Beaumont, TX Road Trips

Beaumont was chartered in 1838 just a few years after three businessmen purchased a farming community known as Tevis Bluff and named the newly formed town after one of the men's wives. From that point, Beaumont charted a course through several epochs, namely from one revolving around rice farming to one devoted to oil extraction with the famous Spindletop oilfield discovery and finally to one centered on shipbuilding as it pertained to World War II needs. This last period was marred to a degree by heightened racial tensions and a race riot. Beaumont is still a very industrialized city, with even essentially a canal for a river that would normally be the Neches, but it is also somewhat of a cultural nucleus, with plentiful museums and culture venues and the Crockett Entertainment District. It has also been home to a number of celebrities such as The Big Bopper and Babe Zaharias (a famous female athlete).

1 Texas Energy Museum, 600 Main St, ☏ +1 409 833-5100, fax: +1 409-833-4282, [email protected]. Tue-Sat 9AM-5PM; Sun 1PM-5PM. Adult $2, senior 65+ or child under 12 $1. (updated May 2017) 2 Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, Highway 69 at University Dr, ☏ +1 409 835-0823, [email protected]. Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 1-5PM. Museum recreating the site of the first oil gusher in Texas. Adult $5, senior $3, child $2,. (updated Nov 2023) 3 Fire Museum of Texas, 400 Walnut St, ☏ +1 409-880-3927. Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM. Demonstrates the history of firefighting in a 1927 restored firehouse with engines and equipment and hydrant statues with Dalmatian spots. (updated Feb 2023) 4 Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum & Visitor Center, 1750 I-10 E, ☏ +1 409-833-4622. Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM. A tribute to this multi-game professional female athlete, who excelled in baseball, basketball, track, but especially golf. For some reason there's also a retired military jet on display. (updated Feb 2023) Edison Museum, 350 Pine St, ☏ +1 409-981-3089. Numerous artifacts on display to depict the inventor Thomas Edison. Clifton Steamboat Museum, 8727 TX-124, ☏ +1 409-842-3162. Mon-Thu 10AM-1PM. A peculiar museum about steamboats and war efforts. 5 Art Museum of Southeast Texas, 500 Main St, ☏ +1 409-832-3432, [email protected]. Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM. An art collection spanning works from the 19th century to contemporary era, with some emphasis on Texas-related pieces.

1 Beaumont Botanical Gardens, 6088 Babe Zaharias Dr, ☏ +1 409-842-3135, [email protected]. Mon-Fri 9AM-4PM. Very cathartic. (updated Feb 2023) Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands & Boardwalk, 4233 Babe Zaharias Dr, ☏ +1 409-554-2447. Daily 6AM-7PM. This 900-acre marsh preserve with boardwalks looming out over the water will likely be a memorable experience, especially at sunrise or sundown. 2 Village Creek State Park, 8854 Park Rd 74, Lumberton, ☏ +1 409-755-7322, [email protected]. Daily 8AM-10PM. Offers a chance for recreation and camping in and around black tannin waters. $4 (over 12). (updated Feb 2023) Julie Rogers Theatre for the Performing Arts, 765 Pearl St (in Theater District), ☏ +1 409-838-3435. It's a large complex for major venues. Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St (in Theater District), ☏ +1 409-838-3435. Homey old-school place with the vertical marquee outside and proscenium inside. Southeast Texas Fair, a major event that takes place in March at the Ford Park with a livestock show, rodeo, and midway. Gusher Marathon Beaumont Blues And Jazz Fest Boomtown Film And Music Festival Downtown Winter Parade in December and Neches River Festival Parade in April.

Jason's Deli, 112 Gateway St (in Gateway shopping center, off Stagg Dr between IH-10 S and S 11th St). 8AM–10PM daily. This unassuming location of the fast casual deli chain in the Gateway shopping center is actually the very first Jason's Deli location, opened in 1976 and operating continuously ever since. Not quite fast-food cheap but can be counted on for an excellent soup, salad, or sandwich, as well as free soft serve ice cream if you dine in. (updated Jul 2026) Sertinos, 5657 Eastex Fwy. 6AM–10PM daily. (updated Jul 2026) Cha Cha Café, 426 Dowlen Rd. Sun–Thu 11AM–9PM, Fri Sat 11AM–9:30PM. (updated Jul 2026) La Potoyes, 4398 Dowlen Rd. (updated Jul 2026) Super Antojo Bakery, 2570 Calder Ave. 7AM–9PM daily. (updated Jul 2026) Rao's Bakery, 2596 Calder Ave. Mon–Fri 6AM–6PM, Sat Sun closed. (updated Jul 2026) Hole in the Wall, 2305 Calder Ave. Mon–Sat 11AM–9PM, Sun closed. (updated Jul 2026) General Wok, 260 Dowlen Rd. Mon–Sat 11AM–8:30PM, Sun noon–8:30PM. (updated Jul 2026) Tokyo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar, 1970 IH-10 S. Lunch 11AM–2:30PM daily except Sat; dinner Sun–Thu 4:30–9PM, Fri Sat 4:30–10PM. (updated Jul 2026) Kikko Ramen & Poke Bowl, 3050 Dowlen Rd. (updated Jul 2026) Sushi Masa, 4185 Dowlen Rd. Sun–Thu 11AM–9:30PM, Fri Sat 11AM–10:30PM. (updated Jul 2026) 1 TAZ Indian Cuisine, 5868 Eastex Fwy (in the Target shopping center), ☏ +1 409-899-5203. Lunch 11AM–3PM daily; dinner Sun–Thu 5–9:30PM, Fri Sat 5–10PM. Beaumont's main spot for Indian food.

1 MCM Elegante Hotel, 2355 I-10, ☏ +1 409-842-3600, toll-free: +1-877-842-3606. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A hotel with full service restaurant, beautiful tavern with live entertainment, a Starbucks, and a day spa. Outdoor pool and hot tub. Refrigerator and microwave in rooms with great beds. Great value. (updated May 2017)

Amtrak stops at Beaumont via its tri-weekly Sunset Limited service between New Orleans, Lake Charles, Beaumont, Houston, San Antonio and Los Angeles at the 1 Beaumont station is at 2555 W Cedar St, west of downtown. The station is not within walking distance of downtown. 2 Greyhound, (bus stop) Gateway Travel Plaza at 1480 W Freeway Blvd (Chevron gas station off of Exit 859 from the westbound lanes of I-10 and Exit #858 from the eastbound lanes, 8 mi (13 km) northeast of Beaumont), ☏ +1 409 769-0848. Travels primarily on Interstate 10 between Houston, Beaumont-Vidor, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Other variations of the route detour through Port Arthur, Beaumont-Vidor, Orange, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. (updated Feb 2018) Flixbus, (bus stop) Gateway Travel Plaza at 1480 W Freeway Blvd, Vidor (Bus will board at the Exxon gas station along the southeast curb parallel to the air pumps.). Travels primarily on Interstate 10 between Houston, Beaumont, Lake Charles, Lafayette, New Orleans, Biloxi. They still have the stop at the Exxon Station/Shop at 1055 Interstate 10 Access Rd. Check tickets and website. (updated Oct 2019) Sun Travel Shuttles, (office) 5000 Jerry Ware Drive, Suite 3 ((stops) Jack Brooks Regional Airport, Super 8 at 3985 College St and Lamar University Subway at Virginia and MLK), ☏ +1 409 840-4600, toll-free: +1 888 898-2638. They operate regular scheduled shuttles from Houston Hobby and Bush Intercontinental Airports in Houston to Beaumont Jack Brooks Regional Airport. Call to arrange additional pick-up at your hotel or home.