As you may be aware, Texas is big. Huge, in fact.
A fan could easily spend a whole season road tripping back and forth and up and down throughout the state, taking in competitive baseball at every level of the pro and amateur ranks. In addition to its two Major League clubs, Texas is home to eight Minor League teams -- not to mention hordes of independent and collegiate wood-bat teams playing all summer, as well as some of the top NCAA, JUCO and prep programs in the country.
With so much great baseball and so much ground to potentially cover (almost 270,000 square miles!), it'd be easy to overdo it in the planning stages of a Texas Minor League road trip. We're here to help. This itinerary, traversing less than 500 miles behind the wheel in total, hits half of the MiLB parks in the state and gives you the opportunity to take in numerous historic sites and tourist attractions along the way, as well as the option to catch the Astros in Houston.
Obviously, we heartily recommend checking out the four Minor League ballparks in Texas not featured below -- those of the El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple-A SD), Midland RockHounds (Double-A ATH), Amarillo Sod Poodles (Double-A AZ) and Frisco RoughRiders (Double-A TEX).
For now, this sample itinerary presented by Wyndham should get you started on a Minor League road trip covering Central Texas and the Gulf Coast.
Destination 1
Dell Diamond
3400 East Palm Valley Boulevard
Round Rock, TX
512-255-2255
Within 20 miles of downtown Austin, the Round Rock Express -- whose name is in part an homage to a member of their ownership group: Nolan Ryan -- take the field as the Triple-A affiliate of the Rangers. The Express draw big, cheerful crowds and offer great off-field entertainment and a huge variety of concessions options. Check out the Ballpark Guide »
Gotta eat: One of the Express' alternate identities is the Round Rock Briskets, so it's probably a good idea to grab the Smoked Brisket Plate from the Southside Market & Barbecue on the concourse just on the third-base side of home plate. Vegetarians will want to seek out the portobello cheesesteak at the Ono Pacific Grill down the left-field line.
Make sure to see: Take a walk around the whole of the concourse, which can have a bit of a party atmosphere on busy nights, and don't miss the pool beyond right-center field. If you're traveling with kids, check out the train-themed playground.
Possible detour: Austin has become one of America's big tech and cultural destinations over the start of this century, and don't forget it's still home to the Texas Capitol building and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum. On your way to San Antonio, you might take a brief side trip to the city of Lockhart, which bills itself as the "BBQ Capital of Texas" and is home to world-famous Black's Barbecue.
Destination 2
Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium
5757 US 90 W
San Antonio, TX 78227
(210) 675-7275
Mission bells are ringing out for you at The Wolff, where the San Antonio Missions represent the Padres in the Double-A Texas League. About eight miles west of downtown, this is a great spot to stretch out and take in classic country hardball vibes. Check out the Ballpark Guide »
Gotta eat: If you didn't get your fill of barbeque in Round Rock or on the way here, head to the in-park outpost of San Antonio institution Bill Miller Bar-B-Q. If you did, check out adventurous offerings on the concourse -- they've been known to include everything from a Flamin' Hot Cheetos Dog to grilled PB&J.
Make sure to see: Ballapeño (an anthropomorphic pepper) and Henry the Puffy Taco (pretty self-explanatory) are a pair of the spiciest mascots in the Minors.
Possible detour: Whatever you do, remember the Alamo. The battle site made eternally famous by the Texas Revolution is one of the missions that wound up -- among other things -- inspiring the name of San Antonio's Minor League Baseball team. On your way to the next stop, cool off at Lake Corpus Christi State Park -- about an hour and 40 minutes from The Wolff.
Destination 3
Whataburger Field
734 E. Port Avenue
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
(361) 561-4665
Take in salty breezes with an awesome view of the Harbor Bridge as you watch the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. The setting provides a sense of the epic, yet the ballpark itself is quite intimate. The Hooks have been an Astros affiliate since their inaugural season of 2005, so many of the fans here are heavily invested in the action on the field and the development of these prospects.
Gotta eat: Many Texans will tell you no fast-food burger beats a burger from Whataburger, and Whataburger Field is not only named after Whataburger -- it serves Whataburger burgers (and other Whataburger staples, like the honey butter chicken strip sandwich).
Make sure to see: Most fans will never tire of getting a look at ships passing under the Harbor Bridge between plays. If you're not most fans, take a stroll around the concourse to check out the pool area (for groups) and carnival-like atmosphere with kids attractions out beyond the outfield.
Possible detour: The U.S.S. Lexington is an aircraft carrier now permanently docked as a museum just across the bridge from the ballpark. On your way to the Houston area, you could scoot down to Lighthouse Beach and enjoy the waters of Lavaca Bay.
Destination 4
Constellation Field
1 Stadium Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77498
(281) 240-4487
Sugar Land -- previously a team in the independent Atlantic League -- became the Triple-A affiliate of the Astros in 2021, and the partnership brought a bevy of improvements to a ballpark that was already fairly new. The Space Cowboys identity marries Texan appreciation of the frontier spirit with the region's ties to space exploration. Check out the Ballpark Guide »
Gotta eat: Two words: Barbecue nachos. Get 'em at the Butcher BBQ stand out beyond left field. If that doesn't grab you, hit one of two Galactic Grill stands adjacent to the corners of the infield -- there's a large and eclectic menu.
Make sure to see: This is your chance -- probably your only chance -- to meet a dog from Mimas, a moon of Saturn. That'd be Orion, the bright blue mascot of the Hooks.
Possible detour: Wrap up your Minor League road trip with a big league callup. You're within 25 miles of the Astros' Daikin Park.