Griffin and I are driving the Autopian’s Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet across much of America. We’re finally about to leave the beautiful forests of Flagstaff, Arizona, and we’ll be racing our way down south towards Texas. We have two more stops along the way to the Lemons Rally in Texas, and we want to meet you.
Sadly, we’ll be getting to our overnight stop way too late tonight to have a meet. However, tomorrow, we will be driving only 6.5 hours to San Marcos, Texas, for our last overnight stop before the Lemons Rally. Since this day will be a short day for us, we want to host a proper Autopian meet. Here’s what you should know:
- Who: Autopian readers and anyone else.
- What: An Autopian meetup and pop-up car show.
- When: Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM.
- Where: Walmart Parking lot in San Marcos, TX: 1015 TX-80, San Marcos, TX, 78666
- Why: Meet your fellow Autopians and two Autopian writers.
- How: Show up, hang out, look at our dumb car, and have fun!
It looks like the weather forecast is calling for a temperature of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and there’s a small chance of rain, so please dress accordingly!
We are not familiar with this area, so I apologize if there aren’t any good eats or the area isn’t as accessible as we hope. Still, we’d love to meet you!
If you miss this meetup, you might have more chances to meet us along the route of the Lemons Rally. Here’s what the schedule looks like:
DAY 1
Friday, 5 December: Austin TX to Laredo TX
MANDATORY Pre-Rally Registration: 7 am @ Harris Hill Raceway, 2840 Harris Hill Road, San Marcos TX
Optional Meetup: TBA
Optional Lodging: Laredo Hotel, 4820 San Bernardo Ave., Laredo ILDAY 2
Saturday, 6 December: Laredo TX to Corpus Christi TX
Optional Meetup: TBA
Optional Lodging: Wyndham Corpus Christi North – South Padre Island, 15202 Windward Dr, Corpus Christi TXDAY 3
Sunday, 7 Dec: Corpus Christi TX to Austin TX
Rally Finish: 6 pm @ Harris Hill Raceway, 2840 Harris Hill Road, San Marcos TX
I’ll be absolutely stoked to meet you at any point in this journey. I hope to see you in Texas!
Top graphic image: Griffin Riley
I should be able to make it out from Houston. See you there!
I’m in TX this week for work – but 3.5hrs away and no possibility of driving down from Dallas. Bummer!
Wish I could go. Only a two hour drive but I cannot get out of work tomorrow night to attend. If you do anything in Houston this weekend though, I’ll be there!
See y’all there!
Aaargh! This is SO DAMN CLOSE to me, but I got admitted to the hospital last night with pneumonia and will be here for another couple of days. Have a great time in TX. I hate that I will miss this.
hi feel better <3
Aw, balls. Get well soon!
I see the top is down. I knew you couldn’t resist. Did it go back up?
I think she might not put it back up until she gets back to Chicago.
Ha, I love Lemons Rally typos. I don’t know if there’s a Laredo, IL.
Anyway, they added the overnight meetups to the website now:
Come look at the Turo pepperwagen
(Also, BALLS! I get in at like, 12:28 a.m. Friday morning.)
As for food, man, that is right by the track and my 944 was basically built on burritos from that Freebirds down the street next to I-35. Freebirds has kinda gone downhill, though, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’ve been craving it lately. (I had this same craving with Taco Time when I was in WA. Don’t judge me.) I’ve also had a bunch of tacos around San Marcos from random trucks/places that were good, but I can’t remember exactly which ones aside from the one inside QC Meat Market on the south side of town. (Those were fantastic, BTW.) If there isn’t much English being spoken, but there’s a lot of folks hanging around, you’re in the right place.
Chuy’s is a chain, but it’s solid and has some of my favorite queso. Torchy’s is another chain and there are definitely better tacos, but they’re my pick of the “tacos with wacky fillings” genre and do my other favorite bowl of queso. Herbert’s Taco Hut is good for…less gentrified? if that makes sense? Tex-Mex. Solid dive. Hopdoddy is good for big, sloppy burgers that probably had a beard and suspenders in 2012. IIRC, there’s an ultra-spicy one that’s solid.
If you want breakfast in the morning, I highly recommend Dos Gatos Kolaches if they’re still there. That’s a region-specific specialty, that’s one of the few places in the Austin/San Marcos blop that *really* does them well to me, a kolache snob, and it’s dough filled with sweet stuff or sausage—what’s not to like?
If you’re in early (since I think they close at 6:30?), Texas Pie in Kyle (one exit north of Harris Hill) does what it says on the sign really well, too.
Also, if you’re in a time crunch, Texas’ Dairy Queens are their own thing. Try the Dude if it sounds good (a burger, except with chicken-fried steak as a patty).
Buddy’s Burgers, Chuy’s, the previously mentioned HopDoddy are good options nearby. Also Xian for a big warm bowl of noodles which will be nice with the weather
Chuy’s creamy jalapeno sauce FTW
Yes! I could fill up on just chips and that dip.
I strongly second Chuy’s if you haven’t had it before. It’s a central TX institution for Tex Mex. A little further is Kerbey Lane Cafe, another Austin favorite. And a different vibe from Hopdoddy is P-Terry’s if you want something quick, lower cost and excellent. Basic burgers but they’re delicious and you’ll think they forgot to ring up half your order when you see the total.
Steak Burrito with extra Hatch sauce!
We live in Central TX, about 90 minutes north of there… this might be fun.
Drive through San Angelo on your way in rather than the alternate routes, far more services along the way and far better options for lunch.
Eh, not the best location for restaurants in San Marcos, but there is a Hopdaddy Burger Bar just on the other side of I-35. I haven’t been to one yet, but they are consistently ranked as one of the best burgers in Austin.
Also, not to be a Debbie Downer, but you should be aware that Texas’ infamous Bathroom Bill goes into effect tomorrow, requiring people to use bathrooms aligned to their birth gender. My understanding is that this only applies to public bathrooms associated with state and local governments, which include the facilities at highway rest stops. The fine for a first offense is up to $25,000!!! As you will be travelling through west Texas, note that they are not very friendly to the LGBTQ comunity and there may be some gungho folks quite happy to report violations to the new law.
Ugh.
If anyone messes with Mercedes or anyone else on the Lemons Rally, I will personally kick their ass.
Sadly, I am well aware of the vendetta that too many state and federal politicians have against folks like me. Contingency plans for dealing with the laws of the states that I travel through is a conversation I have to have before any trip that involves Florida or Texas. It’s one great reason I’m not alone on this trip.
Good idea bringing company along, for both camaraderie and security (and of course, some great pics). Since the Texas law changes tomorrow, I just wanted to make sure you knew. A $25000 fine just for wanting to be comfortable while doing your bizness is ridiculous! The infantile “war on woke” is such a slap in the face to those who were taught that America is the land of the free.
There are so many reasons why I’m proud to be a Texan but Abbott’s recent tomfuckery is NOT one of them.
my home state deserves SO much better