The Texas Hill Country towns have been some of our favorite road trip stops so far. We imagined driving from one large city in Texas to the next with boring stretches of road in between, but that couldn’t be further from reality in the southeastern part of the state.
In the area around Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, there are dozens of historic Main Streets just begging to be explored. Places where you just feel like neighbors know each other, and Friday night football games are huge social events. With signs featuring live music and wine tasting every few miles, it was hard to pick just a few favorites to share.
What is the Hill Country in Texas?
The Texas Hill Country is a region of the state in the Central and South. It’s considered the border between the South and the Southwest regions of the United States. While driving through this area, you’ll enjoy peaks and hills made of limestone and granite. To the east are the large cities, and to the west are Big Bend National Park and the desert region.
Towns in this region have an interesting mix of Spanish and German influences. Even though it’s a rural area, you’ll find some incredible food and drink options. There aren’t many places where you can get fantastic Mexican food, traditional Texas Pit BBQ, or a German feast in the same town.
Hill Country is also the center of the Texas wine industry. Visit one of the 50 different vineyards and wineries in the area. Come in the spring and witness the fields of Texas Bluebonnets for the most beautiful views.
The Top Five Texas Hill Country Towns
While the Texas Hill Country is a vast area, there are a few towns that we absolutely loved spending some time in while road-tripping across Texas. Each has a unique personality and can be explored in an hour or a weekend, so enjoy the journey.
Brenham, Texas
Situated between Houston and Austin, this town is a great day trip location. It is famously the home of Blue Bell Ice Cream, which is open for tours and tasting during the week. Bluebonnets are another big draw for this area in the springtime when fields of color explode all around the town. It is also home to the World’s Largest BBQ Pit.
Wired and Inspired is our favorite stop in town. It’s a coffee shop meets gift shop meets cafe with the friendliest and most accommodating baristas. They offered us about 1,000 choices for our caffeinated beverages, and we hung out and explored their great shop for a while. The historic downtown area offers lots of home decor shops, vintage stores, and a great bookstore, the Book Nook.
Round Top, Texas
With a population of 90, this small town definitely surprised us. It’s located just a short drive from Brenham on the way to Austin. Famous for its antique shopping, the town is especially crowded in the spring when it hosts the annual antique fair. There is more to see in this adorable town than just old items, there is also wine and some gorgeous scenery.
We found our way to Blue Mule Winery. The owners use old family photos as labels, and each one has a story. They also have a beautiful farm with rescued Alpacas and Burros to pet and tons of Chickens running wild. Make sure to plan a visit there while in town.
Spend a weekend at this insanely cool hotel made out of shipping containers and near all the cool wineries and antique spots. Check rates and book your stay here.
Gruene, Texas
This is a town within a town. New Braunfels is a bigger town between Austin and San Antonio. Hidden within the town limits are a few small streets on the river that make up the historic Gruene (pronounced Green) district. Visit the oldest dance hall in Texas, which is famous for hosting all kinds of huge music acts like Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, and George Strait.
We enjoyed lunch at Cantina del Rio and then wandered in and out of the souvenir shops and antique stores in town. There are lots of free samples being handed out, which is always a good sign. This is a great day trip or even an overnight if you want to catch a live show.
Luckenbach, Texas
Technically, this is an unincorporated community, but it just had to be on the list. With a Saloon and General Store that have been open since the mid-1880s, it is worth a visit. We pulled into “town” and drove by some campgrounds that looked wonderful. It’s famous for being a music venue and would be another great place to go for a weekend of music, drinks, and dancing.
The town itself was sold in the 1970s for $30,000 and listed as a town with a population of 3. It was a ghost town by then, but it has been revitalized as a destination for music lovers and road-trippers. You can buy some great souvenirs here, including the town’s 8-page newspaper.
Check out the rentals if you want to stay a few nights in this quirky town.
It wouldn’t be a visit to the town if you aren’t listening to this song while driving the “town loop.”
Fredericksburg, Texas
This larger town is one of the most popular Texas Hill Country towns. It’s located near Luckenbach and is a great place to base yourself for a long weekend or before making the trek west across the great state of Texas. The downtown area has a few blocks of restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping. It is pretty easy to pick up on the German ancestry of the town as well.
Stay at one of the incredible options within walking distance from downtown. The best options include the Wine Country Cottages, Baron’s Creekside Resort, or the Fredericksburg Inn and Suites.
The Willow City Loop is a gorgeous drive north of the town that takes you past some beautiful scenic overlooks. Enchanted Rock is another spot nearby that is a great place for outdoor lovers. Wineries are scattered throughout the hills surrounding the town, so there is plenty to keep visitors occupied.
Plan Your Road Trip to the Best Texas Hill Country Towns
Road-tripping in Texas was so much different than we were originally anticipating. There are so many places to explore. After leaving this region of Texas, we headed west and found a whole different set of places to fall in love with. Getting some sunshine in February was an added bonus.
Have you visited this region before? What are your favorite Texas spots?
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