12 days in Houston, Austin & Aspen Itinerary

Although urban sprawl remains synonymous with Houston, most of the city's tourist attractions lie within the relatively small downtown area, surrounded by diverse neighborhoods housing the nation's biggest African-American, Asian-American, and Latino communities.

Explore hidden gems such as Cockrell Butterfly Center and Holocaust Museum Houston. Get a sense of the local culture at Moody Mansion and 1892 Bishop's Palace. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Houston: Galveston (Galveston Historic Seaport - Home of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA, East End Historic District, &more). Next up on the itinerary: see the interesting displays at Houston Museum District, sample the tasty concoctions at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, explore the world behind art at The Menil Collection, and make a trip to Water Wall.

To see traveler tips, photos, ratings, and more tourist information, use the Houston online itinerary planner.

The Route module shows you all the different ways you can get to Houston. Expect a daytime high around 90°F in September, and nighttime lows around 75°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Wed) so you can drive to Austin.

Despite its laid-back college vibe, Austin is an influential center for politics, technology, film, and music.

Visiting Stand-Up Paddleboarding and Barton Creek Greenbelt will get you outdoors. Becker Vineyards (Winery) and William Chris Vineyards are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Step out of Austin to go to Hye and see Garrison Brothers Distillery, which is approximately 1h 10 min away. There's still lots to do: wander the streets of SoCo District, get a sense of history and politics at Texas State Capitol, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Sitagu Buddha Vihara.

For more things to do, where to stay, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Austin trip planner.

You can drive from Houston to Austin in 3 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or fly. September in Austin sees daily highs of 93°F and lows of 71°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 26th (Sat) so you can travel to Aspen.

Known as a ski resort town, Aspen's history goes back to its roots as a silver-mining village tucked away in an isolated valley of the Rocky Mountains.

Step out of the city life by going to Rocky Mountains and Maroon Lake Scenic Trail. Discover out-of-the-way places like Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail and Rio Grande Trail. Take a break from Aspen with a short trip to Glenwood Railroad Museum in Glenwood Springs, about 58 minutes away. The adventure continues: explore the landscape on two wheels at Castle Creek Road, tour the pleasant surroundings at West Maroon Trail, pause for some photo ops at The John Denver Sanctuary, and hike along Buckskin Pass.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Aspen itinerary planner.

Traveling by flight from Austin to Aspen takes 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Austin to Aspen. Expect colder temperatures when traveling from Austin in September; daily highs in Aspen reach 72°F and lows reach 41°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Thu) to allow time to travel back home.