In search of a memorable destination? Visit the Texas Hill Country and discover what truly makes it the heart of the Lone Star State.
Maybe you’re thinking that it might be time to visit the Texas Hill Country?
Good news: We definitely can help you explore that idea a little further.
Because we’ve come to know it pretty well, we know there’s a lot to recommend it.
Yes, whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, we’ve got an overview of when to visit, where to go, where to sleep and what to do.
We’ve peppered this story, too, with links to some of our own, older articles—all in hopes of giving you a fuller picture of what travel is like here.
Now, let’s take a closer look at why you should visit the Texas Hill Country.
Note: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted some of these events and destinations. So, be sure to dig a deeper to know what’s what in this “new normal”—and how recent changes may impact your own travel plans.
Where to find the Texas Hill Country
Technically speaking, the Hill Country is a geographic region of Central and South Texas and part of the Edwards Plateau. Ours is a karst landscape, one that sits atop a water-soluble, rocky base. Our famous hills are made of limestone, and you can see the land’s uplift along the Balcones Escarpment. This fault runs a rough curve from far west Austin to far north San Antonio.
Water comes from an aquifer beneath the limestone. Temperature extremes mean the land, fauna and flora are rugged. It’s clear that this is where the American south meets the American southwest.
For us, however, the Texas Hill Country is more than a patch of land.
It’s a state of mind.
See, our region is a striking contrast of old and new, urban and rural, high rise and down home. Remarkably, the area’s diverse people pull it all together beautifully, creating an authentic, vibrant region that attracts people from all over the world—as it has for hundreds of years.
Best times to visit the Texas Hill Country
Spoiler alert: Any time of year is a good time!
Spring brings our famous wildflowers and major events like Fiesta (San Antonio), SXSW (Austin) and L.E.A.F. (Llano).
Summer is good for strolls down the Alamo City’s famous River Walk, experiencing the smaller rural rodeos, and visits to popular swimming holes (Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs) and major outdoor attractions like Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels).
Many locals consider fall the loveliest time of year, and there’s fun to be had with Halloween and Día de los Muertos.
Come winter, the old year winds down with an abundance of Christmas lights and a range of NYE festivities. The new year starts up with livestock shows and rodeos in Austin and San Antonio.
A few things to note:
- If you’re planning to move much beyond the major cities, you’ll need a car to get around—but daytrips are easy to take.
- Some places are dog friendly.
- Summer can get hot, especially after the Fourth of July. We’re not talking warm, y’all. We’re talking triple-digits Fahrenheit hot. Plus, there’s often one or two icy days around the start of the year. These temperature extremes can impact travel and travelers.
- Because Austin and San Antonio—the two largest cities—are popular with conventioneers and sports fans, it can be hard to find a room at times. And restaurants, roadways and tourist centers can be cramped, too. That’s why we encourage people to time their visits carefully, checking event calendars at local convention and visitors’ bureaus for major events coinciding with scheduled trips.
How to get here and where to go
The biggest cities in this part of Texas are Austin and San Antonio, both of which have major airports. You can also drive in from, well, just about anywhere—including Dallas and Houston.
The two largest Hill Country cities have different vibes: Austin has a more high-end modern feel; San Antonio is lower key and has more of a historical focus. Typically, San Antonio is regarded as the main gateway to the Texas Hill Country, but Austin can be a great starting point, too. Got time to visit both? They each have their own charms.
Between Austin and San Antonio on the IH-25 corridor are the smaller cities of San Marcos and New Braunfels—both of which feature river access, if tubing is your thing. San Marcos is very much a college town. New Braunfels is deeply rooted in its German history. Both have charming downtowns.
Fredericksburg is considered “the” Hill Country destination of choice. Long a sleepy rural community, F’burg became popular with tourists after the 1976 American Bicentennial. Loaded with quaint shops and busy wine-tasting rooms, it now can feel a bit too popular for some, especially those folks who crave a lower-key adventure.
Thankfully, smaller places like Blanco, Boerne, Llano, Marble Falls, Castroville and San Saba are picking up the slack. Each one offers slightly different insights into the region—as our stories demonstrate.
Now, for a full confession: We’ve grown very partial to Johnson City, which does a good job of bridging past and present in exciting ways. (More about that in a minute.)
>>See more trip planning resources
What to see and do
On any given week day or weekend, there’s usually a lot going on in the region.
Because the weather is nice much of the year, festivals are common—including the big-name ones held in Austin (SXSW and Austin City Limits Music Festival) and San Antonio (Fiesta).
But here’s a quick sample of other activities you might try:
- Enjoying the famous wildflowers
- Visiting to art museums and cultural organizations, including some darling small ones
- Exploring art galleries and studios, especially near Johnson City
- Touring wineries and fine-dining establishments
- Spending time at a lake
- Listening to live music at a historic dance hall or big city event venue
- Ducking into the state’s oldest bakery or tucking into a brew pub meal
- Seeing our 5 favorite area destinations
- Taking the kids to Johnson City’s STEM-centered science museum
- Hiking in nature at the area’s parks or stacking rocks in the Llano River
- Shopping at major department stores, the San Marcos outlet mall or in downtown Fredericksburg, Boerne or San Saba
Sound like fun? Now you know why so many people visit the Texas Hill Country every year—and even more of us call this place “home.”
>> See 2020 events and festivals
Where to stay
As you’re planning to visit the Texas Hill Country, finding the right place to rest your head is essential. From fancy hotels to charming Airbnb rentals, there’s plenty to choose from.
Again, in the larger communities, conventions and sporting events can make it harder to find a hotel or motel room. But smaller towns—especially places like Fredericksburg and San Marcos—can fill up, too, especially when the weather is nice near Easter and Halloween.
Looking for our best recommendations on where to stay?
We’ve got quite a few:
- Romantic getaways
- 10 best getaways
- Unusual places to stay
- Some of our favorite Airbnb options and other distinctive accommodations can be found in Fredericksburg, Llano, San Saba, Cherokee, Stonewall.
>> For learn about our latest Texas Hill Country finds, get our free monthly newsletter.
Explore more
Hopefully this article has sparked your interest in traveling to our neck of the woods.
Finally, to help you better plan your visit to the Texas Hill Country, we recommend the following resources via Amazon. Disclosure: Please see our Amazon Affiliates disclosure statement at the bottom of the page.
