Austin Day Trips
After you’re done eating some delicious Tex-Mex or sampling some of the best food in Austin, why not go for a day trip?
There are so many great places just a hop and skip away from Austin!
Here are some of our favorite day trips from Austin:
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New Braunfels & Gruene
A quick 45 minute drive from Austin, New Braunfels & Gruene have so much to offer, making it one of the best bang for the buck trips.
Schlitterbahn, one of the best water parks in the world, is here and pretty much a whole day affair.
You can also go tubing down the Guadalupe River, which on a hot summer day, is a godsend.
Gruene Hall is the oldest dance hall in Texas with lots of famous musicians rolling by. Get your boots on and do some Texas two-stepping.
Gristmill River Restaurant is a mainstay for both locals and visitors alike with some lovely views, delicious chicken fried steak, and margaritas.
Chicken Fried Steak at Gristmill
Otherwise, Gruene is a nice place for a stroll with its historical buildings and charming atmosphere.
You might like:
Lockhart
If you love Texas BBQ, you have to visit Lockhart - home to many world famous BBQ joints.
Black’s BBQ - here since 1932 with four generations, the brisket here is simply divine.
Blacks BBQ Brisket
Smitty’s - When you walk in, the first thing you’ll see and smell are the immense smoke grills with BBQ in them. The sausages here are amazing.
Kreuz - here the ribs are served in butcher paper with no sauce and no forks. They really want you to eat them the way they did back in 1900 along with no sauce getting in the way of the flavor of the meat.
For a nice piece of history, check out Dr Eugene Clark Library which is the oldest continually operating library in Texas.
Dripping Springs
A lovely town just 40 minutes west of Austin with much to do such as the Hamilton Pool, Twisted X Brewing Co, Mazama Coffee Co, Bell Springs Winery, and Treaty Oak Distilling.
For Hamilton Pool, a reservation is now required to visit.
Fredericksburg
This adorable town with rich history and quaint architecture is a great place to stroll around in. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised with the great collection of wineries in Fredericksburg.
Miss the holidays? The Christmas Store is a year round holiday centric store with dazzling Christmas decor.
Enchanted Rock is a lovely outdoor granite formation nearby that is fun to hike up and great for caving as well.
Otto’s German Bistro is a great place to have some German fare and why not with Fredericksburg’s roots in Germany?
San Antonio
One of Texas’ most popular tourist destinations and an easy drive from Austin - there’s plenty to do here.
NOLA Beignets is a great place to grab brunch and then you can check out the beautiful Botanical Garden afterwards.
Every Texan grows up hearing the legendary stories of the Alamo and its last stand against the Mexican army. If you have time, make sure to stop by this historical legend.
The River Walk is one of the main tourist draws - if you want to visit a quieter part, go to the Pearl Brewery.
While you’re in town, make sure to eat at one of the lovely Tex Mex restaurants. Sancho’s and Rosario’s are always great places to try out delicious Tex Mex food.
Also, check out:
Blue Hole
Near Wimberley, which is about 45 minutes south of Austin, there is a lovely swimming area called the Blue Hole. The water stays about 75 degrees year round and is surrounded by many cypress trees.
There’s plenty of manicured grass on the edge, which is great for setting up towels, chairs, and coolers for a day on the water.
Try to arrive early on weekends as there is a limit to how many people can enter.
Hours are 10 am to 6 pm Sun - Fri, 10 am - 8 pm on Sat and holidays. Fee: Adults and children 13 and over, $8; children 4 to 12, $4; adults 60 and over $4.
Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales Falls, one of the many beautiful state parks in Texas, is full of limestone rock and has the amazing Pedernales River flowing through it. It’s one of my favorite places to spend a day hiking and hanging out near the water.
There are special trails for mountain bikes and horses as well.
Another great option near Pedernales State Park is the great wineries nearby! Check out this handy guide for more wineries in the Texas Hill Country.
McKinney Falls State Park
If you don’t feel like driving too far, McKinney State Park is a great option for the many day hikes inside of the Austin city limits.
There are about nine miles of hike & bike trails as well as the river area.