Girl Who Travels

Travel Date: March 2026

Crossing the High Desert: El Paso to San Antonio

The drive from El Paso to San Antonio is a true Texas odyssey—a long, shimmering stretch of I-10 that transitions from the rugged Chihuahuan Desert to the rolling gateway of Hill Country. It is a journey defined by vast horizons, unexpected history, and the quintessential flavors of the Lone Star State. Here are the highlights from our trek across the heart of Texas.

The Border and the Roadside

Leaving El Paso, the reality of the frontier is impossible to miss. The border wall stands in stark silence against the horizon for miles. I knew we would be close to the border and expected to see the wall, yet I was still left speechless when it appeared—looming quietly in the distance, both unassuming and ominous. If you look closely in the photo below, you can see the black line of the wall in the distance, nestled against the Mexico mountains. 

Seeing the wall brought to mind President Kennedy’s 1963 speech in Berlin: “Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in, to prevent them from leaving us.” I found myself pondering the evolving purpose of such a barrier, wondering whether its true function is to keep our people in or to keep others out.

Navigating the Checkpoints

As you head east, you should expect to navigate Customs and Border Protection checkpoints. I was genuinely surprised when we encountered one much farther from the border than I had anticipated. To be honest, the experience was unsettling. Even with the knowledge that we had done nothing illegal, watching the cars ahead of us being searched by K-9 units created a distinct sense of anxiety. When it was finally our turn, the process was brief: the agents looked into the car, asked if we were all U.S. citizens, and waved us through. Still, I haven’t finished processing the heavy emotions that linger after passing through such a high-tension boundary.

The Road Stretched On… 

The highway unfolded before us, a ribbon of smooth pavement stretching endlessly toward the horizon. It was fascinating to watch the topography shift as the miles fell away, but there was something undeniably unnerving about the vastness of it all. With miles of desert between any signs of civilization, the realization hit home: if we had car trouble here, it would be a very, very long walk for help.

Don’t Trash with Texas

With no towns in sight, we finally pulled off at a small rest area just to stretch our legs and shake off the highway hypnosis. That’s where we saw something that gave us both a much-needed laugh.

Even the trash cans are iconic here. Seeing a bin emblazoned with the legendary “Don’t Mess with Texas” slogan proves that Lone Star pride extends all the way to the litter collection. Don’t worry, Texas—I wouldn’t dream of messing with you! In fact, we scoured the car just to find a piece of trash to “feed” the bin. We couldn’t leave without doing our part.

A Taste of the Trail: K-Bob’s Steakhouse

By the time we finally rolled into town, we were absolutely ravenous. In the spirit of “when in Texas, eat steak,” we tracked down a highly-rated steakhouse for lunch.

If you’re looking for a literal taste of Texas, K-Bob’s is an essential pit stop. It’s unpretentious, hearty, and exactly the kind of fuel you need after staring at shimmering asphalt for four hours straight. Whether you’re making a trip (or three) to their famous “Salad Wagon” or tucking into a ribeye, it’s a classic road trip win.

Life Among the Pumpjacks

As much as Texas is cattle country, it is also oil country. Here, the horizon is dominated by the mechanical pulse of thousands of oil wells, their rhythmic “nodding” serving as a literal heartbeat for the local economy.

There is something strangely hypnotic about them, scattered across the scrubland like a giant, slow-motion mechanical army. For miles on end, you watch them dipping their heads in a tireless, repetitive motion, pulling “black gold” from deep beneath the Texas soil.

I found the sight of them deeply uncomfortable. In person, they are much smaller than I imagined; I had expected something sprawling and industrial, like the massive refineries of New Jersey or the sprawling coal mines of Kentucky. To see something so unassuming—yet so pervasive—working away day and night felt like a scene from a dystopian novel. I always knew they existed, but seeing them in the flesh was different. Even now, having witnessed that endless, nodding line, it feels almost impossible to believe what I saw.

A Somber Stop in Comfort: Treue der Union

Before hitting the bright lights of San Antonio, we took a detour to the town of Comfort to visit the “Treue der Union” (Loyal to the Union) monument. This is a fascinating, often overlooked piece of history: it remains the only monument to the Union located within a former Confederate state. It is dedicated to the German Texans who were killed in the Nueces Massacre during the Civil War—a quiet, moving site that adds a profound layer of historical depth to the drive.

The flag here bears 36 stars, representing the number of states in the Union at the time of the massacre. It flies perpetually at half-mast in silent memory of those fallen men. The site itself is remarkably peaceful; the only sounds were the wind rustling through the trees and the distant, twinkling laughter of children playing in a nearby neighborhood.

If you didn’t know the monument was there, you would be hard-pressed to find it. But for those who do—and now you are among them—it is a necessary stop. Reading the story of the fallen is a strike straight to the heart, a reminder of the complex loyalties that once tore through this soil.

The Great Burger Debate: Whataburger vs. In-N-Out

Due to our various roadside detours, we rolled into San Antonio quite a bit later than expected. Naturally, we decided to hit up a 24-hour Texas institution for dinner: Whataburger.

Since we both had had In-N-Out in California, we felt it was our civic duty to see how the Texas titan measured up. It did not disappoint—it is a truly solid burger. We staged a full-blown culinary trial, pitting the burgers, fries, and shakes against their West Coast rivals.

The Verdict:

• Fries & Shakes: Whataburger takes the crown. The variety and quality here outshine the competition.
• The Burger: In-N-Out still holds the edge for the better overall patty.

If I had to describe it, the Whataburger experience is a bit like the love child of Sonic and Burger King—hearty, nostalgic, and exactly what you want at the end of a long day on the road.