Geography of Texas

Texas is so large that it spans multiple distinct geographic regions — each with its own landscape, climate, and character. Understanding Texas geography means understanding that no single image captures the whole state.

The Gulf Coast stretches about 367 miles from the Louisiana border to the Mexican border near Brownsville. The Padre Island National Seashore — the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world — runs along much of the southern coast. Galveston, Corpus Christi, and Port Arthur are major coastal cities.

East Texas is covered by the Piney Woods — a dense forest of longleaf and loblolly pines that extends from the Texas-Louisiana border westward. This is the wettest and most forested part of the state, culturally similar to the Deep South.

Central Texas and the Hill Country sit atop the Edwards Plateau, a limestone plateau that creates the rolling cedar-and-oak landscape beloved by visitors. The Guadalupe, Frio, and Pedernales Rivers carve through the hills. The Texas Hill Country is known for wildflower fields, swimming holes, and a thriving wine industry.

West Texas and the Trans-Pecos region is high desert — the Chihuahuan Desert extends into Texas here. Big Bend National Park, in the far southwestern corner, is one of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the country. The Davis Mountains and Guadalupe Mountains rise from the desert floor. El Paso, at the far western tip, is closer to Phoenix than to Dallas.

The Panhandle is the rectangular slab at the top of the state — flat, windswept Great Plains extending to the edge of New Mexico and Oklahoma. Palo Duro Canyon, called the "Grand Canyon of Texas," cuts 120 miles through the Panhandle.

Major Rivers: The Rio Grande forms the entire southern border with Mexico. The Red River forms the northern border with Oklahoma. The Colorado, Brazos, Trinity, and Sabine Rivers drain the interior.

Highest Point: Guadalupe Peak at 8,751 feet, in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas.