Cheap Romantic Getaways in Texas

From dinner in Dallas to paddling at Padre, Texas offers a wealth of options to couples in search of an inexpensive romantic destination. Pack your bag, drop the kids off at Grandpa’s and saddle up for the wide-open spaces.

Leave your kids with the sitter and spend a weekend basking in the sun with your beloved on Padre Island National Seashore (2420 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX). Remote campsites on the Gulf of Mexico are available year-round, but they have no services. You'll need an off-road vehicle to reach many of the sites, and you'll need to bring your own supplies, but once you're set up, expect solitude. Build a bonfire as the sun sets and fall asleep to the sound of the Gulf lapping on the beach.

Reasonably priced cabins at Caddo Lake State Park (245 Park Road 2, Karnack, TX), have everything you need for a rustic, romantic stay—except the food and drink. The park rents canoes and kayaks for paddling around towering cypress trees draped with Spanish moss and down meandering bayous dotted with lily pads. Take a day trip to nearby Jefferson, a historical village with lots of antique stores, or grab dinner on the deck overlooking Caddo Lake at the RiverBend Restaurant (211 Private Road 2242, Karnack, TX). Back in the park, stargaze as your campfire fades to embers.

Check the Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West (1590 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX) for one of its frequent room and package deal specials if you need a hotel in the Dallas area. The hotel has a heated outdoor pool that's open year-round and a full-service restaurant, lounge and wine bar. Rightfully awarded a customer service award from TripAdvisor, room service is available 24 hours a day if you'd prefer to have meals delivered. If you choose to leave the hotel, head to the Galleria (13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX) where you can ice skate year-round.

Cowboys still roam the high plains of west Texas, far from the big-city atmospheres of Dallas and Houston. Lubbock and Amarillo, sometimes viewed as way stations to big cities farther west, do have their own romantic charms. Lubbock, birthplace of rock 'n' roll pioneer Buddy Holly, hosts outdoor moonlight musicals (413 E. Broadway, Lubbock, TX), but if you'd prefer to make your own adventure, head to the Lubbock Cultural District for music and dance. In Amarillo, stroll through the Botanical Gardens (1400 Streit Drive, Amarillo, TX), then head to the Center City Dining District for a romantic dinner at OHMS Café (619 S. Tyler St., Amarillo, TX).

If you're planning an inexpensive romantic getaway to one of Texas' major cities, keep in mind that accommodations in the suburbs will typically be cheaper. Make sure there won’t be add-on charges like parking or turndown service, and use an app like Yapta to keep an eye out for price drops. Check for hotels that offer babysitting service, or that give references for local babysitters if you decide to bring the little ones along.