Exploring Huntsville, Texas

On a beautiful early fall weekend our family spent some quality time in Huntsville, Texas. Huntsville is located 1 hour north of Houston on Interstate 45. We were looking for a budget friendly destination that would let us experience the beautiful Texas weather we had that weekend.  We were not disappointed!

What is there to do?
    Explore all that nature has to offer.
  • Huntsville State ParkLocated in the Sam Houston National Forest, Huntsville State Park has over 2,000 acres surrounding a  beautiful lake for you to explore and enjoy. Some of the activities you can enjoy include hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, canoe & paddle boat rentals, horse back riding, camping, & picnics. You will find over 21 miles of hiking/biking trails in this state park.The day we visited the park was very busy with a mountain bike race going on & almost all of the campsites were full. We were surprised to find despite so many people were in the park the hiking trails were not crowded. We have hiked trails across the United States and found Huntsville State Park had the best marked trails.  The trails were well maintained and easily traveled. We enjoyed hiking around the beautiful lake.  We did not hike all 21 miles of trails, we focused primarily on the southern portion of the state park near the dam. During our hike we saw several bicyclists on the hiking trail. If you enjoy mountain biking, Huntsville State Park has many miles to ride. We highly recommend spending a day or weekend at Huntsville State Park.  Entrance fees for daily use are $5 for adults 13 and older and FREE admission for children under 12. Campsites: $15-$25 per night, Screened Shelters $30 per night, Shelters with Air Conditioning $60 per night, Group Pavilion Screened Shelter $50 daily. 


Pictures of Huntsville State Park:

Well marked trails..
You are surrounded by towering trees.





















The horseshoe shaped lake is encircled by the state park.
Trails have many bridges to cross.
    Easy access from Interstate 45
  • Sam Houston Memorial Museum 1836 Sam Houston Ave, Huntsville, TX hours Sunday: 12:00pm - 4:30pm,  Monday: Closed, & Tuesday - Saturday: 9:00am - 4:30pm. Learn about the life of Sam Houston and how he influenced Texas' entrance into the United States. Entrance fees: Adults $5, Children Aged 6-18 $3, Seniors 65+ $4.
67 foot tall statue of Sam Houston


Where did you eat?
Huntsville has many options for restaurants from chain sit down restaurants, fast food restaurants, and locally owned restaurants. When we travel we like to eat like the locals so we chose a family owned restaurant near downtown Huntsville.  
Farmhouse Cafe located near downtown Huntsville
Farmhouse Cafe1004 14th St, Huntsville, TX. The Farmhouse Cafe is off Interstate 45 and worth the drive into the heart of Huntsville. Each day the Farmhouse Cafe offers daily specials to supplement the down home offerings on the menu. Oh & don't forget the hot and fresh one of a kind homemade cornbread that is brought to the table when you arrive.With meals priced at a reasonable average of $11, you can't go wrong if you are on a budget.  As for my family we ordered the following:

One of a kind cornbread served
with all meals.
I ordered the lunch special and was not disappointed. 
Lunch Special - Parmesan chicken with hand battered fried squash
& Italian style green beans.

Here's what my husband and son each ordered:
Fried catfish platter that served crispy filets, spicy hush
puppies, sweet & tasty coleslaw, & crisp french fries.
The desserts looked spectacular as well! (We had Blue Bell ice cream earlier in our trip so we did not try a dessert.) Do I recommend the Farmhouse Cafe:  YES! Everyone enjoyed their meals, we would definitely return next time we visit Huntsville.

Final notes about the trip:
While our trip was merely a day trip, Huntsville could easily be a great weekend getaway. Whether you are looking for a fun family camp out at the state park or you would like accommodations that include a nice comfortable bed with plenty of air conditioning, Huntsville has something for you to explore & enjoy! 

May God bless you on all of your travels!

Amazon