Quick Guide to Small-Town Day Trips from Austin, Texas

When I sat down to write this blog on small-town day trips from Austin, a completely different idea was in mind. Enthusiastically, memories of Burnet and all the places to see – where to eat, and the historical sites – poured onto the page. Well, a few hours later and 1,000 words in and the realization hit – the blog would be way too long and only one town was covered. Changes were in order. The small towns in Hill Country are fabulous and plenty – they deserve a blog of their own. In a nutshell, here are the top small-town day trips from Austin. Here we go…

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Burnet

Distance: 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Austin

Pronounced “Burnit” this jewel of the Highland Lakes is sure to please your day trip desires. On the edge of Hill Country, lies the historic small-town of Burnet. Established as a fort on the Texas frontier, Burnet has maintained its pioneer roots and architectural charm. Most notable is Burnet’s historic town square with unique shopping and dining options. The scenic countryside is filled with parks, wildflowers and wineries.

Notable Attractions

• Inks Lake State Park – 3630 Park Rd 4 W, Burnet, TX 78611
• Longhorn Cavern State Park – 6211 Park Road 4 S, Burnet, TX 78611
• Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park – 16942 Ranch Road 2341, Burnet, TX 78611-3168
• Fort Croghan Grounds and Museum – 703 Buchanan Dr, Burnet, TX 78611
• Perissos Vineyard and Winery – 7214 Park Rd 4 W, Burnet, TX 78611

Driftwood

Distance: 39 km (24 miles) southwest of Austin

Driftwood is adjacent to Dripping Springs and equal in rich Texas history. Most notable in Driftwood is Salt Lick, the famous barbeque restaurant established in 1967. The restaurant is therefore an attraction alone as it is also home to Salt Lick Cellars, which opened a tasting room in 2009. Consequently, Salt Lick has grown into one of the biggest restaurants around and is still family-run.

The history of the restaurant comes with a sweet love story. Thurman Roberts, Sr. and his wife, Hisako, met while Thurman was stationed in Hawaii. They married and moved to Driftwood. Thurman dreamed of spending every day in the town where his family roots are established. One day, Thurman and Hisako took out a legal pad and wrote down 54 things they could do to make a living and stay in Driftwood. The idea for a barbeque restaurant was number 14 on the list. Salt Lick was born. Hisako’s Japanese heritage was prevalent in the sauce. Combined with Thurman’s old-fashioned, slow smoking methods he learned from his grandmother; magic was made in the Hills.

Driftwood is also ripe with wineries and distilleries.

Notable Attractions

• The Original Salt Lick – 18300 Farm to Market Rd 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619 (cash only)

Dripping Springs

Distance: 43 km (27 miles) west of Austin

The town of Dripping Springs is known as the “Gateway to Hill Country”. Dripping Springs is quite spread out, but the small downtown has a variety of shopping with friendly employees. As we entered each store, we were greeted with a “howdy” and as we left, we were sent on our way with a “have a good day y’all”. We did find shopping to be the most expensive here compared to other small towns in the area. The town is surrounded by numerous distilleries, breweries, and wineries. Dripping Springs is also known as the “Wedding Capital of Texas”. The beauty of the area is prime for gorgeous wedding photos and unique backdrops.

Notable Attractions

• Texas Hill Country Olive Company – 2530 W Fitzhugh, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
• Treaty Oak Distillery – 16604 Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
• Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve – 24300 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620 (requires reservation to swim)
• Reimer’s Ranch Park – 23610 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Fredericksburg

Distance: 131 km (81 miles) west of Austin

Willkommen! The small-town with Texas heart and German soul is a vibrant community attracting tourists year-round. The German roots of Fredericksburg are apparent in the restaurants and beer gardens. Likewise, Fredericksburg is also famous for its peaches. The sights, sounds, and smells of downtown are a unique blend of Texas and German delights. Whether you are craving traditional Texas food or want to be whisked away to Germany in a Biergarten, you won’t be disappointed as options galore line the main street.

Notable Attractions

• National Museum of the Pacific War/Memorial Wall/Avenue of the Presidents/Japanese Memorial Garden – 328 E. Main, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
• Veteran’s Walk of Honor – Located in the Memorial Courtyard of the National Museum of the Pacific War
• Wine Road 290 – Fredericksburg 290 (17 wineries minutes apart on US 290)
• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area – 16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
• Luckenbach – 412 Luckenbach Town Loop, Fredericksburg, TX 79624

Known for its “everybody’s somebody in Luckenbach” attitude, this tiny town could have its own spot on the small-town day trips from Austin list. Grab a lawn chair and head out to the free music venue where the guitars play daily. Relax under the spreading oak trees and let your cares drift away. The population of this town brags “3” and has a dance hall, post office, and general store. From 1995 to 1999, Willie Nelson held his storied Fourth of July Picnic at Luckenbach. Check luckenbachtexas.com for current performer and event information.

Johnson City

Distance: 82 km (51 miles) west of Austin

This tiny Texas town bursting with personality is named after former President Lyndon B. Johnson as it was his hometown. Take a tour of his boyhood home and Texas White House grounds. Make sure to check the schedule as the Texas White House was closed for repairs when we visited. Walking through the Johnson Settlement is a must, even if you are not familiar with President Johnson. Here you can get close to the infamous Texas Longhorn cattle. Don’t get too close though, those horns are dangerous. What is unique is how the homestead is incorporated into the town. Johnson City flourishes around the historic farm. Visiting the homestead and settlement is free.

Notable Attractions

• Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park – 1048 Park Road #49, Stonewall, TX 78671
• Pedernales Falls State Park (pronounced Perdehnahless) – 2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, TX 78636
• Pecan Street Brewing – 106 E Pecan, Johnson City, TX 78636

Salado

Distance: 82 km (51 miles) north of Austin

“A Jewel in the Crown of Texas” is probably our favourite small town in The Lone Star State. We’ve visited Salado numerous times and still have not entered every shop or tried every restaurant, café, and brewery. The gorgeous town has the most fantastic vibe. It’s busy but friendly. Upscale, yet casual. Make sure to drive around the residential area of town to get a view of charming Texas homes and yards. Furthermore, Salado, with its huge, spread out yards of old and new homes, has such a different feel than other Texas towns – presenting a unique rather than cookie-cutter look.

Notable Attractions

• Stagecoach Inn – 416 S Main St, Salado, TX 76571 (You must try the burger.)
• Strawberry Patch – 171 S Main St, Salado, TX 76571 – Our favourite store in Texas (and the BEST coffee, Texas Gold). Sadly, the store will be closing in January 2020; however, you will still be able to order coffee online.
• The Barton House Restaurant – 101 N. Main St, Salado, TX 76571
• Salado Antique Mall – 751 N Stagecoach Rd, Salado, TX 76571 (I-35 frontage North)
• The Shed – 220 Royal St, Salado, TX 76571
• Salado Lone Star Winery & Chupacabra Craft Beer – 401 S Main St #105, Salado, TX 76571

Small-Town Travel Tip: To avoid disappointment, do not visit Salado on Monday or Tuesday as many stores close to take a break from the bustling weekend traffic.

Wimberley

Distance: 61 km (38 miles) southwest of Austin

The bustling town of Wimberley will win you over with its incredible Market Days. First of all, we have never seen an outdoor market so huge. Over 475 vendors on 16 acres offer everything from fresh food to antiques. Boasting a cute, shanty town atmosphere, you could spend the entire afternoon searching for treasures in this goldmine. Besides all the shopping, there is a beer garden on-site, music stage, ATMs, as well as porta-potties. Pick up a map at tourist information. It’s a must to find your way around.

Traffic is insane in Wimberly and the flow never seems to stop. Park at Visitor Information and walk across the bridge to the town square. The town square is different than a typical town square; rather, many short streets stretch in each direction with eclectic shops to explore.

Watch for the variety of giant painted cowboy boots around town. “Bootfiul Wimberley” began in 2014 to highlight the arts and enhance cultural tourism. The boots have taken on a new life as a fundraiser after the flood of 2018 nearly wiped out the town. There are 50 boots in total kicking around. See if you can find them all.

Notable Attractions

• Jacob’s Well Natural Area – 1699 Mount Sharp Rd, Wimberley, TX 78676 (reservations required to swim)
• Cypress Creek Nature Trail – Off the main square along the creek.
• Blue Hole Regional Park – 100 Blue Hole Lane, Wimberley, TX 78676
• Old Baldy – 218 steps lead you to a panoramic view of the Wimberley Valley. – 33 LaToya Trail, Wimberley, TX 78676

Small-town Day Trips from Austin, Texas

We spent four months exploring scenic Texas Hill Country to compile a list of small-town day trips from Austin. Each town is so Texas, yet, each town is so distinct. One common theme runs through all the small-towns – Texas hospitality. Most importantly, whether you love food, drink, shopping, hiking, or historical sites, one thing is for sure, you will love Texans. Welcoming. Friendly. Funny. Passionate. The people will make your day trip to any small town in Hill Country a memorable one. We can’t wait to go back.

All pictures in this post are taken by Charlotte, yours truly, as always, unless otherwise stated.