Rockhounding near Houston, TX

18 mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Houston — most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive. Below: a map, the closest spots, what they produce, and full coordinates with access notes.

Covering parts of Texas, Louisiana.

Map of rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Houston, Texas

Closest rockhounding spots to Houston

The 6 nearest mapped spots, with straight-line distance and an approximate drive time.

Most-reported finds near Houston

Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each material.

Every spot within 150 miles of Houston

Sorted by distance from Houston. Tap a row to open the spot detail page with full directions, access status, and nearby trips.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
E of New CaneyPin Oak LoopMontgomery County30.1517, -95.1960Public
Gibbons creekTX 30Grimes County
  • Tektites
30.5998, -96.0639Public
N of Lake LivingstonGuy Ogden RoadTrinity County
  • Petrified Palm Wood
30.8739, -95.2110Public
Broad area around BediasMagnolia StreetGrimes County
  • Tektites
  • Black Diamond
  • Fire Pearl
30.7744, -95.9501Public
Nails Creek ParkChannel LoopLee County
  • Tektites
30.2953, -96.6823Public
Btwn Groveton & TrinityTrinity County31.0331, -95.2220Public
Creek beds & hill slopes between Caldwell & SomervilleBurleson County30.3629, -96.6913Public
N of CrossFM 39 SouthMadison County30.8983, -96.1067Public
Large area btwn Camden and ChesterPolk County
  • Petrified Palm Wood
30.9155, -94.6548Public
Rabb's CreekFayette County30.0666, -96.8791Public
Sabine Lake Public Oyster AreaCameron Parish
  • Lapearlite
29.8418, -93.8169Public
Large area between CrockettCrockett RoadHouston County31.1719, -95.3796Public
MoultonCounty Road 532GLavaca County29.5580, -97.1321Public
Area surfaces all around SmithvilleTX 71Bastrop County30.0160, -97.1478Public
McGee Bend damSam Rayburn ParkwayJasper County31.0568, -94.1030Public
Peach CreekCounty Road 353Gonzales County29.5041, -97.3143Public
E of AustinTravis County30.2358, -97.5460Public
Road cut N of roadWest State Highway 21Nacogdoches County31.6585, -94.8085Public

Houston rockhounding FAQ

Where can I go rockhounding near Houston?+
There are 18 mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of Houston, Texas. The closest is E of New Caney in Montgomery County, roughly 29 miles away. The full list is on this page with coordinates and drive times.
What rocks and minerals can you find near Houston?+
Spots within driving distance of Houston most commonly produce petrified wood, agate, agatized wood, petrified palm wood, jasper, tektites.
Is rockhounding legal near Houston?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Each spot page on this site lists access status; always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How far do most rockhounders drive from Houston?+
Most weekend trips from Houston fall inside a 2 to 3 hour drive, which is roughly the 150-mile radius shown on this page. Closer spots are good for half-day outings; the outer ones are better as overnight trips.

More state coverage

The spots above span 2 states. Open the state page for the full county-by-county view.

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