• by Montgomery Miller
•  June 3rd, 2018

Summer Driving Adventures From Austin

Summer is great for many reasons, none the least of which are the cool road trips one can take from Austin to a variety of popular destinations. So grab your sunglasses and your sunscreen as we look at a few of the fun day trips worth considering as you hit the road this summer.

About 40 minutes east off Austin you’ll find Dripping Springs, known as the “Gateway to Hill Country” featuring many eateries, vineyards, craft breweries and distilleries strung along 290 and alongside roads throughout the area. If nature is on your agenda, Hamilton Pool is absolutely stunning and well worth the drive.

Just 25 miles south of Austin, is the historic but fast-growing city of San Marcos. Known for the sprawling San Marcos Outlet Mall, you’ll find plenty of action for the outdoor enthusiast including river tubing and canoeing, swimming and fishing. The city, founded in 1851 and considered one of the best places to raise kids, has become a hot spot for fine dining, antique shopping and quaint bed & breakfast inns.

Continuing south oI-35, you arrive at one of Texas’ most iconic German settlements, New Braunfels, just 43 miles from Austin. If you’re into waterparks, the Schlitterbahn waterpark is an absolute must, especially if you’re on the road with the kids. Situated along the banks of the Comal River, you can go tubing, ride the giant shuts and enjoy a casual picnic at one of the many shaded tables scattered about the park. The city is also home to many historic German style homes, and one of Texas’ most famous dance halls, Gruene Hall. Or you can explore the limestone caves at Natural Bridge Caverns. And yes, you’ll find plenty of beer gardens and traditional German bratwurst to enjoy.

Further south of New Braunfels lies the historic city of San Antonio, a little over an hour from Austin. Known for the Alamo Museum, site of the famous battle in 1836, is now a modern and rapidly growing city of nearly 1.5 million residents. One story beneath the streets of San Antonio, you’ll find the world- famous San Antonio River Walk for by a network of walkways along the San Antonio River. You can book a cruise on the river or stroll by a vast selection of cafes, pubs, restaurants with plenty of live music along the way.

Of course, if you were to travel east from Austin about an hour, you’ll discover Johnston City, a small city of under 2,000 residents known for many things, but especially as the site of President Lyndon Banes Johnson’s boyhood home. You’ll also find plenty of Texas barbeque, quaint antique shops and boutiques, and the breathtaking Perdernales Falls State Park. During the Christmas season, Johnson City is also known for having one of the most spectacular Christmas light displays in the region.

Fairly close to Austin, you can enjoy McKinney Falls State Park, Canyon Lake, and Fredericksburg, another historic Texas town of German heritage, known for its wineries and famous Pioneer Museum.

Due north a little over a hundred miles oI-35 North, you’ll arrive at the city of Waco. Nestled along the Brazos River, Waco is home to the famous Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. If you enjoy classic American pop culture, literally, a visit to the Dr Pepper Museum, I kid you not, may be in order, to celebrate the locally invented beverage, which has been enjoyed by millions since the 1880s. You can also enjoy some guided horseback riding through rugged Texas country, catch a river cruise on the Brazos, enjoy the famous Magnolia Market, or sip some real Texas Whiskey at Balcones Distilling. Or, if you prefer to step a little further back in time, you might enjoy the Waco Mammoth National Monument, considered to be one of the most important mammoth sites in the country.

A little over 60 miles east of Austin along highway 71 is the historic town of La Grange, a very quaint town with a rich past. Check out the historic Faison House and the Texas Quilt Museum. But be careful crossing the street in old La Grange or you could end up in the Old Fayette County Jail. There’s also a classic dairy farm, a country store and the old Swiss Alp Dance Hall should you feel like some old-fashioned boot scootin’.

Whether you head north, south, east or west  this summer, it’s sure to be hot so be sure to bring along plenty of water and an adventurous spirit. If you’re in an electric vehicle here’s a link to a terrific resource for locating charging stations throughout the state.

For more tips on summer driving adventures in Texas visit here.

Have a safe and fun driving adventure this summer!