My husband and I live in Lubbock Texas! Many people have asked “how could you live out there?” “Is there anything to do??” etc. Well, we have LOVED living in Lubbock.

We met at Texas Tech (Wreck em’), I am graduated and teaching elementary music and he is finishing up his mechanical engineering degree .

As much as we love Lubbock, it is nice to be able to get out of town and do something different! Lubbock can be very flat and dusty, but within easy driving distance are many locations that can satisfy anyones thirst for adventure. Here are seven easy day or weekend trips you can make from Lubbock, Texas (organized by distance). Each of these offer a variety of sites that will make you say “We sure aren’t in Lubbock anymore”!

Buffalo Springs Lake and Ransom Canyon:

Distance from Lubbock: 25 minutes

Didn’t think there was anything this beautiful this close to Lubbock did you? If you need a quick escape from Lubbock this is a great one! It really feels like you have left Lubbock once you start descending down into the canyon. Buffalo Springs and Ransom canyon are interconnected and next to each other, but very distinct and offer different things.

Buffalo Springs lake is a neighborhood and recreation area that can be accessed by a small fee ( $11 for adults, $10 with a valid college ID for general entry). At buffalo springs, there is hiking, swimming in the lake from a small beach area, off roading, fishing, boating, and camping. Buffalo springs also has many festivals, firework shows, and other events so check out the website for more information on these!

Ransom canyon is a sleepy upscale neighborhood located right next to Buffalo Springs. Technically, only homeowners have access to these next items but as long as you are quiet and respectful of the neighborhood no one will look at you twice. Drive to the Ransom Canyon chapel for some beautiful canyon hikes along cobble stone and then dirt trails through a small bird sanctuary. Or drive along the rim and check out this “Out of this world” house!

Caprock Canyon State Park:

Distance from Lubbock: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Caprock Canyon is the first of the Texas panhandle parks we will be looking at. Home to red rock cliffs and Texas’s largest bison heard it is a park that should not be skipped! With how close it is to Lubbock it is a perfect day trip or weekend trip if you are ready to camp (extra fees apply). Caprock entry fees are very reasonable ($5 per adult) and offer a wide variety of hikes for all skill levels. Bring your fishing pools and come fish at the lake near the park entrance, slap on your back packs and back pack into the Caprock backcountry, take a day hike to the fern cave, or ooo and ahhh at some cute baby bison (PSA bison are wild and unpredictable, keep your distance or prepare to be bison toast). If you are spending the night, talk to a ranger about seeing bats at Clarity Tunnel!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park:

Distance from Lubbock: 1 hour and 42 minutes

Palo Duro has been consistently ranked in the top three state parks in Texas for a good reason. Ya’ll, its freaking beautiful.

Entrance into the park is $8 per person, there are many different camping locations around the park, and cabins if your looking to glamp. If you only have a day to spend at Palo Duro, I suggest hiking the lighthouse trail. It is very iconic at Palo Duro and is such a unique rock formation! If you have more time, go hike the rock garden trail. This trail really gives you a feel for the landscape and takes you to the top of the canyon walls. Check out the different visitors centers and art galleries offered here. And if you are visiting in the summer, don’t miss The Texas Show. People travel from all over the country to see this hundred year old musical portraying Texas in the 1800’s. This is sure to be fun for the whole family and is a great way to end a weekend at Palo Duro.

Monahans Sandhills State Park:

Distance from Lubbock: 2 hours and 34 minutes

Monahans State Park is a really fun day trip! I wouldn’t suggest turning it into a weekend trip unless you have family in the area or you just really really love sand haha. Entrance into the dunes is only $4 but you will want to rent or purchase a sand disk for an additional fee to maximize your fun here. Hiking on the dunes is very difficult and tiring because of the sand but it is so fun to slide down the hills, especially if you have little ones. This park is typically less busy than the dunes in New Mexico or Colorado, costs less, and is closer. So even though it is smaller, I think it is very much worth the trip!

Carlsbad Caverns National Park:

Distance from Lubbock: 3 hours and 13 minutes

This is an essential weekend trip if you live in Lubbock. People drive across the country to see this park, and you have it in striking distance so take advantage. The cave is one of the largest in the entire world! Take a hike down the paved switchbacks a mile and a half long or take the elevator 750 feet down into the earth and explore “The Big Room” of the caverns.

The entire self guided tour only took us about an hour and a half, but be aware! The elevator line to get out of the caverns can sometimes get very long especially during the summer. Start early and beat the crowds! If you are at Carlsbad in the late spring or summer, you must come back at night to see the bats fly out of the caverns. It truly is a natural wonder and something I will never forget, so make it a priority. Talk to a ranger about when you should arrive (They are animals not performers, so it is never 100 percent certain if or when the bats will emerge but they can make very good estimates).

Guadalupe National Park:

Distance from Lubbock: 3 hours and 28 minutes

Guadalupe National Park is only located 40 minutes away from Carlsbad Caverns, so I would suggest doing both on a three day weekend and camping at Guadalupe! The big attraction at Guadalupe is Guadalupe Peak (the highest geologic point in Texas). This is not a hike for the faint of heart! 9 miles round trip and 3,000 feet elevation change. It took us about 6-7 hours to complete start to finish.

It is well worth the hike, but if you don’t have the time or energy the Devil’s Hall hike is also an awesome one that is much shorter and less steep. There is a ton of back country camping, but be careful! It can get so so hot in the summer. I came across some hikers when I did Guadalupe peak who were backpacking, ran out of water, then had to distill and drink their own urine (ew) so don’t let that be you!

Ruidoso, NM:

Distance from Lubbock: 3 hours and 55 minutes

Personally, this is my favorite weekend getaway from Lubbock. I have been multiple times with my husband, friends, and even planned my best friends bachelorette party here. I love Ruidoso because you really get such a great combination of factors:

1: Ruidoso the town is so cute. The little mountain town feel, wineries, gift shops, coffee shops, all with the mountain views make it such a gem

2: If you are balling on a budget, you can do Ruidoso cheap. This is much harder in other places like Colorado

3: If you want to hike, Lincoln national forest is here! If you want to gamble, head to Inn of the Mountain Gods. Want to escape into the wilderness, there are so many cute rental properties. Want to hit the ski slopes, head to ski apache only 30 minutes from Ruidoso

I love love love the mountains, so if the mountains are calling and you NEED to escape the flatlands of Lubbock, Ruidoso is close enough for a weekend trip and can be done without breaking the bank!

To all my Lubbockites, we know you either “Lubbock or Leave It”, but sometimes we all need to leave it. I hope you have some new fresh ideas for weekend escapes!