Lately it seems like more and more families have been making San Antonio their vacation destination. The Alamo, Riverwalk, and fabulous Mexican cuisine all bring visitors to this vibrant Texas city. However, there are plenty of amazing day trips from San Antonio.
The surrounding Hill Country is gorgeous and filled with amazing things to see and do. Whether you are a local or a visitor, this guide ot the best day trips form San Antonio will keep you coming back for more.
Looking for things to do in town? Check out our guide to the best things to do in San Antonio with kids.
12 Great Day Trips from San Antonio
1. Live the Strange Life in Austin
You can’t pass up the opportunity to visit a place whose motto is, “Keep Austin weird.” Check out Austin’s stunning State Capitol Building or take a stroll through the University of Texas campus.
Of course, you will want to listen to live music while you are in town. Central Market North s the ultimate kid-friendly music venue as there is a huge playground right next to the stage.
For a wide variety of activities all in one place, spend a day at Zilker Park where you can ride the miniature train, swim in Barton Springs pool, eat a picnic lunch, check out the walking path that hugs the river, and run around at the playground. You can even rent kayaks and paddle around and enjoy the skyline.
Read our full guide to things to do in Austin with kids.
2. Explore the Shops and Waterways of San Marcos
Just south of Austin, you’ll find the town of San Marcos, home to Texas State University and their glass-bottom boats. A tour guide will tell you all about the spring-fed waterway and the plants and animals that inhabit it. You can actually see the spring water bubbling up from the ground through the crystal clear water.
While you’re there, check out the small aquarium near the boarding area. On the way out of town, do some shopping at Prime Outlets and Tanger Outlets, two malls located just off I-35.
3. Mosey on Down to Bandera
The Cowboy Capital of the World, Bandera is a must-visit for families who have an aspiring cowboy or cowgirl. Stop by the old-fashioned general store located downtown and have a soda or an ice cream.
You will find the best apple pie in Texas at Love Creek Orchards. You may be able to pick your own apples, blackberries, or figs, depending on the season.
History lovers will want to take a look at St. Stanislaus Church and the Bandera County Courthouse, both of which are Texas Historic Landmarks. Be sure to visit the Frontier Times Museum, where you’ll see everything from 19th-century dental equipment to seashells.
On Saturdays, don’t miss the Bandera Cattle Company gunfighter show at the Bandera Visitor’s Center.
4. Spend the Day Hiking at Enchanted Rock
The best place to hike, climb, and explore in Hill Country is Enchanted Rock, a massive pink granite dome that stands 425 feet above the surrounding area.
Trails go both around the rock as well as straight to the top. Kids have a blast racing their way up to the top of the boulder and there are even little caves and crevices waiting to be explored. Head here during the cool season when rain isn’t in the forecast.
Since this destination has become very popular over the years, they now require day-use reservations. Adults must pay a $8 fee but children under 12 are free.
5. Choose Your Own Adventure in Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is one of my favorite towns in Texas because it has a rich history and lots of different things to do. The region was founded by German immigrant farmers, and their heritage is still very present in the historic buildings and homes as well as the culture of the town.
Visit the Pioneer Museum on Main Street to see nearly a dozen historic structures that are open for exploration and decorated to serve as a time capsule of life in the region during the 1800s. More history is ripe for discovery at The National Museum of the Pacific War. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, is one of Fredericksburg’s most revered native sons.
Animal encounters can be found at Longneck Manor which is home to rhinos, giraffes, and Bruno the sloth. You can also meet elephants and even give them a bath at The Elephant Experience.
Several Fredericksburg area wineries welcome families with children, like Texas Wine Collective which has a large outdoor area to enjoy as you sample your flight and Rhinory, a winery that has Southern White Rhinos which you can meet while on property!
Shoppers will want to head to Main Street which is lined with unique shops and restaurants- no big chains here!. Head to Chocolat and Oro Bianco for sweet treats. Fischer and Wieser on Main is a “must visit” for those sample (and buy) all sorts of tasty sauces, jams, dips, meal starters, and more.
Looking for a beautiful gift or classic German Christmas pyramids and hand-blown ornaments? Then definitely make time to stop in The Grasshopper. Kids will definitely want to check out the vintage-style soda fountain and 50 flavors of popcorn at Big Pop’s Candy & Popcorn.
Read our full guide to a Fredericksburg family getaway to discover all there is to do in this charming town.
Fredericksburg is one of the stops on this great Texas Hill Country road trip itinerary.
6. Make a Splash in New Braunfels
There is so much to do in New Braunfels that it will require a few different day trips from San Antonio to do it all!
First, you will definitely want to visit the original Schlitterbahn Water Park. The park is massive, and it will take at least one full day to do it all. Many of the slides and pools are nestled into the natural contours of the land, river, and old growth trees. There is even a slide that dumps into the river!
Want a more natural tubing experience? You can float both the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers with one of many tour companies that will drop you off at one spot and pick you up later down river.
New Braunfels is also home to Natural Bridge Caverns and Wildlife Park. It is basically two different parks in one. There are cave tours, a ropes course, and zip line on the caverns side and a drive-through safari on the wildlife park side.
7. Experience Even More Hill Country Fun in Boerne
Boerne’s German and Czech cultural heritage is apparent up and down Main Street, so why not emrbance it? Head to Little Gretel for sausage, beer, and kolaches.
After all that great food you will probably want to walk off some of the calories to take a stroll along the Cibolo Creek Trail toward downtown to see the shops along Main Street.
If you are craving more natural beauty along banks of Cibolo Creek, head to the Cibolo Creek Nature Center for more. If the Texas heat starts getting to you, find refuge inside the Cave Without A Name.
Even you are looking to extend your day even further, check out The Tejas Rodeo and Steakhouse Saloon for a family-friendly dinner and show. The rodeo takes place about 30 minutes outside of Boerne every Saturday evening March through November.
8. Cool off at Blanco State Park
The summer heat in Texas can be relentless, so this daytrip from San Antonio is designed to help you beat the heat.
Blanco State Park is located along the Blanco River and a great place to bring some inner tubes and float the day away. If you forget your inner tubes, you can rent them from the park store. Small children can splash the day away in the shallow wading pool next to Falls Dam.
This lovely park has plenty of cedar and pecan trees, There are also screened shelters for picnicking, nature trails and even a wildlife viewing station. This is also a fun place to do some fishing with bass, trout, and catfish up for grabs and no license needed if you fish from the shore.
9. Get Some of the Best BBQ in Texas in Driftwood
You can’t visit Texas without enjoying some authentic Texas BBQ and the grandaddy of them all, The Salt Lick BBQ, is located in Driftwood.
In addition to some of the best bbq on the planet (I recommend the family style option), there is indoor and outdoor seating, a playground for the kids, wine tasting at Salt Lick Cellars in the same complex, and a store where you can purchase some of the legendary bbq sauce to bring home. They also often have live music playing, especially on weekends.
10. Learn Some Presidential History in Johnson City
Johnson City is home to the childhood home of our 36th president, Lyndon B. Johnson. Families can take a tour of the ranch (which is technically in the unincorporated community of Stonewall) as well as visit the living history farm where docents are dressed in period clothing while they take care of the animals and make food.
Families always get a kick out of the bison and longhorn cattle that call the ranch home, and it is especially lovely during Texas wildflower season.
Discover living history and more farm animals at the Sauer-Beckman Living History Farmstead .This working farm recreates life in the 1800s when Germans settled Hill Country. Kids can participate in activities such as egg collecting, cotton picking, and water fetching from the well.
Pedernales Falls State Park is also near Johnson City and a great place for rock jumping, hiking, and swimming. The falls are seasonal but when they are runnning, they are a beautiful site.
11. Head to One of Wimberley’s Swimming Holes
Wimberley is home to two of the most beautiful and popular swimming holes in the state. As a matter of fact, they are so popular that they have reservation systems in place to keep crowds at bay.
Blue Hole’s swimming reservation system opens on March 1st and the swimming season opens in May. Families have a blast swing on the ropes swings, swimming in crystal clear water, sunbathing on the grassy swim lawn which is shaded with cypress trees.
Jacob’s Well is another great swimming hole in town. It’s a 15-minute walk form the parking area to the swimming hole (sturdy soled shoes are recommended because the limestone stairs can be slippery when wet), but you will be rewarded with more crystal clear water. The swimming season at Jacob’s Well runs from May 1 to September 30 each year.
Trekaroo Tip: If you stop to grab a bite to eat dowtown, be on the lookout for the 30 painted boots statues around town.
12. Admire Brilliant Fall Foliage at Lost Maples Natural Area
Fall in Texas begins in the second half of October and Lost Maples State Natural Area, about two hours from San Antonio when the reds and yellows is a great place to spend the weekend leaf peeping.
Hike, camp, bike, fish, and bird watch in this 2100-acre state park, all while enjoying Big Tooth Maple Trees showing off their colors. Fall foliage tends peak in Sabinal Canyon, where Lost Maples is located, in early November. Monitor the foliage report to best time your visit.
Lost Maples State Natural Area made our list of the best state parks in Texas. Be sure to read our guide to Texas fall foliage to make sure you don’t miss any of the best spots in the state for leef peeping.
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I was first attracted to the world of blogging because I was a mother of infant twins and I wanted to show others that if I could travel with two young kids and expose them to many adventures that would shape their lives, then so could they! I received my degree in Communications from UC Davis in 2000 and have had a passion for writing since I learned to use a #2 pencil many moons ago.
I am proud to have been featured as a top family travel writer by USA Today and have been featured in the Orange County Register, Huffington Post, CBS LA, MSNBC, Backpacker Magazine, and countless other publications over the years. I have also had the joy of working as a writer for some of my local tourism bureaus, Destination Irvine and Visit Anaheim, as well as providing my expertise on many projects including building family travel tourism in Peru and family-focused articles for Vail Resorts.
I have worked with the biggest players in the family travel industry including Disney Resorts, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Marriott, Hilton, Adventures by Disney, KOA, Visit Britain, Visit Norway, Visit California, Visit Florida, and so many more amazing organizations than I have space to list.
I currently live in Orange County, CA with my husband, twin son and daughter (who are now Seniors in high school!), three rescue dogs, and one rescue cat. My favorite things (besides travel) are the San Francisco 49ers, animal rescue, Mexican food, being outside, being crafty, and my ridiculously large crystal and mineral collection.
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