Texans love a good road trip, and it’s never too early to start planning one. But here’s the kicker – you don’t have to lift a finger. We’ve done all the dirty work for you! From hiking to tubing to cliff jumping, we’ve highlighted all of the best, must-do attractions of the Texas hill country. We won’t say it’s the most beautiful area of the state because all of Texas is breathtaking in different respective ways, but we think we can all agree that it’s at least the area most dense with nature activities. The entire drive is 189 miles – that’s 4 hours, 9 minutes, plus the time spent enjoying the beautiful nature the Lone Star State has to offer. Here is the best Texas hill country road trip you’ll ever take, all created by us just for you. We’ve got the google map right here with the exact directions and destinations.
Google Maps
- Jacob’s Well
Flickr/fizzboy
Flickr/paddymurphy We’re starting off our trip at Jacob’s Well, arguably the most famous swimming hole in Texas. Spend an hour or so in the water, maybe daring to swim over the well in hopes it won’t suck you in and pull you down to its darkest depths. If you’re really feeling adventurous, a few of the rocks above the well are positioned just right for cliff diving - if your jump is just right, that is.
- Hamilton Pool
Flickr/dawilson Drive about 30 minutes and find yourself at Hamilton Pool Natural Preserve, a mystical grotto that you simply can’t go without seeing if you live in Texas. There’s a short hike from your car to the pool, but when you turn the final corner and this scene unfolds before your eyes, you’d be willing to hike up Mt. Everest if that’s what it took to see it.
- Enchanted Rock
Flickr/tjc Next stop - Fredericksburg! You’re probably pretty worn out by now from all the swimming, so the fact that the drive here is about an hour and a half is a blessing in disguise. And it’s no boring drive, either - the road is lined with bluebonnets as far as the eye can see. Once you get to Enchanted Rock, you’ll be amazed by its sheer, magnificent beauty and intrigued by the ancient secrets it harbors, like cave drawings depicting the magical glows and groaning noises apparently produced by the rock in the dark of night.
- Natural Bridge Caverns
Flickr/jdg32373 Your legs will be begging for a break after the challenging (but so worth it) hike at Enchanted Rock, so use the 90 minute drive to New Braunfels to gain as much strength back as possible! You’ll need it for our next activity: cave exploration! The Natural Bridge caverns are one of several cave systems in Texas, and they’re absolutely breathtaking. A tour guide will lead you through different rooms, some nearly as big as football stadiums. If you’re feeling up to it, you can go on the Adventure Tour that will really have you feeling like an expert. You’ll put on a hardhat, gloves, and a harness, practicing rappelling, climbing, and squeezing through the tiniest passageways imaginable. Whatever you choose, experiencing one of Texas’s greatest underground wonders will leave you in awe.
- Comal River tubing!
Flickr/jeffgunn It can get pretty stuffy down in the caves, so head right on over to Landa Falls and rent a tube (or toob, I should say) for a few hours. Put your feet up, close your eyes, hear the rustle of the leaves overhead, and let the river gently carry you along while you unwind after all the hiking and swimming you’ve done throughout the day.
- Last stop - dinner at the Gristmill
Flickr/David B. Nash
Flickr/cavalierhorn New Braunfels and Gruene are practically the same place, so it would be a tragedy to forgo the short drive to the historic Gristmill. You’re bound to be hungry after all that exercise, so a delicious beef tenderloin sandwich will hit the spot for sure. Enjoy your meal while looking out at the nearby river and feel content, knowing your day was well spent seeing all the best sights of the Texas hill country. To learn more, visit the official website for The Gristmill Restaurant.
Have you been to any of the places featured in our Texas Hill Country road trip? If so, share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Google Maps
Flickr/fizzboy
Flickr/paddymurphy
We’re starting off our trip at Jacob’s Well, arguably the most famous swimming hole in Texas. Spend an hour or so in the water, maybe daring to swim over the well in hopes it won’t suck you in and pull you down to its darkest depths. If you’re really feeling adventurous, a few of the rocks above the well are positioned just right for cliff diving - if your jump is just right, that is.
Flickr/dawilson
Drive about 30 minutes and find yourself at Hamilton Pool Natural Preserve, a mystical grotto that you simply can’t go without seeing if you live in Texas. There’s a short hike from your car to the pool, but when you turn the final corner and this scene unfolds before your eyes, you’d be willing to hike up Mt. Everest if that’s what it took to see it.
Flickr/tjc
Next stop - Fredericksburg! You’re probably pretty worn out by now from all the swimming, so the fact that the drive here is about an hour and a half is a blessing in disguise. And it’s no boring drive, either - the road is lined with bluebonnets as far as the eye can see. Once you get to Enchanted Rock, you’ll be amazed by its sheer, magnificent beauty and intrigued by the ancient secrets it harbors, like cave drawings depicting the magical glows and groaning noises apparently produced by the rock in the dark of night.
Flickr/jdg32373
Your legs will be begging for a break after the challenging (but so worth it) hike at Enchanted Rock, so use the 90 minute drive to New Braunfels to gain as much strength back as possible! You’ll need it for our next activity: cave exploration! The Natural Bridge caverns are one of several cave systems in Texas, and they’re absolutely breathtaking. A tour guide will lead you through different rooms, some nearly as big as football stadiums. If you’re feeling up to it, you can go on the Adventure Tour that will really have you feeling like an expert. You’ll put on a hardhat, gloves, and a harness, practicing rappelling, climbing, and squeezing through the tiniest passageways imaginable. Whatever you choose, experiencing one of Texas’s greatest underground wonders will leave you in awe.
Flickr/jeffgunn
It can get pretty stuffy down in the caves, so head right on over to Landa Falls and rent a tube (or toob, I should say) for a few hours. Put your feet up, close your eyes, hear the rustle of the leaves overhead, and let the river gently carry you along while you unwind after all the hiking and swimming you’ve done throughout the day.
Flickr/David B. Nash
Flickr/cavalierhorn
New Braunfels and Gruene are practically the same place, so it would be a tragedy to forgo the short drive to the historic Gristmill. You’re bound to be hungry after all that exercise, so a delicious beef tenderloin sandwich will hit the spot for sure. Enjoy your meal while looking out at the nearby river and feel content, knowing your day was well spent seeing all the best sights of the Texas hill country. To learn more, visit the official website for The Gristmill Restaurant.
Did you know all these amazing places could be linked together so easily? It’s like they were naturally made to be woven into a single-day road trip. Stay tuned, Texas – we realize our state is humongous, so this is part of a series of road trip posts, each highlighting a different area of the state. Get excited! If the hill country is a bit out of reach for you to make a trip to, we’ll be featuring places near you soon!
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Address: Jacobs Well, Texas 78676, USAAddress: Hamilton Pool, Texas 78620, USAAddress: Enchanted Rock, Texas 78643, USAAddress: Natural Bridge Caverns Road, Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX, USAAddress: Landa Falls, San Antonio, TX 78254, USAAddress: 1287 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Texas Hill Country road trip August 06, 2020 Jackie Ann What are the most well-known state parks in Texas? There are over 80 state parks in Texas, an overwhelming number if you’re looking to explore the natural side of Texas. One of the most popular state parks in Texas is Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio, Texas. Located on the Rio Grande, this state park features over 300,000 acres to explore. There are over 200 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians as well as some of the best views of the night sky in the entire state. Where can I hike to a cave in Texas? Central Texas actually has several natural caves that are great for an outdoor adventure. The Natural Bridge Caverns are one of the most popular caves in Texas, and visitors can choose from a few different cave tour options. The deepest part of the cave is in the ball park of about 230 feet, and while you won’t be able to travel all the way to the bottom, you can get to about 180 feet below the surface. If you prefer to get away from the crowds, you can always take the Aztec Cave Trail in the Franklin Mountains State Park. This short and sweet hike is about 1 mile out-and-back, and you’ll see three caves along the way. What are the best wildflower hikes in Texas? Texas is full of beautiful sights to see, and sometimes the most beautiful scenery is just at our feet. The Hill Country Trail region is home to countless fields of black-eyed Susans, prairie-fires, and the iconic bluebonnet. You’ll want to start your wildflower hunt at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. This wildflower wonderland features more than two miles of trails over seventy acres that will take you on a colorful journey through their beautiful Hill Country landscape, including an arboretum. There are also several gardens that you’ll want to sneak away to and get lost in a see of native plants from across Texas.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Texas Hill Country road trip
August 06, 2020
Jackie Ann
What are the most well-known state parks in Texas? There are over 80 state parks in Texas, an overwhelming number if you’re looking to explore the natural side of Texas. One of the most popular state parks in Texas is Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio, Texas. Located on the Rio Grande, this state park features over 300,000 acres to explore. There are over 200 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians as well as some of the best views of the night sky in the entire state. Where can I hike to a cave in Texas? Central Texas actually has several natural caves that are great for an outdoor adventure. The Natural Bridge Caverns are one of the most popular caves in Texas, and visitors can choose from a few different cave tour options. The deepest part of the cave is in the ball park of about 230 feet, and while you won’t be able to travel all the way to the bottom, you can get to about 180 feet below the surface. If you prefer to get away from the crowds, you can always take the Aztec Cave Trail in the Franklin Mountains State Park. This short and sweet hike is about 1 mile out-and-back, and you’ll see three caves along the way. What are the best wildflower hikes in Texas? Texas is full of beautiful sights to see, and sometimes the most beautiful scenery is just at our feet. The Hill Country Trail region is home to countless fields of black-eyed Susans, prairie-fires, and the iconic bluebonnet. You’ll want to start your wildflower hunt at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. This wildflower wonderland features more than two miles of trails over seventy acres that will take you on a colorful journey through their beautiful Hill Country landscape, including an arboretum. There are also several gardens that you’ll want to sneak away to and get lost in a see of native plants from across Texas.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are over 80 state parks in Texas, an overwhelming number if you’re looking to explore the natural side of Texas. One of the most popular state parks in Texas is Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio, Texas. Located on the Rio Grande, this state park features over 300,000 acres to explore. There are over 200 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians as well as some of the best views of the night sky in the entire state.
Where can I hike to a cave in Texas?
Central Texas actually has several natural caves that are great for an outdoor adventure. The Natural Bridge Caverns are one of the most popular caves in Texas, and visitors can choose from a few different cave tour options. The deepest part of the cave is in the ball park of about 230 feet, and while you won’t be able to travel all the way to the bottom, you can get to about 180 feet below the surface. If you prefer to get away from the crowds, you can always take the Aztec Cave Trail in the Franklin Mountains State Park. This short and sweet hike is about 1 mile out-and-back, and you’ll see three caves along the way.
What are the best wildflower hikes in Texas?
Texas is full of beautiful sights to see, and sometimes the most beautiful scenery is just at our feet. The Hill Country Trail region is home to countless fields of black-eyed Susans, prairie-fires, and the iconic bluebonnet. You’ll want to start your wildflower hunt at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. This wildflower wonderland features more than two miles of trails over seventy acres that will take you on a colorful journey through their beautiful Hill Country landscape, including an arboretum. There are also several gardens that you’ll want to sneak away to and get lost in a see of native plants from across Texas.
