Houston in 2 days: NASA and surroundings
How to spend one weekend in Houston and make the most of your visit to the NASA.
Complete 2-days itinerary including nearby hidden gems you can’t miss out!
Houston, TX
Distance: 240 miles/ 3 h 30 min from Dallas
Houston is home to the NASA/ Houston Space Center, which by itself is already worth the trip.
This is the NASA’s branch responsible for controlling the space missions and training astronauts, and you basically can see these facilities in person – how cool is that?
Whether you’re living in Dallas or just visiting the city, visiting the Space Center Houston is a once in a lifetime experience you simply can’t miss out while in Texas!
So hit the road and go for it. But first look into this post and find out what to do in Houston beyond the NASA. Discover amazing attractions nearby the Space Center and turn your visit to the NASA into the perfect weekend getaway.
Here you’ll find a complete 2-day itinerary in Houston with the must-sees in the NASA surroundings. Read bellow and enjoy your weekend in Houston to the fullest. I hope you have a blast!
And when you’re ready for more adventures, check our Trips from Dallas page for over 30 ideas on places to visit in Texas and surrounding states.
DAY 1
1. Space Center Houston - NASA
Start off with the very reason for your trip to Houston: the NASA Space Center. Plan to spend at least half a day there.
Buy tickets in advance to skip the usually long lines and arrive about 30 to 60 minutes before the Houston Space Center opens – might sound exaggerated, but you’ll eventually thank me for that.
Once the Space Center opens, go straight to the tram tours line. They tend to get huge, so you are better off starting there and exploring the Space Center calmly afterwards.
And don’t skip the tram tours under any circumstances! They take you from the Space Center, which is an exhibition, into the real NASA, and this is what is really special about visiting the Space Center Houston.
Check here the exhibits and experiences offered at the Space Center Houston. Or, even better, download their app to check what is going on in the day of your visit and plan ahead!
NASA Tram Tours - Astronaut Training Facility or Mission Control Center?
Here is where the magic happens. Take the tram tours to explore the real NASA grounds. Visit the place where astronauts prepare for their space journeys. Step onto the very room from where Apollo 13 was brought back to earth – does ‘Houston, we have a problem’ sound familiar?
“But do I have to choose one of them???” Noooooo. You can and should take both and they are included in your admission to the Houston Space Center.
But as each tram tour takes about 90 minutes – and lines are usually huge – if time is an issue you might have to pick one.
Both tours are amazing and completely different experiences. Which one to choose – if you really must – is a very personal matter. Here is what you can expect, so you can decide by yourself:
Mission Control Center Tour
It takes you into the legendary Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control facility, from where history was made. The missions controlled from this room include early space shuttle missions and the first lunar landing mission.
And it’s also the place from where the famous and almost tragic Apollo 13 expedition – ‘Houston, we have a problem’ – was brought back to earth.
Astronaut Training Facility
Here is where the future of the space expeditions take place.
This tram tour takes you to the facility where astronauts train for future missions. And where engineers and designers work developing the next generation of space vehicles and equipment – you can see pretty cool mockups there.
Note:
Both tours finish at the Saturn V facility/ Rocket Park, where you can check on a real Saturn V massive rocket.
You should definitively stop there – but only once, in the second tour just skip it by remaining in the tram.
VIP Experiences at the Space Center Houston
You can upgrade your experience by having lunch with a real astronaut or taking a VIP behind-the-scenes tour.
Both activities require advanced reservations. They come with a price tag but if you can afford it, it’s a unique and unparalleled experience.
2. Kemah Boardwalk
Afterwards head to the nearby Kemah Boardwalk, an authentic old-school American amusement park, sat on a pier by the ocean.
Walk along the boardwalk to take in the views. Have fun on the amusement rides.
Then explore the surroundings. Stop for Mediterranean food at Bakkhus Taverna. Grab a treat at the local Art of Coffee – their muffins are delicious. Explore quirky shops and walk towards the several piers for ocean views. Stroll through the bars on 6th Street.
Overall, just chill out and enjoy the relaxing seaside vibe.
Lodging
Consider staying at the South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center. It's close to the attractions mentioned in this post, in a nice area by the water channels and offers a beautiful resort style swimming pool. Ask for a room with front view of the pool (this is an independent review based on my personal experience).
DAY 2
1. San Jacinto Monument
Head to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site.
Dig into Texas history exploring the San Jacinto Monument, raised on the San Jacinto Battle grounds, were Texas conquered its independence from Mexico in 1863.
Inside the monument you’ll find a free exhibit where you can learn the details of the San Jacinto Battle among other historical facts.
Visit the museum and then take the elevator to the observation floor for panoramic views.
OR
2. Galveston
Drive 40 minutes to reach Galveston, on the Texas coast.
Galveston is not your white sand/ crystal-clear blue ocean perfect beach combo, it’s true. But it still has that beach town vibe you might be craving for.
Once there, enjoy the beach! Surfside and Stewart Beach are good options. Have a meal in a restaurant overlooking the ocean. Explore the historic Pleasure Pier. Stroll through the Strand Historic District, a lively shopping and dining area.
Or skip it all together and spend the day at Moody Gardens, an Amusement Theme Park featuring an aquarium, a replica of the rainforest, zip-Line and lazy River, among other attractions.
Summing Up
Houston makes a great weekend getaway year-round!
The Houston Space Center is the highlight of your trip. Stepping on the mission control center room from where Apollo 13 was brought back to Earth, touching a 3.8 billion old piece of the moon or touring the real Astronaut Training Facility are once in a lifetime experiences you cannot miss.
But the NASA surroundings offer other superb attractions! Not far from there you can indulge in old-fashioned fun and breath in the coastal vibe of Kemah. Step onto Texas’ most important historic site, the San Jacinto battlegrounds, where Texas conquered its independence from Mexico.
And even take a day trip from Houston to the beach. Galveston is a beach town only 40 minutes away from the Space Center Houston, offering beaches and fun things to do, such as Pier Pleasure, Moody Gardens, Strand Historic District and several seafood restaurants overlooking the Gulf Coast.
I hope you enjoy your weekend getaway to Houston. Go, have fun and then get back here to tell me how it was!
Leave a comment bellow letting me know if you’ve already been to the Houston area or to the NASA.
If so, have you visited the all attractions mentioned in this post? How did you like it? Did you see something else you would recommend to someone planning to head there?
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