Five Scenic Drives Around Houston; An Iconic Trophy, and first look at the Yukon!

Houston can feel nonstop, so we went looking for the kind of drives that make the city fade in the rearview mirror fast. We lay out five scenic cruises around Houston you can actually do without sacrificing the whole weekend, starting with the Bluewater Highway Coastal Drive between Galveston and Surfside Beach for beach, marsh, and fishing-town views that hit especially hard at sunrise or sunset. If you’ve been searching for Houston day trips, scenic drives near Houston, or an easy coastal escape, this route belongs at the top of the list. From there we head inland to FM 149 through Sam Houston National Forest, where the payoff is quiet back roads, seasonal color in spring and fall, and the simple luxury of fewer cars. We also talk through the Bolivar Peninsula ferry route with its free crossing, ship-channel watching, and the chance of spotting dolphins, plus what to know if you’re tempted to drive on the beach and don’t want to get stuck in soft sand. Then we stretch the day trip north with the Texas Independence Trail toward Washington-on-the-Brazos for farmland scenery, bluebonnet fields, and small-town stops, and we finish the travel portion with the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston loop that delivers big water views shockingly close to home. After that, the show takes a fun car-culture turn with the Indianapolis 500 Borg-Warner Trophy and its famous details, before we wrap with our 2026 GMC Yukon AT4 Ultimate review covering luxury feel, big-screen tech, smooth 6.2L V8 power, air ride comfort, towing capability, and the six-figure price tag. If you like practical local adventures mixed with real-world car talk, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a getaway drive, and leave a review so more Houston drivers can find us.Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas Gulf Coast Auto ShieldPaint protection, tint, and more!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.----  ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?     In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!  Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.-----   -----Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltimehttps://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTimeFor more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at [email protected]