39 fun things to do in Katy Texas

It is easy to think the outskirts of big cities are just suburbs with cookie-cutter houses and a carpool lane. Lucky for you Katy, Texas has created an atmosphere for every type of visitor. Katy is located about 30 minutes from the metropolitan area of downtown Houston and has so much to offer its residents and tourists. In this post, we will explore 39 fun things to do in Katy Texas.

This small town has created a welcoming community with its Food Truck Fridays, Katy Market Days, and antique shopping. The locals continue to explore and tell the history of their town to keep it alive and remember where they got their start!

What once started as the perfect place to stop on the MKT railway has turned into a city full of vibrancy while maintaining a laid-back feel.

Katy is the perfect city for a solo adventure or the entire family. Whether you are passing through or staying for a few weeks, this guide to top fun things to do in Katy, Texas will keep you busy and enjoying your time in Southeast Texas!

Katy Tx things to do Map

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I have been using two different ones, SafetyWing and World Nomads depending on the kind of traveling I was doing. For the more adventurous ones, which included hiking and scuba-diving, World nomads‘ got you covered, for a more tranquil trip SafetyWing would do the job and it’s cheaper. But don’t just take my words. Make sure you read all the included coverage and policy details to find out what’s the right policy for you.

Central Green Park

Central Green park is the perfect place to spend an evening in the great outdoors.

Located in Cinco Ranch at La Centerra, you will find plenty of hiking and bike trails at this park. Central Green hosts special events throughout the week such as Yoga in the Park, Music Under the Stars (A Summer concert series), and plenty of holiday parties for the whole community throughout the year!

Mary Jo Peckham Park

Walk the lake trail at Mary Jo Peckham Park to observe the fishes and other wildlife in the park. This 32-acre park is the perfect outdoor area for you to set up a picnic and meet other park goers on a sunny Saturday afternoon!

They also have a miniature golf course if you feel like playing a game before heading home.

Exploration Park

Embrace your inner child at Exploration Park. An interactive park that has been inspired by water. The park has made it its mission to teach while at play. With a wide-open space for unstructured play and hands-on experience that will take you through the complete water cycle.

This park is fun for the whole family all and really encourages you to let your imagination run wild.

No Label Brewery

One of my favorite stops in Katy is No Label Brewery. One of the area’s first breweries that has a wide variety of local brews and 7 rotating beers on tap. This is the perfect place to head to on a Friday, No Label has a welcoming atmosphere and hosts weekly meetups for you to be able to meet some locals in the area.

Katy Heritage Society

Take a journey into the city of Katy’s past at the Katy Heritage Society. A park that is home to 5 historical sites that continue to keep the long-running spirit of Katy alive.

Learn how the city came to be one of the most popular places to live in Houston at the Katy Heritage Museum. The area is open from dusk until dawn and is free admission for all its visitors.

Katy City Hall - Things to do in Katy Texas

Typhoon Texas

If you have been to Texas in the dead of summer then you know that Texas heat is no joke! So put on your swimsuit and head to Typhoon Texas to cool off. This waterpark has something for all ages. Spend the afternoon in the lazy river or take the polar plunge slide into some freezing water!

Momentum Indoor Climbing

Looking to stay active while trying something new? Head to momentum indoor climbing to give rock climbing in a controlled environment a shot. This gym is full of different level climbing walls. Whether you are an advanced climber or this is your first-time, Momentum will have something for you! This is also the perfect place to meet people while you are in the area.

Katy Market Days

Located in the heart of downtown Katy. The Katy Market Days take place every 3rd Saturday of the new month. Explore the art and antique district while buying some fresh local produce. This free outdoor market has over 200 vendors and continues to be a huge hit every single month!

The Show-Boat Drive in

One of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday night in Katy is at the old school ShowBoat Drive-in. After dark they show a double feature of new movies on the big screen.

Bring your folding chairs or create a pallet in the back of the truck to enjoy these movies under the bright Texas stars.

This is perfect for social distancing if you are still unsure about enclosed spaces. Make sure to go to the snack bar for some buttery popcorn.

* This is a cash-only establishment so make sure to have some dollars on you.

Bingo Night at Proud Pie

Every Tuesday night at 7 pm Proud Pie hosts their bingo night! This is fun for all ages and really brings out people’s competitive spirits. You will receive your bingo card with your purchase and have 8 chances to win some free pie!

Beware, this place fills up really quickly, I recommend getting there about an hour before the games start! Now, I don’t know about you but free pie and fun games sound like a good night to me!

Alamo DraftHouse

A luxury cinema experience. At Alamo Drafthouse you will pick out your seat beforehand and each seat has a reclining feature and comes with your own waiter. This is my favorite way to experience a new movie, the staff go above and beyond to make sure you enjoy your movie. They will even kick out people that continually make noise or are on their phones.

Equestrian Center

One of the most pristine Equestrian Centers in the United States. The center hosts over 60 events per year making it rather easy to catch a show when you are in town. Watch some of the most famous and talented horses in the area, these majestic beings will leave you star-struck!

Dewberry Farms

Regardless of what time of year you are traveling Dewberry Farms will deliver a special experience. They host a Fall Fest, a Christmas tree farm in the winter, and show off their stunning sunflower fields in the spring. This farm is famous for its private fire pits where on a cold night people from all over will gather to roast s’mores.

Make sure to check out my guide to the best sunflower fields in Texas here.

Urban Air Park

Urban Air Park is the ultimate trampoline park. This adventure park also has indoor skydiving, an obstacle course, and dodgeball matches each night. This is a great place to burn off some energy and meet up with friends!

Katy Mills Mall

Katy Mills Mall is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the greater Houston area. This gigantic shopping mall has 160 stores featuring Kate Spade New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, and plenty of places to eat. Many people will spend 4-5 hours searching for the perfect bag and shoes to match!

World of Beer

In the world of beer, you can spend the afternoon in Germany and the night in Ireland. This pub has over 500 beers from all over the world! This is the perfect place to enjoy the world from the comfort of your backyard!

This craft beer bar has a large outdoor seating area and is very close to a few parks. This is a great place to end a warm day in Katy!

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MKT Distillery

Welcome to the first distillery in Old Town Katy, MKT Distillery. MKT specializes in Texas whiskey and moonshine. They are open Friday – Sunday. You can stop in for a tasting or tour of their silos. They serve cocktails and offer a great atmosphere to enjoy drinks with friends! You can purchase their liquor by the bottle to enjoy when you are not in town.

iFly Houston

Ready for an adrenaline rush at iFly Houston, one of the most popular thrill-seeking parks? You can experience skydiving without the altitude or the jumping out of a plane part. The experience includes a trained and certified skydiver to help you.

You will feel the rush of airlift you off the ground and float throughout their enclosed space. This is a bit more on the expensive side and will cost you 59.95 for a single person with 2 dives.

Alternate Reality Escape Room

Test your puzzle skills at Katy’s most famous escape room, Alternate Reality. A fully immersive experience that will test your and your friends’ skills when it comes to solving riddles and puzzles to escape different rooms.

Each room is themed differently with a variety of difficulty levels. You will have 1 hour to escape. Alternate Reality costs $35 per person and is open every day of the week.

Main Event

Main Event is like the cheesecake factory of entertainment. There are so many options in this event space. Bowling, laser tag, mini-golf, go-karting, arcade games, literally you name it and they most likely have it.

Grab a seat at their bar and enjoy some good food to warm you up for those strikes you are about to throw!

Food Truck Friday

To encourage community and active living, Katy Texas has created Food Truck Friday. This community-wide event is held on the 3rd Friday of every month from 5-9.

A parking lot full of food trucks and a nice picnic pavilion area for a nightly movie. Patrons are encouraged to hike the walking trail that leads to the food trucks.

However, there are parking lots for those that are coming from other parts of the neighborhood.

Mason Road Skate Center

Put on your brightest colors and your leg warmers for the night at the skate ring! A fun pastime that always takes me back to the 90’s.

This skating ring will bring an immediate sense of nostalgia with its limbo contest and disco ball glimmering all night long!

It costs $10 per person and comes with a pair of roller skates.

Willow Fork Park

Recently opened, this 32-acre park has been turned into a multi-functioning area. You will find a pond for fishing or paddle boating. A large pavilion with plenty of picnic tables to enjoy an afternoon outdoors.

Willow fort Park — Photo © Willow Fort Park

If you are a nature lover be sure to look out for Willow Fork Parks 15 different tree species and their newest feature, the butterfly sanctuary.

Katy Vibes

A vibrant new live music venue for people from all over to enjoy a drink and catch the vibes of Katy Texas. Katy Vibes is one of my favorite places to spend an evening as they always have something going on. This bar is a great place to meet people when traveling solo. They host a lot of life music shows, a bingo night, and a jazz night every Sunday!

Top Golf

Top Golf continues to grow more and more in popularity each year! Whether you have never played golf before or you are a pro, this is a game anyone can play.

Rent out a bay and start swinging, you will be rewarded points when you hit the targets (They are very big, so it is easier than it sounds).

Top Golf has a full-service bar and food menu, I recommend the loaded french fries!

Antique Shopping

Head to old town Katy for some of my favorite antique shopping spots. With over 30 stores in the city, you are bound to find something good!

Since the city continues to embrace its history and continually uncovers historical sites many things dated back to the early 1900s can be found.

Some of my favorite and must-stop stores are KT Antiques, Dovetail Antiques, and Vintage Backroads.

MKT Railroad Museum

Missouri, Kansas, and Texas used to all be connected by the MKT railroad. This railroad depot was built in Katy, Texas in 1898. This depot was renovated and reopened to the public in 2006 as the MKT railroad museum,

MKT railroad museum will take you through the journey of how Katy was founded and became a primary stopping point for the locomotives. The Katy Historical Society still operates out of this building and continues to discover archives to share with all those who visit.

One of the best things about Katy is how close it is to downtown Houston. Head East on I-10 for the day and explore these amazing parks and museums!

George Bush Park

For some of the best biking trails in the Houston area, head to George Bush Park. Named after our 41st president, this park spans over 7,000 acres and continues to be a popular spot for bikers and joggers with its 11.4-mile trail.

Additionally, you will find a multitude of mini-controlled airplanes in this park. There is a huge area dedicated to those that fly model airplanes and let me tell you, they take this hobby VERY seriously.

Keep your head up when walking around to avoid getting blindsided!

Best day trips from Katy Tx

Space Center Houston

The Houston Space Center has over 400 things to see and do and is full of science and space collaboration. The center has a connecting tram to NASA headquarters where you can discover the inner workings of the Johnson Space Center and the Apollo Mission Control Center.

Look into the world beyond us in their “becoming an astronaut” interactive exhibit or learn how NASA put the first man on the moon! As one of the best landmarks in Texas, the center is a must-visit in South Texas.

Open every day from 10 am-5 pm and tickets cost $29.95.

Cockrell Butterfly Center

Enjoy a walk through the Cockrell Butterfly Center, home to over 60 butterfly species in their rainforest exhibit. You will explore the journey of the butterfly from caterpillar to cocoon to spreading its wings. Learn about the migration patterns of these fluttery friends and exactly how they are helping preserve our world. The exhibit is open from 10 am-5 pm and is $12 dollars for entry.

Toyota Center

Enjoy a night in the city at the Toyota Center. This major arena is located in downtown Houston. You can catch an NBA game or an NHL match here. When the arena isn’t being used for the famous Houston sports teams you can catch some pretty famous musicians here.

Hermann Park

In the museum district of downtown Houston is the 445 acre Hermann Park. With a park this large it is easy to spend the whole day here doing a multitude of things. Bring your dog and enjoy the large dog park and the many trails for you to walk.

If you aren’t interested in walking you can grab a paddle boat and make your way around the lake. You will find a lot of people here on the weekends with picnics, flying kites, and throwing around the football. Introduce yourself and join in on the fun!

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Located in the North part of Hermann Park is the Houston Museum of Natural Science. One of the largest museums in the area and is made up of different exhibits. Some include the planetarium, the dinosaur exhibit, and the Cockrelll butterfly center.

The museum is home to 17 permanent exhibits but rotates new and exciting exhibits on a quarterly basis. Check their website to see what is on display!

Minute Maid Park

Take me out to the ballgame! Head downtown to catch an Astro’s game at minute maid park! The park has a retractable roof so rain or sunshine you will not miss this ballgame! So grab a beer and a hot dog and have a true American experience!

Looking to get a bit further from the city? Here are a few of my favorite day trips from Katy!

Kemah Boardwalk

What used to be a waterfront dining experience, Kemah Boardwalk has quickly developed into one of my favorite places to spend a summer evening!

Located about an hour from Katy, this boardwalk is full of games, themed restaurants, thrilling roller coasters and retail shops. This is one of Texas’ most famous boardwalks with its incredible view from the 65ft Ferris wheel.

Head to Kemah before dark to catch happy hour and one of my favorite sunsets!

Moody Gardens

A fantastic way to spend the day is at Moody Gardens. Open every day from 10 am-6 pm, the gardens welcome you with their living rainforest and educational 3D tour.

Grab their value pass for 60 USD and have access to the whole park, try your hand at their 18 hole golf course, or cool off on a hot summer day in the lazy river.

Galveston Beach

Galveston is located about 90 minutes from Katy. There are seven beaches in Galveston, each with its own culture. My favorite is East Beach, you will find a youthful spirit in the air and plenty of speakers blasting some tunes.

This beach allows open container alcohol making it a bit more rowdy for those who love a good party beach and hosts plenty of evening concerts in the summer. If you are seeking a more serene and calming day, head to the award-winning Stewart Beach for more family-friendly fun and a relaxing day by the shore.

If beaching is your thing, check out my guide to the best beach towns in Texas.

Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park is located about an hour outside Katy. This state park is located on the Brazos River. The park offers a lot to its visitors on its 6,000 acres.

Explore their 37 miles of trails that include some fully paved trails for wheelchair access, horseback trails, and plenty of mountain biking trails.

Stop in the nature center and the George Observatory for multiple exhibits on the ecosystem and the different animals that reside in the park!

Brazos Bend State Park also offers camping accommodation. For a full weekend bring a tent, or rent out one of their cabins to spend a night under the stars.

Katy Tx things to do Map