The standard road trip rules apply: stop as many times as you like, cruise through the hills, look around at antiques, wineries, memorabilia, and souvenir stores. But there’s one caveat – you won’t want it to end. And in your RV, it won’t have to! Without the worry on where to stay and at what price, your options for parking your home-away-from-home are limitless, and so is your time to enjoy the ride. Why not enjoy the Texas Hill Country in an RV or travel trailer and let the local sights, sounds and people be your guide?
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RV There Yet? A Texas Hill Country RV and Travel Trailer Trip
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Austin
Photo: www.seesawaustin.com
Start with a standard day one gateway to the Hill Country via the city of Austin. Downtown Austin can be wrapped up in a walking tour with parking for your RV in one of the many open parking lots on Red River Street between 6th and 7th. Start with places like the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, chronicling the history of the state in three themes: “Land” on the first floor, identifying first inhabitants and early explorers; “Identity” on the second floor, outlining how Texas fought to be an independent nation, then the 28th state, followed by its joining the Confederacy in the Civil War; and, “Opportunity” on the third floor, which explains the Texas approach to everything, from commerce to life choices, including contributions to technology, medicine and space. This will more than likely take up the majority of your morning, so plan to look for lunch after this.
Texas State History
Photo: Wikipedia
For your repast, consider a trip down Guadalupe Street for several options, and then plan your next stop at the Texas State Capitol or try visiting the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. Each place will require a minimum of one hour of your time in order to take in everything and not feel rushed. After these adventures, it’s time to plan for dinner and where you’ll want to camp for the night. You can consider eating at one of the many restaurants and cafes in Austin, or you may want to try your dinner a la bonfire… the choice is all yours! For RV and travel trailer park options in the Austin area, you can visit Google for a search, or check out the local KOA’s.
Pedernales Falls
Photo: www.beg.utexas.edu
On day two, head out of Austin on the westbound US 290 towards Johnson City. Take a tour to Pedernales Falls State Park along the way, the focal point of which is the falls themselves that drop 50 ft. over their limestone lip. You can also swim, hike, and bird watch in the park, and if you prefer, you can camp there as well.
Johnson City
Photo: www.nps.gov
Next stop is, of course, Johnson City, which (no surprise) is all about the Johnson family and President LBJ. Here you should consider visiting the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, the Johnson Settlement and the LBJ Ranch (which includes the Texas Whitehouse where he conducted his official presidential business while in Texas.)
Fredericksburg
Photo: www.texasdaytripper.com
Consider going on to Fredericksburg from here for lunch and more sight-seeing as well as to plan your second night’s stay-over. Fredericksburg is quaint, with an old German appeal derived from the influence of its original immigrants. Complete with period-designed storefronts, gift shops and cafes, there is much to see and shop at as you look to find one of the many great places to eat. After lunch you can check out the National Museum of the Pacific War and progress to one of the numerous wineries that surround Fredericksburg, a listing of which can be found at visitfredericksburgtx.com. For RV accommodations in this area, consider Fredericksburg RV Park or one of the many parks listed at campingroadtrip.com.
Enchanted Rock
Photo: www.reddit.com
For day three, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is within your vicinity if you wish to take a side trip north on Ranch Road 965, and comes highly recommended; however, consider doing this on a moderate-temperature day considering the levels of heat that the rock itself, not to mention the surrounding area, can climb, too.
On the Road Again
Photo: onlyinyourstate.com
If you’re driving south from Fredericksburg, you have a choice of Texas Hwy. 16 to Kerrville or US Hwy. 87 to Comfort, both of which are Hill Country gems. In Kerrville, you can visit the Museum of Western Art as well as walk the Kerrville River Trail. You can also try one of the many great places to eat such as Rail’s, Mamacita’s, or Billy Gene’s. In Comfort, you can visit more great wineries as well as a distillery, and for a historical perspective, see the Treue Der Union Monument. Comfort is also full of fantastic antique shopping as well as pottery and art.
Joshua Springs Park and Preserve
Photo: chriswallendorf.tumblr.com
Heading south on Hwy. 10 towards San Antonio, the Joshua Springs Park and Preserve is a welcomed respite after a long day of touring. It provides walking trails, fishing opportunities, canoeing and kayaking, a pavilion for group activities, as well as an event center.
From Joshua Springs Park, parking your RV or travel trailer for day three is now as easy as making the 40-mile trek onward to San Antonio. Again, you can Google search for a park in the area of the city or you can visit campingroadtrip.com.
San Antonio
Photo: onewanderingpoet.wordpress.com
On day four, consider parking your motor home or travel trailer at the Institute of Texan Cultures. From here, it’s a short walking distance to the Alamo, where you can easily spend two hours taking in all of the history and peaceful scenery. From here you could take in the Tower of the Americas, which has a breathtaking 750-ft. view of downtown San Antonio (where you can view Hill Country to the northwest from the observation deck.) After this, mosey on over to the River Walk, which is centrally located in the business district, directly off Commerce St. Here you will find plenty of restaurants, bars, shopping, and art in an easy-to-maneuver atmosphere.
End your day at your choice of bar or restaurant atmospheres and consider using your current campground as your base for tomorrow, or switch to one of the many that are available in the San Antonio area (noted above) including KOA.
Natural Bridge Caverns and Gruene
Photo: Wikipedia
Finally, on day five of this proposed RV or travel trailer trip, start by heading north out of San Antonio on the I-35 to exit 175, Natural Bridge Cavern Road, until you arrive at the Natural Bridge Caverns. Here, novice spelunkers and tourists in general get the chance to participate in guided tours that bring visitors 180 feet subterranean through underground rooms and passages, past stalagmites, stalactites. Next door to the caverns is The Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, a 450-acre safari offering visitors the ability to drive through the facility feeding wild animals (something you may want to call ahead about considering your RV or travel trailer circumstances) or do a smaller “walkabout tour”. There are over 40 species of native, exotic, and endangered wildlife to view, as well as a restaurant, sweet shop and souvenir store. After a stopover here, consider traveling to Gruene where you’ll encounter many historic buildings, lots of antique shopping, scenic parks, natural springs. and your choice of the numerous restaurant options. While you’re there, maybe spin your partner around the dance floor at Gruene Hall.
And there you have it – a sampling of a five-day RV or travel trailer excursion through Hill Country! There are so many more options and plans you can make for places to stay and things to do while in your motor home or towing a travel trailer. Keep your eye on texashillcountry.com for sight-seeing excursions, beautiful scenery and places to stay, and make sure you check out AAA, KOA, Google and Campingroadtrip.com for more assistance. Happy trails!
