A trip to the South Plains is a road trip. The sights around Lubbock — Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyons, the ranching museum — are best visited independently, and GetYourGuide does not sell tours in Lubbock itself. But the drive in and the drive onward pass some of the best-rated experiences in Texas and New Mexico.
We ranked them on how well they fit a South Plains itinerary, the quality of the experience, value for money and what reviewers say — in that order. Ratings and review counts come from GetYourGuide and are re-checked regularly.
- Best overall
Fort Worth: Guided Tour from Dallas or Fort Worth
The most-reviewed cowboy-history experience in Texas and a perfect prelude to the ranch country of the Llano Estacado. Transport from Dallas or Fort Worth makes it painless on arrival day.
First-time visitors with a spare half day in Dallas–Fort Worth
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- Best evening
Fort Worth: Stockyards History Tour Pub Crawl
A 4.9-rated historian-led saloon crawl through the Stockyards — history, outlaws and cold beer. Ideal on your first or last night in DFW.
Adults flying in or out of DFW who want an evening of cowboy history
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- Best adventure
Terlingua: Rio Grande Full-Day Guided Raft, Kayak or Canoe Trip
A perfect five-star day on the Rio Grande through the canyons of Big Bend — the natural finale to a West Texas canyon road trip.
Active travellers extending a West Texas road trip to Big Bend
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- Best road-trip extension
Santa Fe: Guided Historic Downtown Walking Tour
US-84 runs almost straight from Lubbock to Santa Fe. This docent-led walk is the best introduction to four centuries of Pueblo and Spanish history.
History lovers continuing west into New Mexico
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- Best quirky day out
Roswell: Guided UFO Incident Tour
Roswell is about three hours west of Lubbock — close enough for a day trip. The guided tour turns the UFO legend into a proper story.
Road-trippers heading west to New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns or White Sands
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- Best for wine lovers
From San Antonio: Hill Country Wine Tour to Fredericksburg
Taste the Hill Country wines made from High Plains grapes, with transport from San Antonio and time in Fredericksburg.
Wine lovers whose Texas trip also includes San Antonio or Austin
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- Best splurge
Albuquerque: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight with Toast
Finish a Route 66 drive with a sunrise balloon flight over Albuquerque, the ballooning capital of the US. Perfect guest rating.
Route 66 road-trippers heading west from Amarillo
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- Best history tour
Dallas: JFK Assassination and Sixth Floor Museum Tour
Over 500 reviews and a gripping half day at Dealey Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum — easy to fit in on a Dallas stopover.
History buffs with a stopover in Dallas
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- Best for football fans
Dallas: Cowboys Stadium or The Star in Frisco Tour with Transport
In Texas for a Red Raiders game? See the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium or The Star in Frisco, transport included.
Football fans connecting through Dallas–Fort Worth
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- Best short stopover
Fort Worth: Heritage and Landmarks Open-Air Tour
A 70-minute or three-hour open-air overview of Fort Worth — good value when time between flights is tight.
Short stopovers and travellers who prefer to sit back and ride
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Fort Worth: Stockyards Saloons and Foodie Crawl Tour
Eat your way through Texas cowboy country before you head out to the real thing. This guided walking tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards pairs three savoury tastings and a sweet finish with the history of cattle drives and outlaws — a fun first taste of the Texas food you will find all across the South Plains.
Food lovers who want a relaxed introduction to Texas flavours
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Fredericksburg: Classic Cowboy Wine Tour
Already in the Texas Hill Country? This small wine tour visits three Fredericksburg-area wineries with four or five tastings at each. Ask which wines are made from High Plains fruit — many Hill Country labels buy grapes from vineyards around Lubbock, Brownfield and the rest of the Texas High Plains AVA.
Couples and friends spending a night or two in Fredericksburg
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Terlingua: Private Big Bend Stargazing Tour with Telescopes
The South Plains already have big, dark skies, but the Big Bend region is one of the darkest places in the lower 48 states. If your West Texas road trip reaches Terlingua, book this private night with a guide and telescopes to chase galaxies and star clusters under the Milky Way.
Couples and families on a Big Bend extension
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Santa Fe: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride with Pickup
A splurge to finish a US-84 road trip from Lubbock in style. You are collected from your Santa Fe hotel before dawn and driven to the launch site for a sunrise flight over the high desert of northern New Mexico — mesas, arroyos and, if you are lucky, wildlife below.
Special occasions at the end of a New Mexico road trip
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How to plan around these tours
- Arriving via DFW: spend a night in Fort Worth or Dallas and do one of the Stockyards or Dallas tours, then fly to Lubbock or drive about five hours west.
- Heading west: Roswell (US-380), Santa Fe (US-84) and Albuquerque (Route 66 via Amarillo) all make natural two- or three-night extensions.
- Big Bend: it is six to seven hours from Lubbock — allow at least three nights for the trip.
- In the South Plains: use our free guides to the sights and where to stay.