Deep East Texas

Cities

• Huntsville — has several sites related to Texas hero, General Sam Houston, who lived here
• Lufkin — has a zoo and a couple of museums
• Jasper — there's fishing and boating on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir
• Nacogdoches — the oldest city in the state
• San Augustine — site of Spanish mission on the El Camino Real de los Tejas
• The Woodlands — a suburban bedroom community of Houston that hosts the Houston Symphony during the summer
• Hemphill - site of the NASA Museum and Memorial honoring those who perished in the Space Shuttle Columbia accident of 2003

Other destinations

• Big Thicket National Preserve — one of the most biodiverse areas in the world outside of the tropics

Get in

Take Interstate 45 north out of Houston, or Interstate 69 northeast from Houston.

Greyhound Bus serves the area with frequent trips from Houston and Dallas.

Go next

• Central Piney Woods: For travelers who wish to see more of the Piney Woods ecoregion, heading north towards the Interstate 20 corridor is a logical next step. This leads to Tyler, famous for the Texas Rose Garden, and the historically significant city of Marshall. This route also provides access to Caddo Lake State Park, which offers a different but equally stunning cypress swamp experience from the bayous further south.
• Houston: A two-hour drive south from Lufkin leads to Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States. It offers a complete contrast to the rural tranquility of Deep East Texas, with a world-class Museum District, the NASA Johnson Space Center, a diverse and celebrated culinary scene, and professional sports.
• Texas Gulf Coast: Heading southeast from Jasper on U.S. Highway 96 leads to the "Golden Triangle" cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur. From there, travelers can explore the unique coastal ecosystems of the upper Texas coast at destinations like Sea Rim State Park and historic sites like Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site
• Louisiana: Crossing the state line from Hemphill or San Augustine immediately immerses the traveler in Louisiana's distinct culture. A short drive east leads to the historic city of Natchitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory. Further southeast lies Lafayette, the heart of Cajun Country, with its unique music, food, and French-speaking heritage.