Austin, San Antonio, or even Houston is quite a distance. When looking for places to stop along the way to Big Bend Ranch State Park, we were left with a few options, mainly Fort Stockton, Texas or Del Rio, Texas.

Why Del Rio over Fort Stockton? We picked Del Rio because it would be a destination worth visiting on its own for a day trip, and we got to take the scenic route on US-90. This ended up being the best decision and really added to the trip. Finding awesome small locations that don't make lists is what a road trip is all about. This hidden gem is worth stopping by.

Would I recommend Del Rio? It depends on how far it is from you and where you're heading. If it's an easy day trip from your location, then I would recommend it. If you're headed to Big Bend National Park or Big Bend Ranch State Park, it's a great way to break up the drive from San Antonio or Austin. Either way, this can be a full day that is a fulfilling adventure, not just a place to stop on your way to somewhere else.

The best places to see in Del Rio are just outside the town, specifically, the tallest bridge in Texas and a top-rated Texas State Park according to National Geographic. You could easily spend a day or two to fully explore everything this small town and the surrounding area have to offer, but it takes about a day to see the highlights.

For what to do during the day, you have Pecos River High Bridge and Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site. These two can take up your entire day. Pecos River High Bridge is about 45 minutes from Del Rio, and Seminole Canyon State Park is literally a 2-minute drive from the bridge. There is more to do in this town and surrounding area, but this is what we got to with an evening and half a day. In town, there are two spots I wish I had known about before my visit. Val Verde Winery is the oldest continuously operating winery in Texas, dating back to 1883, and it's right in town. Whitehead Memorial Museum is a 2.5-acre open-air "village" museum. I didn't know about either of these until after leaving Del Rio.

This is definitely worth a stop and a photo shoot. You could spend 2 minutes here or half an hour, it's really about the lookout. It's the tallest bridge in Texas and is definitely a checklist item. It sits over a canyon, and it's nice to watch the cars go by on the bridge above.

If you're heading to Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site, you need to take a left onto a dirt road, which you could easily miss. It was hard for me to find exact info on the bridge and where to see it. On the east side of the bridge, there is a dirt road leading to a picnic area, but there are no restrooms, FYI.

I would recommend doing this on your way to Seminole Canyon State Park. It's a nice place to have breakfast and coffee if it's something you pack with you.

With a little less than half a day, we were able to pack in two trails and hit 5 out of the 7 points of interest at the park. Now, here is the highlight: if you didn't know you were in West Texas, now you do. Nothing says western like old metal windmills and vultures. At times, hiking here felt like hiking San Angelo State Park — flat, hot, and not much to see — but it really shined with its aesthetics, and the canyon was a nice bonus. If I had the time, I would have hiked out to the Rio Grande viewpoint, but sadly ran out of time.

The visitor center has a nice small museum about the history of the area and is worth checking out. The $4 entrance fee is well worth it for what the park has to offer. This is one of those state parks where you could see it all in just a day, so it is on the smaller side. Compared to Brazos Bend State Park or Big Bend Ranch State Park, it doesn't hold its own on its own, but as part of a day-packed itinerary with a charming border town and Texas's tallest bridge, it adds the finishing touch to a day well spent.

I didn't even know about the pictographs in the park until I got there in the late morning, but this is something I wish I had known ahead of time. I would have shown up a little before 10 AM for the tour. The pictographs are drawings from 7,000 years ago, prehistoric artwork preserved on the canyon walls. You need to schedule the tour in advance and pay for it separately. I won't go into detail on the tours since I haven't done any, but I would research ahead of time and see if it lines up with your schedule. I think this would have changed my experience completely. Without it, I did not experience all this park had to give.

For a budget-friendly lunch, stop by the taco trucks around town. The food truck scene in Del Rio is solid, and this is where you'll find the best value.

The best restaurant I found was Cripple Creek Steakhouse and Saloon, which was a great dinner spot. The steak and burgers hit the spot after a long drive. It's not the cheapest option, but it's reasonably priced for a steakhouse. If you're with a significant other and want something with a romantic, cabin-y, warm, homey vibe, Cripple Creek is where you should go.

Our meal at Cripple Creek came to a total bill of $75, which included a delicious burger, a good steak, and a "Kiss Me I'm Irish," along with tip. It was the most expensive item of our Del Rio stop.

Here's how I'd do it if I could do it again:

Wake up around 7:30–8 AM with a packed breakfast and have a morning picnic at the Pecos River High Bridge rest area viewpoint. Then make your way to Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site by 9:30 AM for a scheduled pictograph tour before hiking the Canyon Rim Trail to the Rio Grande Viewpoint. Finish the day by checking out the town and eating dinner at Cripple Creek Steakhouse and Saloon.

Another big miss for me was Amistad National Recreation Area. This was not even on my radar until after the trip. If I were able to do it again, I would definitely stop here and see what they have to offer.

We stayed at the Econo Lodge in Del Rio. It was good for an Econo Lodge, but it is a budget hotel. The total cost for one night after tax was $57.

We have the Texas State Parks Pass, so there was no entrance fee, but the pass is $70 annually, so we were able to get into Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site for free. Without the pass, the entrance fee is $4.

For budget travelers, you can spend under $100 a day total, or less, depending on how tight your budget is. Camping at Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site is an option for as low as $10 a night. Pack your own food, eat from the food trucks, and this could easily be a $100 trip or less.

Del Rio, Texas is a hidden gem for a grand Texas road trip. It has a top-rated state park, the tallest bridge in Texas, and a border town charm that makes it so worth adding to your itinerary if you're in the area.

This was a last-minute addition to my trip — at first, I was going to drive straight to Big Bend Ranch State Park, and I'm glad I didn't. This was a satisfying addition and amplified the trip as a whole. Finding small towns like this really makes road trips what they are. You find places that you could never find if you just flew in.

If you're in the area, I think this guide will help you plan your visit. It's something I wish I had known ahead of time. Reserve a tour at Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site, add Amistad National Recreation Area and Val Verde Winery to your list, and allow yourself enough time to relax and explore.

I know this location has more to offer than what I saw. I could make a weekend out of it, and I wish I could, but time is always a factor and we can't see everything. I hope this helps you find a new location to explore and see all you can with the time you have.