Looking to get out of Austin for the day or maybe even for a short staycation or weekend getaway? I’ve got you covered!
There are plenty of towns to visit within quick driving distance of Austin that are worth a visit. Central Texas has so much to explore!
From Wimberley’s swimming spots to tubing in New Braunfels to wine tasting in Dripping Springs, here are some of the best day trips from Austin, TX!
Table of Contents
Wimberley, Texas
The town of Wimberley is only a 45-minute drive southwest of Austin, so it’s an easy afternoon trip to make.
Wimberley’s main attractions are two popular swimming holes, Jacob’s Well and Blue Hole Regional Park, which make it a great summer road trip destination.
Both spots require advance reservations though, so if you’re looking to swim and didn’t plan in advance, you can also check out Cypress Creek.
If you’re looking for a beautiful view, you can hike 220 steps up Old Baldy Mountain for a scenic overlook with excellent views of Wimberley and the Hill Country.
Another popular thing to do in Wimberley that draws in visitors is the Wimberley Market Days. They happen on the 1st Saturday of March-December. It’s the oldest outdoor market in the Texas Hill Country and second-biggest outdoor market in all of Texas!
Some other fun places in the area to visit include Wimberley Glassworks for live glassblowing, Cypress Creek Rum Distillery, Rough Creek Lavender Fields, Wimberley Valley Winery, Bella Vista Ranch olive orchard, and Wimberley Zipline Adventures.
Last but not least, if you’re looking to go for a weekend getaway, check out some of the amazing glamping options in the area, like Yurtopia Wimberley and Collective Retreats!
New Braunfels, Texas
Only 45 minutes southwest of Austin is New Braunfels, TX. If you’re looking for THE spot to go tubing, New Braunfels has got you covered! There’s both the Guadalupe River and the Comal River to tube on, and plenty of outfitters to rent tubes from and bus you around if you need it.
The Comal is more for the chill group floats (and most people bring inflatable coolers with them and will tie their tubes together into giant floats), while the Guadalupe has more dips for the more adventurous tubers.
If you want more than just tubing, there’s of course also Schlitterbahn Waterpark with 3 different parks to choose from, including one that’s run off river water and feeds several attractions straight into the Comal.
Schlitterbahn has been operating since 1979 and has won many awards over the years for both the park and its rides. It even has the world’s most award-winning uphill water coaster, the Master Blaster. For all that and more, it’s well worth a visit if you’re a fan of waterparks!
Outside of its water attractions, other things to do in New Braunfels include:
- Explore the Gruene Historic District
- Visit Natural Bridge Caverns
- Schedule a viewing at Bracken Cave Preserve – with more than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats, this is the largest bat colony in the world
- Get a snack from Naegelin’s (the oldest bakery in Texas – try the iced molasses cookies!)
- Drink your way down the Hill Country Craft Beer Trail.
Round Top, Texas
Round Top is about an 80-minute drive east of downtown Austin past Bastrop.
This little town, with a population of only 90 people, is home to a massive 50-year old antique fair that people come to from all over the world.
During the rest of the year, you’ll find loads of antique and quirky shops to peruse, like Junk Gypsy Company, McClaren’s Antiques and Interiors, Richard Schmidt Jewelry Design, Bill Moore Antiques, Hermann Furniture, and more!
One of the other highlights of the town is the unique places to stay in Round Top. So if you want to make your day trip an overnight one, there are a LOT of places to choose from. Here are just a few of my picks for cool places to stay in Round Top.
- FlopHouze – a shipping container hotel (pet friendly!)
- The Frenchie – unique rooms and the cutest pool in Round Top
- Laughing Hen Silos – literally silos converted into cottages
- The Wander Inn – a funky converted old barnhouse behind the famous Junk Gypsy store; check out their newest addition, Thelma’s Garage
- Lone Star Glamp Inn – an indoor campground with airstream trailers and glamping tents
- Rancho Pillow – a whimsical 20-acre “wonderland retreat” as they describe it
For bites, try Royers Round Top Cafe (and Royers Pie Haven down the street in Henkel Square Market), The Garden Co., Lulu’s, and Local Roots (update: sadly Local Roots has closed their physical location, but they still do a food truck during the Antiques Fair).
Spicewood, Texas
Spicewood is about a 45-minute drive northwest of Austin, making it a very easy day trip. One of the main attractions to visit in Spicewood is Krause Springs, a beautiful oasis of a swimming hole that is 68° F year-round.
Spicewood is also right on the waters of Lake Travis, so good spots to hang out include Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, Grelle Recreation Area, and the nearby Pace Bend Park. There’s always the options to go boating on Lake Travis as well!
For such a small town, there are lots of things to do in Spicewood! For some boozy fun, check out Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery as well as Spicewood Vineyards.
During the spring, Spicewood is home to one of the best spots for bluebonnet photos near Austin – Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area. This is THE SPOT for epic photos of a hillside of bluebonnets. If you can, visit on a weekday since it does get quite crowded here, and please don’t trample the flowers!
If you want a hidden gem spot for bluebonnet photos, also check out Grelle Recreation Area, another LCRA Park just down the street. Sometimes, you might even get this park all to yourself! And it’s just as dreamy as Muleshoe Bend, in my opinion.
If you’re looking for adventure, check out Cypress Valley Canopy Tours with its ziplining and sky bridges – it even has treehouses you can rent for a staycation!
And fun fact: Spicewood is where Willie Nelson lives out at his Luck Ranch (you can visit if you’re ever lucky enough to get tickets to his Luck Reunion event every year during SXSW).
And lastly, for eats, check out Opie’s Barbecue and Poodie’s Hilltop Roadhouse for burgers and live music!
Dripping Springs & Driftwood, Texas
Dripping Springs and Driftwood are probably most famous for their craft beverages and BBQ. You’ll find the towns about 40 minutes west of downtown Austin.
If you’re into the boozy side of things, you can take a tour and grab a cocktail at Deep Eddy Vodka’s distillery and tasting room. And that’s just one of several spirits brands in the area! There’s also Treaty Oak Distilling, Dripping Springs Vodka, Desert Door Texas Sotol, Goodnight Loving Vodka, and a few others.
In the craft beer realm, one you’ll find is Twisted X Brewing Company, where you can grab a flight of beers on their deck. There’s also Jester King Brewery, Vista Brewing, and several other breweries nearby.
That doesn’t even get you started on the various wineries, like Fall Creek Vineyards, Solaro Estate Winery, Bell Springs Winery, Graveyard Vineyards, and more. You can make a whole day just out of wine tasting! For food, try out Pieous Pizza and you can’t miss the famous Salt Lick BBQ.
If you’re looking for family-friendly entertainment, you can try some amazing mini-golf courses at Dreamland along with other activities they offer like pickle ball and live music.
And last but not least, Dripping Springs has several amazing nature spots to visit. if you can score a reservation, don’t miss out on Hamilton Pool Preserve, one of the most picturesque spots in Texas.
There’s also Pedernales Falls State Park, Reimer’s Ranch Park, and Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center.
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown is such a short drive up from Austin that it makes for the perfect afternoon getaway, especially if you’re not looking for an overnight stay.
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Georgetown, try doing an adventure tour down below at Inner Space Cavern, or taking a dip a the Blue Hole, a local free swimming spot.
In the spring, definitely don’t miss out on the Red Poppy Festival that Georgetown is so famous for. You can find the red poppies all over town (hence, Georgetown’s nickname, the Red Poppy Capital), and they make for great wildflower photos!
For food, some standouts include the Monument Cafe (perfect for breakfast especially), Sweet Lemon Kitchen, and El Monumento if you’re looking for Mexican.
Have any other good day trips from Austin to recommend? Let me know in the comments! And if you’re still looking for more places to visit, some honorable mentions include Fredericksburg, San Antonio, Marble Falls, and San Marcos, just to name a few!
Like it? Pin it!
