Downtown Houston Tunnel System — Attraction in Houston

Walking around the entire downtown Houston area for about the past 5 months, I suspected underground garages connected to buildings due to the building sizes, the lights on there and with so few people walking on the streets. Even though it was near the end of the pandemic something seemed amiss. I never imagined that there were so many interconnected tunnels, skywalks, entrances, streets, garages, buildings, offices, shops and patios. One person stated that it was six miles in total length! I thought only people who work in these buildings could enter. On impulse I stepped into one of the numerous entrances; few are clearly marked. The entire system is kept immaculately clean. On a stormy/windy/hot/sunny episodic day, it can be a life saver. It can also be an incident avoider. During office opening/closing/lunch hours it feels like a human bee hive. My blood pressure shot up. At times other than office business hours, it is deserted. Then it felt scary. Most of the shops open late and close very early. They appeared to serve one and all. Eateries may only be open two or three hours for breakfast or lunch. Upon an item purchase some eateries provide a code or key for restroom use. Some ring up a purchase then inform you they only accept cards. With so many cameras, computers, security personnel, workers and people, I suspect they evaluate one and all. (see photos) There are three marked entrances to the tunnels in the one square block of McKinney-Main-Travis-Lamar. Stairs and elevators to the tunnels reach maps and retail store lists. It might not be a good idea to explore without reason. (more...

Having frequented the Houston underground tunnels on multiple occasions, I've grown quite fond of this hidden gem in my hometown. As a husband and father of four children, it has become a delightful family excursion for us when we are visiting Houston. Surprisingly, despite growing up in the Houston suburbs, I was unaware of the existence of these underground tunnels until recently.

What truly captivates me about this subterranean world is the diverse array of businesses it hosts. From medical offices to dining establishments and even shoe-shining services, the tunnels offer a fascinating blend of commerce. It's been great to witness the friendly and courteous nature of Houston's residents while interacting with them within the tunnels.

However, one minor drawback I encountered during my visits was the absence of public restrooms within the tunnels. Understanding that the tunnels primarily cater to the downtown working crowd who have access to restrooms in their places of employment. Nevertheless, I'd kindly suggest considering the provision of restroom facilities for visiting families like mine, as it would greatly enhance the overall experience. We did have an employee of a business key us into a restroom to use while we were there.

All in all, the Houston underground tunnels have proven to be a unique and enriching addition to visiting downtown Houston, and I genuinely hope to see them continue to thrive as a valuable part of the city's identity. If you're looking for an engaging and distinctive addition to your Houston visit, I highly recommend taking a stroll down under the city in...

It has been 30 years since I last visited the downtown Houston tunnel system. Much to my surprise after spending a few hours in the downtown loop I was pleasantly surprised to see that the tunnels have been well maintained. They looked none for wear after all these years, they’re clean, no odd smells and well labeled with directional signage. The main difference between then and now is the lack of the variety of shops that used to call the tunnel system home. certainly there’s a lot of eating places capable of providing the many above ground downtown workers a quick and fast meal or a cup of coffee, but I don’t see some of the other places that sold crafts and clothing, and also of other things. I must admit I didn’t visit all of the various tones so they might still be there. But I left the system really inclined to check out some of the other loops because it left such a nice...