In the next five minutes, you will read about 41 Christmas travel destinations in the United States that MARK541 has found to be worth your holiday road trip.

Popular United States Christmas Travel Destinations:

From courthouse squares near our home in North Texas to lighted villages a flight away, these 41 towns are grouped for a 2026 trip: Texas drives near home, regional road trips, and national gems worth a plane ticket. Drive times from the Dallas-Fort Worth area are approximate. Confirm official calendars before you go, and check official sites for unposted times.

Texas Christmas Drives

1. Decatur, Texas
Tree lighting is Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. on the square, and the Parade of Lights is Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., about 15 minutes from Paradise.

2. Grapevine, Texas
The Christmas Capital of Texas hosts 1,400 events over 40 days. Carol of Lights opens Nov. 23, and the Parade of Lights is Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

3. Granbury, Texas
The Night of Lights Christmas Parade is Nov. 27 at 6 p.m., and the 42nd Candlelight Tour of Homes is Dec. 4-6.

4. Glen Rose, Texas
Hometown Christmas is Nov. 28, with a market at 3 p.m. and parade at 5:30 p.m. Light Up Dinosaur Valley is Dec. 4-5.

5. Waxahachie, Texas
Bethlehem Revisited, a free living nativity with camels and donkeys, is Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 11-13, 6-9 p.m.

6. Wills Point, Texas
Christmas on the Bricks is Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., on the historic brick streets. Check the official site for the parade time.

7. Mineola, Texas
Magical Mineola Weekend is Dec. 4-6, with Friday tree lighting 5-9 p.m. Confirm Saturday parade details with the chamber.

8. Jefferson, Texas
The 44th Candlelight Tour of Homes is Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12, and a parade and Enchanted Forest lighting are Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.

9. Marshall, Texas
Wonderland of Lights wraps the historic courthouse Nov. 25-Dec. 30, with courthouse lighting Nov. 25 at 5:45 p.m.

10. Palestine, Texas
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride departs the depot on select days through Dec. 28, with no trains Dec. 24-25. Check the official calendar for dates.

11. Nacogdoches, Texas
Wassail Fest is Nov. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and the Nine Flags Lighted Christmas Parade is Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m., in the town billed as Texas’s oldest.

12. Salado, Texas
The Lighted Christmas Parade and tree lighting are Dec. 3, 6-8 p.m., and the 66th Annual Christmas Stroll is Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 11-13.

13. Georgetown, Texas
The Lighting of the Square is Nov. 27 around 6 p.m., with lights nightly through Jan. 1, 2027. The Christmas Stroll is Dec. 4-6.

14. Bastrop, Texas
Tree lighting is Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. River of Lights runs nightly through Jan. 4, 2027, and the Lost Pines Christmas Parade is Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.

15. Brenham, Texas
The Lighted Christmas Parade, themed “An American Christmas,” is Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., and the Home for the Holidays Christmas Stroll is Dec. 12, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

16. Marble Falls, Texas
Walkway of Lights opens Nov. 20 at Lakeside Park and runs nightly 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 2, 2027.

17. Johnson City, Texas
Lights Spectacular runs Nov. 27-Jan. 3, 2027, dusk to midnight around Blanco County Courthouse, free for 37 years.

18. Fredericksburg, Texas
Christmas Nights of Lights at Marktplatz run Nov. 24-Jan. 5, 2027, except Dec. 4 and Dec. 31, and the Light the Night Parade is Dec. 4, 6:30-7:45 p.m.

19. New Braunfels, Texas
Wassailfest is Dec. 3, 6-9 p.m. at Main Plaza, with free wassail tastings. Gruene Christmas Market Days are Dec. 5-6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., free, with nearly 100 vendors.

20. Galveston, Texas
The 53rd Dickens on the Strand is Dec. 4-6, with Friday evening free 5-9 p.m.

Regional Road Trips

21. Chickasha, Oklahoma
The 34th Festival of Light at Shannon Springs Park runs Nov. 20-Dec. 31, 6-10 p.m. most nights and until 11 p.m. weekends, free to walk or drive, about three hours north.

22. Natchitoches, Louisiana
Louisiana’s oldest city marks its 100th Christmas Festival, with Festival of Lights Nov. 21-Jan. 6, 2027, and festival day Dec. 5, about four hours away.

23. Hot Springs, Arkansas
Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens run Nov. 21-Dec. 31, 5-9:30 p.m., closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Timed tickets can sell out.

24. Fayetteville, Arkansas
Lights of the Ozarks is free on the square Nov. 20-Jan. 1, 2027, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Light Night is Nov. 20 at 6 p.m., and the parade is Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

25. Branson, Missouri
Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas runs Nov. 7-Jan. 2, 2027, on select days. Check the park calendar for closed dates.

26. St. Charles, Missouri
Christmas Traditions runs Nov. 27-Dec. 24 along brick Main Street, with a Christmas Carol stroll on Wednesday evenings. Fly to St. Louis, then 30 minutes west.

National Gems

27. Solvang, California
Julefest in this Danish village runs Nov. 27-Jan. 3, 2027, with a nightly light and music show, and tree lighting Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m.

28. Leavenworth, Washington
Village of Lights is free daily Nov. 26-Feb. 28, 2027, and Christmastown runs Nov. 27-Dec. 24 in this Bavarian-style village.

29. Park City, Utah
The Historic Main Street Holiday Lights Celebration is Nov. 28, with tree lighting at 6 p.m. Snow Globe Stroll runs Nov. 20-Jan. 3.

30. Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Canyon Road Farolito Walk is Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, around sundown and free, with farolitos lining adobe walls.

31. Santa Claus, Indiana
The town named Santa Claus lights an LED tree Nov. 27 at 4:45 p.m. at Kringle Place, and its Christmas parade is Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.

32. Frankenmuth, Michigan
Christmas Experience Kickoff is Nov. 27, and Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, often billed as the world’s largest Christmas store, is open year-round.

33. Galena, Illinois
Night of the Luminaria and Living Windows is Dec. 12, 5-8 p.m., with more than 5,000 hand-lit luminaries and live window scenes.

34. Helen, Georgia
Village lighting is Nov. 27, 5-7 p.m., a free Christkindlmarkt is Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 5-6, and the lighted parade is Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.

35. McAdenville, North Carolina
Christmas Town U.S.A. lights Dec. 1-26, 5:30-10 p.m. nightly. Tree lighting is Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m., and the Yule Log Parade, begun in 1949, is Dec. 10.

36. St. Augustine, Florida
Nights of Lights in the nation’s oldest city runs Nov. 21-Jan. 18, 2027. Light-Up Night is Nov. 21, with the ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

37. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Christmas City USA holds Christkindlmarkt on weekends Nov. 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29, and Dec. 3-6, 10-13 and 17-20. Moravian settlers named the town on Christmas Eve 1741.

38. Lititz, Pennsylvania
Christmas in the Park and tree lighting are Dec. 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m., rain date Dec. 5. Laurel Avenue Lights begin nightly at 5 p.m. Check the official site for trolley dates.

39. Seneca Falls, New York
The It’s a Wonderful Life Festival marks the film’s 80th anniversary Dec. 9-13. Original child-cast members will sign autographs, and the museum says many hotels are full.

40. Woodstock, Vermont
The 42nd Wassail Weekend is Dec. 11-13, with the horse parade Dec. 12 and wassailing the orchard at Billings Farm & Museum.

41. Kennebunkport, Maine
Christmas Prelude, in its 45th year, is Dec. 3-13. The Dock Square tree is lit Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., and Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by lobster boat Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.

About MARK541 TV

MARK541 TV is a purpose and lifestyle channel on Roku from MARK541, based in Paradise, Texas. Related brands are Mark 541 Magazine and the Runway Revival fashion show. We invite you to explore these towns and watch MARK541 TV. Follow Instagram @Mark541TV, TikTok @mark541.life1, and Facebook facebook.com/leavemymark.

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And, Merry Christmas from Mark541.