Mission
Texas Highways has been the official state travel magazine since 1974. Our mission is to inspire travel in Texas and provide readers with a curated guide to the state’s cities, small towns, hidden gems, and natural wonders. Our stories focus on Texas’ scenic, recreational, historical, and cultural treasures, accompanied by strong photography highlighting the state’s natural beauty.
HISTORY
Texas Highways’ legacy of trusted coverage has created generations of loyal and engaged readers who depend on us to plan their Texas experiences. Under Founding Editor Frank Lively, the magazine was reimagined as a travel publication offered to the general public in 1974. One year later, Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe signed a resolution naming Texas Highways the official travel magazine of Texas.
Frequency
The print edition of the magazine is published 10 times per year, and content is posted online daily.
LEAD TIME
We plan print features roughly a year in advance. For print department stories, we plan stories no later than four months from the month of publication.
For web-only stories, we plan a month in advance, though exceptions are made for more timely pieces.
How & What to Pitch
WRITING
Story pitches should be emailed to [email protected]. When sending a pitch, please attach or link to at least three published clips (bonus if they’re Texas- or travel-related). Editors aim to respond to all pitches within two weeks.
Pitches should have a travel angle or a strong sense of place and/or Texas culture. Stories with historical focus are also popular with our readers. Our brand is known for its focus on small towns and hidden gems, so pitches about major cities in Texas will come under more scrutiny. Pitches should be well-researched and have a timely angle.
Writers should be based in Texas or have a strong connection to Texas.
What to include in your pitch:
- Why is it a Texas Highways story? What is the travel angle?
- Why would we write about this story now?
- Who are the key players or sources you intend to talk to?
Go to the magazine page on our website to understand what our print sections are.
Before pitching, please check our previous content to see if we’ve covered your subject before. If we have covered it in the last four years, we likely won’t accept the pitch.
PHOTOGRAPHY
All photography-related pitches should be sent to Photo Editor Brandon Jakobeit ([email protected]).
WEB ONLY
Web stories can vary in subject matter, but pitches should still fit within the usual topics covered by Texas Highways—travel, culture, food, history, etc. Lead time is about a month.
Please email pitches to Digital Senior Editor Danielle Lopez ([email protected]) and Web Editor Sarah Thurmond ([email protected]).
There are a few ongoing series that appear on our website:
Roadside Oddity
We’re on a quest to tell the stories behind each of Texas’ weird and wacky roadside attractions. See our running list here.
How to Texas
This is a recurring column offering step-by-step instructions on how to be Texan, guiding readers through the cultural traditions, customs, eccentricities, lifestyles, and activities that are uniquely Texan. See our running list here.
WHAT WE DON’T COVER
- We rarely publish poetry or fiction.
- We do not cover places outside of Texas.
- We do not cover breaking news, government, or politics.
PAY
Our standard print rate is $1.20/word plus travel expenses. Digital rates vary based on the scope of reporting. Though lead times can be long, we pay upon submission.
