If you’re looking for adventurous locations to elope in Texas, you have plenty of options! As an adventure lover myself, I’ve scouted out countless destinations I think would be perfect for your adventure elopement. No matter what you’re searching for, Texas has it. You just have to know where to look. If you could use a friend to help you plan your celebration, I would love to help you out! As an adventure elopement photographer, I adore working with couples for their perfect elopement journey. This guide will help you navigate the best places to elope in Texas.
Plan Your Dream Adventure With This Guide to the Best Places to Elope in Texas
Things to Consider When Choosing Where to Elope
Before you can pick a location for your Texas adventure elopement, you should consider when you want to elope. Texas is huge and the climate can vary depending on the region but overall, there is one thing that is true no matter where you go in Texas. That is that the summers are hot and unforgiving, I highly recommend you keep that in mind when reading through your options!
Another thing to keep in mind is, over 93% of Texas is privately owned. Which means our public lands can get crowded on the weekends and holidays with tourists eager to share the experience. Traffic tends to peak mid-day, and the weekends are the most common times to plan a visit. If you want to avoid the crowds, you will want to plan a midweek ceremony around sunrise. Yes, it’s early, but you are also going to have the most magical lighting as you trade vows.
The 10 Best Places to Elope in Texas:
Big Bend National Park
When I was finally was able to cross Big Bend off my bucket list, it was life changing. To say it’s our favorite Texas destination would be an understatement. I could go on and on about all the incredible views Big Bend has to offer, but for now let me give you a little run down of some of my favorites.
- Sotol Vista Scenic Overlook has a beautiful view of a little bit of everything BBNP has to offer.
- Lost Mine Trail has incredible views as far as you can see. Imagine you and your partner standing on a unexpected cliff face that rivals Taft Point without having to leave Texas.
- Santa Elena Canyon is probably the most photographed spot in the park and for good reason. Its also probably the easiest location to get to and have incredible photos.
- Boquillas Canyon is another stunning canyon on the Rio Grande. It is significantly less busy and was on of my personal favorites.
- Big Bend State Park next door also has epic locations and one of the best overlooks I have ever seen.
Read here for your Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Big Bend National Park.
Terlingua Ghost Town
The quirky desert town of Terlingua has so much to offer adventure seekers. If I could realistically move here, I would. This little town right outside of Big Bend National Park has a little bit of everything and a truly eclectic vibe that you can easily fall in love with. There are even some options for wedding venues and there is no shortage of gorgeous desert views for scenic photographs. As an added bonus, since it is a dark sky space, it’s a stunning opportunity to get a night shot of you and your partner under the starry night sky in your wedding attire.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Can you imagine getting married in the second largest canyon in the country? Palo Duro Canyon is epic not only for it’s size but also the beautiful color in it’s red rocks and the iconic Lighthouse Rock. If a hike isn’t what you had in mind, there are plenty of pull off spots if you know the right places to look. There’s a little bit of everything here plus it’s proximity to Amarillo makes it a travel friendly elopement destination.
Pedernales Falls State Park
I also have a designated blog on Pedernales for you so I won’t go too in depth but this is truly a gem in the Hill Country. Dramatic scenery and diverse landscapes make this one of the most perfect adventurous places to elope in Texas. The park’s namesake, Pedernales Falls, is the centerpiece, showcasing the power of nature as the river cascades over layers of limestone.
Cave Without A Name in Boerne, Texas
Cave Without A Name offers an unparalleled experience for couples seeking an elopement that’s as unique and adventurous as their love story. Forget traditional venues; imagine exchanging vows in a subterranean wonderland, surrounded by ancient formations and bathed in an ethereal glow. This isn’t just a wedding; it’s an adventure, a memory etched in time within one of Texas’s most captivating natural wonders. You can simply pay $600 to elope in the cave privately or you can have up to 75 guests enjoy this special moment with you and celebrate in their reception space.
Lucky Arrow Retreat in Dripping Springs
Want the adventure elopement or wedding feel but with the modern conveniences a venue has to offer? Lucky Arrow is a unique wedding venue that feels like a secluded elopement destination in the Texas Hill Country. They have a scenic overlook, plus a spacious outdoor event space complete with a stunning rooftop. They also have ample lodging accommodations including luxury yurts and cabins. Plus it is just a fun vacation space in Dripping Springs surrounded by breweries and distilleries that you can come back to every year on your anniversary!
Enchanted Rock State Park
Eloping at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area offers a truly magical and unique experience. This iconic pink granite dome, rising majestically from the Texas Hill Country, provides a stunning and unforgettable backdrop for your intimate ceremony.
The Frio River
The Frio River, with its clear waters, cypress-lined banks, and gentle flow, creates a romantic and peaceful setting for an intimate elopement. Imagine exchanging vows beneath towering cypress trees, with the soft murmur of the river as your soundtrack. The Frio river in the fall as the leaves change, makes the perfect backdrop for your adventurous Texas elopement.
Monahans Sandhills State Park
A surreal landscape of towering sand dunes in the middle of the desert. This otherworldly destination is for playful, and adventurous lovers who want epic views. Dramatic sand dune landscapes and unique textures make for perfect golden hour portraits.
Caddo Lake
This mystical landscape of cypress trees draped in Spanish moss sets the perfect scene for a romantic and etherial elopement. Spend your elopement week/weekend kayaking through cypress swamps, fishing, exploring the bayous.
I Hope You Found All You Need To Know About Picking Your Adventurous Places to Elope in Texas
Hopefully, this guide helps as you pick the best places to elope in Texas. If you would like to learn more about my adventure elopements, send me a message! Let’s chat so you can decide if I’m lucky enough to help you celebrate!
