20 Best Things to Do in Longview, Texas

By VacationIdea Staff on May 10, 2022 - Updated

Courtesy of chayathon2000 - Fotolia.com

Longview, TX is a small city of 80,000 residents in Northeastern Texas and this small community is big on hospitality, history, and fun. The following list contains just some of the attractions, restaurants and cafes that visitors to Longview, TX will not want to miss.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Longview Museum of Fine Arts, Longview, TX

The Longview Museum of Fine Arts is dedicated to preserving and promoting the visual arts in Longview and the surrounding area. The museum contains a large permanent collection of over 400 works of mostly modern art, including paintings, drawings, photographs, lithographs, and pottery. There is also a large collection of sculptures, including an outdoor sculpture garden. The museum hosts special events throughout the year, including student art invitationals, special exhibits, galas, classes, and children’s events. Museum facilities can be rented for special events. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free on Fridays.

215 E. Tyler St Longview, TX 75601, Phone: 903-753-8103

2.Coffee Mill, Longview, Texas

Longview locals know where to go for a great cup of Java. The Longview Coffee Mill is a drive-thru coffee shop that offers great drinks at a great price. The Coffee Mill’s menu includes coffee, espresso drinks in a variety of flavors, and cold espresso beverages. Don’t like coffee? The Mill has you covered with hot chocolate, chai lattes, Italian sodas, smoothies, and root beer floats. They even offer breakfast items. Service is primarily drive-thru, but they do have a small standing room-only area where drinks can be ordered inside.

2001 Gilmer Road Longview, TX 75604, Phone: 903-759-7373

3.Gregg County Historical Society, Longview, Texas

Gregg County, Texas, has a rich and interesting history, and that history is preserved at the Gregg County Historical Society. This museum contains exhibits of prehistoric artifacts from the earliest residents of the area as well as displays depicting what life was like for the settlers and farmers of Texas. Other exhibits showcase the Texas Oil Boom, local architecture, and the military history of the county’s residents through the years. The museum also contains an expansive audio and video collection that captures the oral history of the area. The museum is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday.

214 N. Fredonia Street Longview, TX 75601, Phone: 903-753-5840

4.Jucy’s Hamburgers, Longview, Texas

Jucy’s has been a Longview institution since 1980. Jucy’s use fresh ingredients prepared daily for their sandwiches, salads, and sides. They even grind their own beef! It’s no wonder that Jucy’s burgers have been voted the best burger in East Texas for the last 25 years. In addition to their classic burgers, Jucy’s menu includes chicken sandwiches, steak sandwiches, veggie burgers, chicken-fried steak, and more. Add a side of fresh-cut fries or hand-cut onion rings, then top the whole meal off with a delicious ice cream float, shake, or brownie sundae. Jucy’s is open daily and has two locations in the Longview area.

816 W. Marshall Ave Longview, TX 75601, Phone: 903-758-8993

5.La Cabane de Dessert, Longview, Texas

Need a sweet treat? La Cabane de Dessert has got you covered! This French-style bistro is owned by Longview native Calli Miller Clanton, a trained pastry chef who offers an American twist on classic French favorites. La Cabane offers delicious, freshly made cupcakes, cookies, muffins, scones, and artisan breads as well as hot or cold beverages such as coffee and tea. Catering and special orders such as birthday or wedding cakes, cookies, and cupcakes are also available.

4315 Gilmer Road Longview, TX 75604, Phone: 903-212-5253

6.Veterans Plaza

Veterans Plaza in Longview, Texas is home to individual, unique monuments designed to honor all veterans, all generations, and conflicts. It is distinguished by a grand 760-square-foot United States flag that flies high above a scenic hilltop. There are over twenty engravings and monuments on the hillside that honor the sacrifices made by men and women in places such as Bosnia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Panama, Iraq, Grenada, Korea, and Iwo Jima. There is also an exact-scale replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Memorial Wall and special tributes to women who serve, POWs, MIAs, and the sacrifices made by friends and family.

7.Things to Do in Longview, TX: Martin Creek Lake State Park

Martin Creek is a 286-acre state park located southeast of Longview in Rusk County. The park sits next to the 5,000-acre Martin Creek Lake. The lake provides excellent boating, swimming, and year-round fishing opportunities, including tournaments held during the winter months. The park contains backpacking and hiking trails that are excellent places to view native wildlife such as gophers, armadillos, and white-tailed deer. Campsites and rental cabins are available and can be reserved in advance on the park’s website. Martin Creek is open daily. The entrance fee is $3 for adults. Children 12 and under can enter for free.

9515 County Road 2181, D Tatum, TX 75691 Phone: 903-836-4336

8.Paul D. Boorman Trail, Longview, TX

The Paul D. Boorman Trail in Longview is an excellent place to enjoy vigorous exercise or to take a relaxing nature walk. The trail stretches for 3 miles through northwest Longview and is completely paved, making it easy to walk or cycle. The trail passes through Lois Jackson Park, where visitors will find playgrounds, racquetball courts, and picnic areas. Two dog parks lie near the northern end of the trail. The Boorman Trail is open daily, weather permitting. Heavy rains can cause flooding over parts of the trail.

Off Loop 281 on Summers Drive Longview, TX 75601

9.Pietro’s, Longview, TX

Pietro’s is the place to find authentic Italian pizza, pasta, and sandwiches in Longview. Pietro’s was founded in 1979 by the Filippazzo family and they specialize in making delicious, creative Italian cuisine with an attention to detail. The pizza crust is hand-tossed daily, and the pasta sauces are all made from scratch. Diners can choose from pizza, pasta dishes, calzones, sandwiches, and salads. Italian desserts such as cannoli, tiramisu, and cream cake as well as robust espresso and specialty coffee drinks are all available at Pietro’s. Pietro’s is open Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays.

2418 Gilmer Road Longview, TX 75605, Phone: 903-295-7900

10.Starr Family Home State Historic Site, Longview, Texas

This stately Greek Revival-style mansion was once the home of the Starr family, a prominent family who helped settle much of Texas during the 1800s. The home was built in 1871 and stayed in the family until it was deeded to the State of Texas for use as a museum in the 1970s. The main house, named “Maplecroft,” is two stories tall and is furnished with period-specific antiques. The historic site property covers 3.1 acres and includes several other buildings used by the Starr family, such as the Rosemont Cottage. Tours are available on certain days.

407 West Travis Street. Marshall, TX 75670, =Phone: 903-935-3044

11.Air U Trampoline Park, Longview, Texas

Fly through the air with the greatest of ease at Air U Trampoline Park! Air U offers large, full-room trampolines and a variety of games to play on them, including basketball and large-group dodgeball. Trampoline gymnastics and cheerleading classes are also taught at this location. Air U offers open jump throughout the week. The facility can also be rented for birthday parties, large groups, and corporate events. Air U is open daily. Reservations are requested but not required for open jump times. Parties must be booked in advance.

4300 US Highway 259 North, Longview, TX 75605, Phone: 903-663-2478

12.The Social Snap

The Social Snap is a photo studio for the public with around ten changing setups and themes and installed lighting that’s ready for phones or other picture taking devices. Guests can book a fun-filled photo shoot experience in the 1,800-square-foot photo studio. The Social Snap is a public place where other guests can have a photo op experience at the same time, or the space can be rented for a private party. The space uses professional backdrops and installed studio lights, and there can be as many as fifteen setups or more at a time. Tickets bookings are required.

434 E Loop 281 Suite 101 C, Longview, TX 75605, 903-483-4138

13.G-Force Trampoline and Karting Complex

G-Force Trampoline and Karting Complex in Longview, Texas is a trampoline and indoor kart racing complex and boasts itself as the only trampoline and kart park in the United States. The massive 40,000-square-foot complex features multiple lounges and is a popular place in the area for field trips, youth group events, day camp parties, graduation parties, corporate team building events, team parties, birthday parties, and more. Guests can test their driving skills against others on the 1/8th-mile indoor race track, test their coordination on the Ninja Course, just have fun jumping in the trampoline park, and more.

4800 Gilmer Rd, Longview, TX 75604, 903-295-6777

14.Longview Escape Room

Longview Escape Room is a fun and challenging escape room experience in Longview, Texas that gives guests just one hour to escape from a locked room by uncovering clues, solving puzzles and riddles, cracking codes, and more. There are four different escape rooms to choose from. Guests can try to solve a Hollywood murder in the 1950’s in the Murder Mystery room, escape a jail cell and open a safe in the Wild West Great Escape room, pay off a gambling debt and escape the Sheriff in the Gamblers room, or escape a forever detention at school in the Detention room.

3506 W Loop 281, Longview, TX 75604, 903-747-7994

15.Oil Bowl Lanes

Oil Bowl Lanes, or also known as Bowl Longview, is a popular spot for family fun in Longview, Texas. The bowling alley features more than thirty lanes for bowling that have state-of-the-art automatic scoring. Oil Bowl Lanes offers bowling sessions for fun, parties, or guests could join a league. There are also daily specials offered throughout the week, such as Monday Madness on Monday nights. The bowling alley also offers Cosmic Bowling late at night on Friday and Saturday nights for a single cost per lane and shoe rental included. On Sundays, the earlier customers start bowling, the cheaper the price.

1102 W Cotton St, Longview, TX 75604, 903-758-9961

16.Nip it Golf Indoor Golf Center

The Nip It Golf Indoor Golf Center in Longview, Texas caters to guests of all skill levels and ages. The center is designed for avid golfers aiming to analyze their golf game to the beginners wanting to just try out golfing and have a good time. There are five state-of-the-art, large TruGolf® simulators that provide a number of prestigious golf courses from all over the United States. Visitors can step inside the Nip It Golf Indoor Golf Center and enjoy the golf simulators within a comfortable lounge atmosphere. Guests will take real swings on some of the best virtual courses available.

414 W Loop 281 suite 8, Longview, TX 75605, 903-653-0055

17.Longview World of Wonders

Longview World of Wonders aims to inspire a lifelong love for learning in children by providing them with opportunities to explore, create, and imagine through many hands-on educational exhibits. Build-It offers older children and adults a challenge to create and develop different ideas with LEGO® bricks and blocks, while Build-It Junior offers the same for younger guests but with DUPLO® blocks. Invention Garage allows visitors to work solo or collaborate with others to try and turn an idea into reality. Other exhibits include The Hardware Store, Energy City, The Market, The House, The Factory, and The Park.

112 E Tyler St, Longview, TX 75601, 903-212-4969

18.R.G. LeTourneau Museum and Archives

Located on the LeTourneau University campus, the R.G. LeTourneau Museum and Archives follows the life of one of the twentieth century’s most influential Christians: R.G. LeTourneau. The museum highlights Letourneau’s life, his numerous inventions, his missionary efforts in South America and Africa, his legacy as the “father of the modern earthmoving industry,” the founding of LeTourneau University, and much more. The R.G. LeTourneau Museum features a visitors center and exterior displays that include early earthmoving equipment in the Heath Hardwick Hall library. The museum is open to the public seven days a week with no cost for admission.

2100 S. Mobberly Ave, Longview, TX 75602, 903-233-3260

19.LeTourneau University Belcher Center

The LeTourneau University Belcher Center is a performance center on the campus of LeTourneau University and is considered to be the premier venue for performances in Longview, Texas, as well as the surrounding communities. The Belcher Center plays hosts to many different groups, its own seasons of performances and events that include national touring acts, and is the home performance venue for the Longview Symphony, the Longview Ballet Theatre, and the East Texas Symphonic Band. Many groups in the area also rent the center for a variety of other events like conferences, dance recitals, graduations, fundraisers, and more.

2100 S Mobberly Ave, Longview, TX 75602, 903-233-3080

20.Balloon Adventures USA

Balloon Adventures USA was originally founded in 1977 and operates as a full-service hot air balloon company. Located in the heart of the “Ark-La-Tex” in Longview, Balloon Adventures USA offers promotions, advertising, training, sales, and adventure flights. Their hot air balloon fleet is able to accommodate as many as four passengers at a given time, however, groups with up to thirty people are able to be accommodated with enough advanced notice. Both sunset and sunrise hot air balloon flights are offered throughout the entire year, with different prices for children, three or more guests, or private rides for couples.

801 N Second St, Longview, TX 75601, 903-758-4841