We write a lot about road trips, day trips, and taking trips…we’re trippy like that. But did you know that in the state of Texas there are more than 70K miles of highway? What’s the importance of that fact? That, friends, is equivalent to a non-stop tour of Texas on which you never have to take the same road twice. At an average speed of 65mph, driving 24/7 (unheard of yes, but so is taking a 70K road trip), this means you could be driving for just over six weeks! Make sure you take a pickle jar, or a coffee can – whatever your preference.
Lifestyle
The Journey of More Than 70K Miles Starts in Texas With Some Fun Facts
By |
Photo: Maxpixel
The fact that a few of these byways are more like back roads doesn’t take away from the beauty, enjoyment, and cool Texas kitsch you’ll see – although you’ll want to stay off of private property. And think of the investment the state has put into the upkeep and maintenance of our roads. They wouldn’t do that if they didn’t mean for you to one day travel them in awe. In fact, for 70K worth of road, the state most likely needs to invest in its own paint company that strictly sells white and yellow line paint (at 12 gallons of paint per mile, Texas would need to buy 840K gallons per year to repaint!)
Photo: Flickr/Katie Haugland Bowen
If you’re tired of driving/riding, and you’re looking to fly, you’re in luck because Texas ranks 2nd in the United States for number of airports. Not only that, but we’ve set records in terms of number of Texans flying at a given point in time (estimated that a record-setting 8.2 million Texans flew domestically between December 21, 2016 and January 2, 2017.)
Photo: Facebook/Jane Shouse
And while you’re out on your Texas travels, you may want to consider some snack food. We’re loaded with it, and we specialize! For instance, Texas holds the record for the largest Frito pie, coming in at 1,325 pounds. You could top that with the largest bowl of salsa at 500 gallons – a record set in Jacksonville, Texas in 2010. And after that, why not have some dessert, and enjoy a piece of the record-setting, world’s largest gingerbread house in Bryan, Texas. It is 60 feet long, 42 feet wide, and 20 feet tall! Just kidding, you can’t really eat any of these things, but they are great records to be aware of. Enjoy the quirky, fun facts you find about Texas in your travels!
