Texas
Small-Town Weekend Getaways from Austin
Hill Country swimming holes, German wine country, and desert art meccas, Texas is bigger than you think.
The short version
Small towns near Austin worth a 48-hour trip
The Hill Country west of Austin is one of the most underrated weekend-trip regions in the country. Within two to three hours you get spring-fed swimming holes, a German wine town, an art-desert outpost, and limestone ranch country. These are weekend trips from Austin built on swimming, barbecue, and small-town Texas character.
Wimberley (1 hour) is the swimming-hole town, built around the spring-fed Blue Hole and Jacob's Well. Fredericksburg (1.5 hours) is the German-settled wine town on US-290, with tasting rooms and a walkable Main Street. Dripping Springs (45 minutes) is the closest Hill Country base, known for distilleries and limestone ranch weddings. And Marfa (6 hours, for the dedicated) is the far-west desert art town anchored by the Chinati Foundation, worth the long drive for a longer weekend.
The roundup
3 Best Weekend Escapes Near Austin | 48-Hour Trip Ideas
From spring-fed swims to Hill Country pours to a far-west food detour, these are the small-town getaways Austin can actually pull off in one weekend.
Read the guide →All Austin escapes
4 weekend trip ideas from Austin, sorted by how far you have to drive. Vibes covered: nature, wine, food.
Under 1 hour
2 escapes from Austin
1 to 2 hours
1 escape from Austin
2+ hours
1 escape from Austin
Questions & Answers
Austin weekend FAQ
Dripping Springs (45 minutes), Wimberley (1 hour), and Fredericksburg (1.5 hours) are the strongest Hill Country weekend trips from Austin. Marfa is a farther desert art destination best for a long weekend at about 6 hours.
Fredericksburg, about 1.5 hours west of Austin on US-290, is the heart of Texas wine country, with dozens of tasting rooms in a walkable German-settled downtown.
Wimberley, about 1 hour from Austin, is built around spring-fed swimming holes including the Blue Hole and Jacob's Well, both fed by the Trinity aquifer and clearest in summer.
Dripping Springs (45 minutes, distilleries and limestone ranch country), Wimberley (1 hour, spring-fed swimming holes), and Fredericksburg (1.5 hours, German wine town) are the best weekend getaways from Austin, with Marfa a longer desert art option.