Looking for fun day trips from Austin? Check out this list of 21 day trip ideas in Central Texas! The list is broken down by distance from Austin:
- Less than 30 minutes away
- 30 – 45 minutes away
- 1 hour away
- Under 2 hours away
Happy day trip planning! Don’t forget to make sure your car is road trip ready and check out these super helpful apps to download before your next driving adventure!
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Day Trips From Austin That Are Less Than 30 Minutes Away
Driftwood Wineries + The Salt Lick
Looking for a fun day trip from Austin with friends? Head to Driftwood and enjoy some amazing wine, brewery, and distillery tours! Stopping for BBQ at The Salt Lick is a MUST.
Distance from Austin: About 30 minutes southwest
McKinney Falls State Park
McKinney Falls State Park is filled with winding trails and beautiful waterfalls. You can do it all here: hike, bike, fish and swim! Check out their interactive trail maps and plan your next Austin day trip.
Distance from Austin: About 15 minutes southeast
Dripping Springs Wine Tour
Dripping Springs is a great day trip destination! You can check out the area’s wineries, or do something a little different… tour the Texas Olive Industry Orchard!
Distance from Austin: About 30 minutes southwest
Bastrop, TX
Bastrop is said to be “the most historic small town in Texas.” There are tons of things to do, like exploring their historic downtown, zip line at Lost Pines, hike in Bastrop State Park and more! Visit their website for more ideas.
Distance from Austin: About 30 minutes east
Lockhart, TX
Lockhart is another great day trip from Austin for anyone who loves BBQ! The must do things in Lockhart, TX are:
Distance from Austin: About 30 minutes southeast
Day Trips From Austin That Are 30 - 45 Minutes Away
Lake Travis, TX
I absolutely love spending the day out at Lake Travis. Rent a boat and spend the day at the lake or check out The Oasis on Lake Travis – an iconic restaurant with an amazing view!
Distance from Austin: About 40 minutes away
Blue Hole in Wimberly
A hidden gem near Wimberly, Blue Hole Regional Park is just a short drive South of Austin and a great place to spend the day!
Distance from Austin: About 45 minutes
Hamilton Pool
Hamilton Pool is a beautiful natural pool located just outside of Austin. As they are trying to preserve it, you now have to reserve a spot ahead of time. Reservations are $11 online ahead of time, and then $15 per vehicle when your arrive — CASH ONLY. To learn more or schedule a reservation, visit their website.
Distance: About 45 minutes west of Austin
Float the River
If you haven’t floated the river, you can’t really call yourself a true Texan 😉 There are three rivers in the area you can float…
San Marcos River
The San Marcos river is popular with Austinites since it’s the closest, only about 40 minutes away. There are several tube rental companies:
Comal River
The Comal River is a very popular float because it’s only 3 miles long and usually has a lot of shade. There are several tube rental companies:
Distance from Austin: About 50 minutes south
Guadalupe River
The Guadaupe River is arguably the most popular river tubing spot in Texas! With two-hour, three-hour, or six-hour float options, this river will take you all through Central Texas! These are just a few of the companies that offer tube rentals:
Krause Springs
Krause Springs is a camping and swimming hole about 30 miles northwest of Austin. It’s a perfect day trip for a hot summer day! Below photo by Brian P. Barnes.
Distance from Austin: about 50 minutes west
Cypress Valley Canopy Tours
Cypress Valley Canopy Tours offers awesome zip lining tours that includes 5 ziplines, 2 sky bridges, and a rappel and lasts from 90 minutes to two hours. (photo below from their Facebook)
Distance from Austin: about 40 minutes northwest
Day Trips From Austin That Are 1-Hour Away
New Braunfels
Located about an hour South of Austin, New Braunfels is a great day trip for families and friends alike! There are tons of things to do, here are just a few favorites:
Distance from Austin: About 50 minutes
Gruene, TX
A historic district in New Braunfels, Gruene, has lots of great things to do on a day trip:
Distance from Austin: About 50 minutes south
Jacob’s Well near Seguin, TX
Jacob’s Well Natural Area is a great swimming hole in the Hill Country that’s worth the drive from Austin. This artesian spring releases thousands of gallons of water a day!
Distance from Austin: about 55 minutes southeast
Marble Falls
Marble Falls is a cute small town located about an hour outside of Austin. Situated on Lake Marble Falls, there are plenty of outdoor activities to partake in:
Distance from Austin: about 1-hour northwest
Day Trips From Austin That Are Less Than 2 Hours Away
Enchanted Rock
Enchanted Rock is a great choice for anyone looking for an outdoorsy day trip from Austin — there are over 11 miles of trails! You do have to pay an entrance fee and can make a reservation online beforehand.
Distance from Austin: 1 hour and 45 minutes west
Round Top, TX
If you’re into shopping, Round Top, TX is the day trip for you! From antiques, to handcrafted good, there are tons of shopping options to choose from. Photo below from their Facebook page.
Distance from Austin: 1 hour and 20 minutes west
Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake is another great day trip destination from Austin! Rent a boat and spend the day relaxing on the water.
Distance from Austin: 1 hour and 20 minutes southwest
Magnolia Market in Waco, TX
Made famous by the HGTC show “Fixer Upper,” Magnolia Market in Waco, TX makes for a great girls day trip idea from Austin! Photo below is from their Facebook page.
Distance from Austin: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is a super popular day trip destination! There is so much history in this small town, and tons of things to do:
Distance from Austin: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas
If you’re a fan of Shiner Beer, take a day trip down to Shiner, Texas and tour the Spoetzl Brewery! For more information on tours, visit their website.
Distance from Austin: 1 hour and 30 minutes southeast
Luckenbach
Made famous by Willie Nelson, some say Luckenbach is the heart and soul of Texas. Located right outside of Fredericksburg, the Luckenbach Texas General Store, Bar and Dancehall is a must visit! Photo below by Gino on flickr.
Distance from Austin: about an hour and a half southwest of Austin
Happy day tripping! What are your favorite day trips from Austin? Let me know in the comments or send me a DM on Instagram!
xx Chels
Great post 😁
Thank you 😊😊
The food looks awesome! Thanks for sharing. Stay safe. Greetings from London.
Thank you so much! Hope you are staying safe as well!
Quick edit. It’s Lockhart, not Lockheart 🙂
Whoops! Good catch, thank you!!