12 Fantastic Day Trips from Austin

Austin is fun, but it’s also small, with just a few days’ worth of attractions to keep travelers busy. Most come for a weekend to explore the beer, music, and food scene while taking in a few of the lake activities. 

While those are all fun things to do in Austin, there are also a lot of awesome day trips from the city that people miss out on. Within a couple of hours’ drive of Austin you have historic towns, state parks, beautiful waterfalls, tons of BBQ joints, and Texas’s famous wine country! 

During my eight years living in Austin, I had the chance to explore the area a lot. While here, definitely rent a car and get out of the city to see the countryside. 

Here’s my list of best day trips from Austin:

1. Fredericksburg

Located just 90 minutes west of Austin, this is the heart of wine country in Texas, with over 50 wineries in the area. German settlers founded the town in the 1800s, and to this day it is where you’ll find one of the state’s largest German populations. Naturally, there are several German restaurants and biergartens here, as well as a charming downtown with lots of preserved buildings housing boutiques and art galleries. 

Beyond the German heritage, don’t miss the Pioneer Museum, which showcases early settlement life and history, and the National Museum of the Pacific War, which has an informative exhibition on Pearl Harbor.

Also, stroll around the Japanese Garden of Peace, a gift from Japan to the US. And just outside of the town is the so-called Texas White House, Lyndon B. Johnson’s childhood home and ranch, where he also spent time as president. 

Check out the Fredericksburg Wine Tour with Three Winery Stops Plus Lunch

2. Marble Falls

Home to just over 7,000 people, this small town is set right on the Colorado River, also a 90-minute drive from Austin. One of the main draws is the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, where you can spot all kinds of wildlife, from songbirds to armadillos to bobcats.

There are numerous easy and moderate hikes here (like the Vista Knoll Loop, the Shin Oak Trail Loop or the easy 0.6 Creek Trail). In town, there are many craft wine and beer places to enjoy, and surrounding it are plenty of beautiful bluebonnet (a local wildflower) fields where you can stop to snap photos and all add up to a great day trip.

3. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

If you want more time in the outdoors, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is also just 90 minutes away, about 20 minutes north of Fredericksburg (so you could combine the two in one day trip). It offers almost 11 miles of scenic trails with gorgeous views over the surrounding Hill Country and a perfect day trip for nature lovers. 

The park is named for a giant (425-foot) pink granite dome that’s also great for rock climbing and, if you come at night, stargazing. Hike the Summit Trail if you want to get to the top for panoramic views (it’s around 1.5 miles round-trip and takes just under an hour). 

Just be prepared with sunscreen and water, especially if you’re hiking in the summer months, as there is no shade, and the heat can be sweltering. As it’s one of the most popular things to do in the area, it can get quite busy, and reservations are required on the weekends (and recommended on weekdays). 

4. Kerrville

Known for its beautiful parks, Kerrville is nestled in Texas Hill Country. It’s also (you guessed it) just 90 minutes from Austin by car. Home to around 24,000 people, it’s a cute town sidled up against the Guadalupe River, which is perfect for sunny strolls when the weather is nice (the Kerrville River Trail follows the river for six miles, with lots of benches and places to stop to take in the view or picnic). 

For indoor activities, don’t miss the Museum of Western Art, which highlights Western heritage, with many gorgeous paintings and sculptures, both historic and contemporary. 

5. Krause Springs

Just under an hour from the city, this picturesque swimming area has over two dozen natural springs. These feed swimming pools (both man-made and natural) that are perfect for beating the heat when the sun is shining.

The Krause Springs park spans over 100 acres and gets really popular in the summer, so come early (you can camp or park your RV here if you want to stay overnight). Be sure to check out the serene butterfly gardens, which are incredibly beautiful and bursting with colorful butterflies. Note: This place isn’t open in the winter. 

6. Wimberley

For more natural swimming holes, head to Wimberley. Just 45 minutes southwest of Austin, you’ll find two of the best natural pools in Texas: Blue Hole Regional Park and Jacob’s Well. They’re both fed by natural springs and are great places to cool off in the summer.

Blue Hole has a three-acre swimming area and is enveloped by lush cypress trees, while Jacob’s Well, which looks like a massive natural well, is around 30 feet deep and is popular with divers, as there are lots of caves to explore.

Plus the village of Wimberley, home to just 3,000 people, has all kinds of cool things to see and do, including glass-blowing demonstrations, zip-lining, and wine tasting.

7. Lockhart

If you’re a foodie like me, head to Lockhart. This is the barbecue capital of Texas, just a short, 30-minute drive from downtown Austin. Fill up on mouthwatering eats at popular spots like Smitty’s Market, Black’s BBQ, Kreuz Market, or Lockhart Chisholm Trail BBQ. These offer some of the best barbecue in the country, so be sure to bring an appetite!

When you’re done, stop by Lockhart State Park for a swim or hike. The town, which has just 15,000 people, also has a neat museum all about clocks and watches; it’s super informative and educational, without being boring.

Check out the Hill Country BBQ & Wine Shuttle tour from Austin

8. Georgetown

Just 30 minutes north of Austin, Georgetown is a small city home to around 75,000 people. It’s known for its photogenic main street and slower pace of life (though it’s far from boring). It’s a nice place to browse local shops, enjoy a craft beer at one of the breweries, and explore the Inner Space Cavern, one of the best-preserved caves in Texas — over 20 million years old, it’s a karst formation carved from limestone and was opened to the public in 1966.

If you want to beat the heat, head to Blue Hole Park (not to be confused with the Blue Hole Regional Park above), a local outdoor natural pool with a wading area and spots to picnic when the sun is shining. 

9. Pedernales Falls State Park

An hour west of Austin, this state park has over 5,200 acres of hiking and horseback trails, campgrounds, swimming areas, and scenic vistas. If you packed your rod, you can also fish here. The river flows over huge slabs of limestone, and while it’s usually quite calm and perfect for swimming or tubing, it can get choppy, so just be aware of that.

If you want to car-camp, there are sites with water and electricity, but also more rustic hike-in campgrounds if you want to get away from it all for a night.

10. McKinney Falls State Park

While this park is technically in the city (out near the airport), it definitely doesn’t feel like it, making it the perfect spot to escape for a day that is only a short drive. Spanning 744 acres and founded in 1976, it is home to hiking trails and a swimming spot, as well as lots of wildlife (deer, armadillos, coyotes, and raccoons, among others).

Be sure to visit Old Baldy while you’re here, one of the oldest bald cypress trees on public land in Texas (it’s around 500 years old and over 100 feet tall!).

11. Bastrop 

Located 35 minutes east of Austin on the Colorado River, this town of 10,000 people is oozing with small-town charm. It has a historic main street filled with cute shops, and the nearby state park has plenty of trails for hiking (you can also camp here or rent a kayak or canoe).

If you do want to get out on the water, the six-mile El Camino Real Paddling Trail is the perfect excursion (kayak rentals start at $50).

There’s also a brewery and a distillery in town in case you work up a thirst. While you are in town be sure to visit, The Painted Porch bookstore. It’s a awesome independent bookstore with a great selection and an attached record shop.

12. Colorado Bend State Park

The furthest option from Austin, Colorado Bend State Park is a beautiful state park just under two hours away, located in Hill Country and spanning over 5,300 acres. You could easily spend a day here hiking, as there are over 30 miles of trails to choose from.

The Gorman Falls Trail is a quick, three-mile hike and the most popular choice for day-trippers. For something more challenging, try the seven-mile Tinaja and Dogleg Canyon Loop.

You can also fish here or take a dip in the cooling waters of Spicewood Spring. If you’d rather get out on the river and kayak, rentals start at $10 per hour.

Wrapping it Up

There’s a lot to do in and around Austin. This post is really just a starting point.  But when you’re a visitor, you don’t have infinite time so anything on this list will do! These trips will give you a good sense of the area and culture beyond the city’s famous nightlife and foodie scene. 

For advice on accommodation, check out this post on where to stay in Austin. 

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