Historic Landmarks And Attractions On Route 90 In Texas

Planning a summer vacay? Here's a great road trip for you that doesn't require much as far as directions go.

The easiest way to see a lot of Texas towns and countryside by car is one particular highway, no google or Siri needed. Just hop on Route 90 and stay there as it takes you from far west Texas all the way to Beaumont in east Texas.

From El Paso, you'll need to use I-10 for a minute, just long enough to get you to Van Horn, that's where Route 90 begins. 90's not the longest highway in Texas but it shows you the most stuff.

I-10 continues across Texas as well but it's a major interstate where you're hauling ass and going right past, around or over most places. On 90, you go slower and right through some beautiful and interesting places.

Things You See On Route 90

In Van Horn, visit the historic Hotel El Capitan. I've been there, it's a very cool building designed by Henry Charles Trost. He was a famous architect from El Paso who designed many buildings here and whose work will pop in other spots along 90. You may catch a rocket launch too depending on when you're there.

Valentine/Marfa

As you make your way toward Marfa, you may be able to stop and grab a beer at the Valentine Texas Bar in Valentine. If it's open, you'll know it is if you see an old car door on the side of the road with "Bar Open" painted on it.

Next comes Marfa, where you'll find the mini Prada store. The first time I saw Prada, Marfa, I couldn't believe someone actually built that. I went right past it but then, had to turn around and go get pics.

PRO TIP: If you can, hit Marfa when it's dark so you can try and catch a glimpse of the famous Marfa mystery lights. I've seen them ... very creepy. You can also visit the Hotel Paisano, the 2nd Trost building on this journey. Bonus for ghost hunters, it's haunted AF.

Alpine

In Alpine, Trost strikes again with the Holland Hotel. We didn't go there so, I don't know if it has ghost stories or not. I'd be willing to bet it does though ...

Next comes Marathon, Texas with the worlds tiniest Buck - eee's, (a nod, I guess, to Prada, Marfa?) and Trost #4 - The Gage Hotel. Next, you're on to a ghost town and the site of the former Jersey Lilly saloon where famous, (or infamous), Judge Roy Bean held court. And fake executions.

That's abut as far down 90 as I've been but there's lots more to come. You'll cross the Pecos High Bridge, (almost 300 feet above the Pecos River), and maybe catch a glimpse of the set where The Alamo starring John Wayne and the Lonesome Dove mini-series were filmed, I say "glimpse" because I don't think it's open to the public anymore.

San Antonio, bbq, the Shiner Bock brewery, the site where Sam Houston and his troops planned the battle of San Jacinto and much more await ... have fun.