21 EPIC Day Trips From Austin With Kids!
You really never have to worry about running out of things to do with kids in Austin because as soon as you’ve exhausted this list, you can just drive over to the next small Texas town! Sure, our state is MASSIVE and you can’t drive to a different state in a single afternoon (like our friends on the east coast.) But you can explore so much of Texas with your children while making a fun day trip out of it. Here are some of the best options for day trips from Austin with kids.
If you’re starting to fill up your summer schedule with things to do with your little ones while school is out, go ahead and pick a few options from below. Read through these day trip ideas and choose a couple that look fun for your family. (Use the map below to see the distance from Austin, and I’ll also include the estimated driving time under each city.)
And then put them on your summer calendar! I always try to do this sort of thing in late May - early July because the end of July and August are just too hot to do anything except swim and stay in the air conditioning. Day trips are an excellent “early summer” activity in Austin.
Sure, it’s fun to take big week-long trips across the country. But when time or finances don’t allow for that, you can create amazing memories with your family by taking a day trip from Austin with your children and turning it into something really special. Best of luck!
Best Day Trips From Austin With Kids
1. San Antonio
Distance from Austin: 80 miles (1 hr 25 min)
San Antonio is the 2nd largest city in Texas by population. It’s enormous, and there’s SO much to do in San Antonio! It’s also an incredibly easy drive from Austin. You just hop on I35 and drive straight down. If you can time it to avoid morning and evening rush hour, the drive can be pretty quick.
Enjoy playing at the DoSeum, San Antonio's fun kids museum, before walking by the river walk, seeing the Alamo, or just visiting a kid-friendly restaurant in San Antonio. Visitors can also stop by the San Antonio Zoo
I’ve actually shared a lot of fun things to do with kids in San Antonio on TheSanAntonioThings.com, so go ahead and check out this guide!
2. Waco
Distance from Austin: 102 miles (1 hr 36 min)
San Antonio is the 2nd largest city in Texas by population. It’s enormous, and there’s SO much to do in San Antonio! It’s also an incredibly easy drive from Austin. You just hop on I35 and drive straight down. If you can time it to avoid morning and evening rush hour, the drive can be pretty quick.
3. Dripping Springs
Distance from Austin: 24.5 miles (40 min)
If you live in Austin, Dripping Springs is an easy, fun, adventure-filled day trip from Austin. It’s incredibly close to Austin (less than an hour drive from most parts of the city.)
Dripping Springs has been growing a LOT in the last decade, and there are more and more housing developments, restaurant/retail space, and schools popping up than ever before. While it used to feel like you were “driving out” to the Hill country, Dripping Springs now just feels like a neighboring city to Austin.
But it’s still packed with excellent things to do with kids! Dripping Springs has a lot of fun outdoor adventures, like swimming holes and parks. It’s also where you’ll find a dense collection of family-friendly breweries that have food, playgrounds, and low-ABV drinks for the parents to enjoy.
4. Wimberley
Distance from Austin: 38.1 miles (47 min)
Most of the major Texas cities where you go to float the river are near a major highway or interstates…but Wimberley is a quiet Hill Country art town tucked away in the Hill Country. Yes, that means you’ll be driving on small roads to get there, but it’s also a quiet, peaceful place once you arrive.
There are some adorable shops, ice cream parlors, and fun restaurants, as well as lots of swimming holes and river areas to explore. Be sure to swim at Blue Hole Park in Wimberley where you can swim in icey cold river water at the base of giant Cypress trees. Plus, there are some cute boutique hotels in Wimberley in case you want to make it into a weekend getaway with your family.
5. New Braunfels
Distance from Austin: 48.2 miles (47 min)
This German town near Austin is known for its Wurst Fest every fall, but New Braunfels is actually SO much more than Bavarian food and lagers. It’s an excellent place to schedule a day trip with kids from Austin because it’s a very short drive south of Austin on I35.
New Braunfels has the destination-worthy McKenna Children’s Museum, the historic Landa Park with its epic swimming pool, and lots of fun bakeries and restaurants to check out.
6. Gruene
Distance from Austin: 45.9 miles (48 min)
Gruene is technically within New Braunfels city limits, but there are enough fun things to do in Gruene that you could make it its own day trip from Austin with kids.
Gruene is worth visiting for Gruene Hall alone! If your children are old enough to enjoy live music performances, this is a Texas bucket list item that every Texan has to see. Built in 1878, Gruene Hall is the oldest operating dance hall in Texas. People like George Strait, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, and Garth Brooks have played here.
7. Johnson City
Distance from Austin: 49.0 miles (1 hr 5 min)
Austinites love to travel to Johnson City with their kids to check out the Science MILL, an adorable kids science museum that’s tucked into this tiny Texas town.
After that, you can pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at Founders Park, or head out to get some authentic Texas BBQ at Ronnie’s before driving back to Austin. {Photo: Amy D, Yelp}
8. Bastrop
Distance from Austin: 33.3 miles (38 min)
Bastrop really has upped its tourism game lately! You might know this city as being home to the gorgeous Hyatt Lost Pines resort, but there’s so much more to do in Bastrop than simply stay at the resort.
There’s an epic Zip Line Park if you have big kids who are up for an adventure. There’s also a bunch of natural areas with fishing, camping, hiking, and swimming, and just general being-in-the-great-outdoors-ness. And be sure to check out the Dinosaur Park for HUGE life-size dino replicas that kids absolutely adore!
9. Seguin
Distance from Austin: 52.0 miles (1 hr)
Bastrop really has upped its tourism game lately! You might know this city as being home to the gorgeous Hyatt Lost Pines resort, but there’s so much more to do in Bastrop than simply stay at the resort.
There’s an epic Zip Line Park if you have big kids who are up for an adventure. There’s also a bunch of natural areas with fishing, camping, hiking, and swimming, and just general being-in-the-great-outdoors-ness. And be sure to check out the Dinosaur Park for HUGE life-size dino replicas that kids absolutely adore!
10. Boerne
Distance from Austin: 97.9 miles (1 hr 37 min)
Boerne isn’t just a great day trip from San Antonio…it’s also a wonderful place to visit if you’re driving from Austin. It’s a bit southwest of Austin, and you could easily pair this with a few other cities
If you love exploring caves and underground spaces, you’ll love Boerne. There’s also a few beautiful parks and playgrounds here, a downtown area with shops and restaurants and breweries, a skate park, and paddle boarding in Boerne city lake.
11. Fredericksburg
Distance from Austin: 79.2 miles (1 hr 43 min)
Most people think of Fredericksburg as a bachelorette destination or a couples’ getaway because of all the wineries. But think again! Fredericksburg is an AWESOME place to plan a day trip from Austin with your kids.
There’s obviously a lot of open land and great hiking (like enchanted rock). Fredericksburg is also home to a few animal preservations where you can bring your children to see rhinos, elephants, and giraffes. There are swimming pools and parks and playgrounds, and when you get hungry there are lots of kid-friendly places to eat.
And don’t forget about all the produce picking! Fredericksburg is famous for its peaches, so plan a day trip with the kids and pick a bunch of those juicy, delicious peaches to bring home at the end of the day.
12. Georgetown
Distance from Austin: 28.2 miles (32 min)
If you live far south in Austin, Georgetown definitely qualifies as a day trip from Austin. It’s about a 45 min drive from the southern edge of the city, and it’s full of all sorts of fun things to do with the kids and great Georgetown restaurants.
Be sure to bring swimsuits so you can jump in Blue Hole, and then fill up on delicious diner food at the essential Monument Cafe for lunch.
Wander around the town square and get some ice cream or shop for toys at the adorable shops. And then check out the show happening at Georgetown Palace Theatre - they often have family-friendly productions happening.
13. Lockhart
Distance from Austin: 28.2 miles (32 min)
Lockhart is packed with history…and BBQ! This Lockhart BBQ trail is pretty famous here in Texas. The goal is to eat at all 4 of the iconic Texas smokehouses in one day. (Good luck.)
But there’s also a town square with some adorable shopping, a historic library that’s worth visiting, a city park with a pool, and plenty of great places to eat that aren’t bbq, too.
14. Marble Falls
Distance from Austin: 48.4 miles (1 hr 2 min)
A day trip out to Marble Falls is the perfect kid-friendly adventure if you live in Texas! This small Texas town is so much fun to visit at almost any time of year. You’ve probably heard of Sweet Berry Farm where you can pick your own produce. Stop by in the summer months to pick sunflowers and berries, or plan an autumn day trip to get pumpkins.
In the winter they have their annual holiday extravaganza, a multiple-week festival with ice skating, a walkway of lights, live music, and visits from Santa.
It’s also a fun place to rent a boat at lake LBJ and spend the day out on the water before filling up on delicious food at Bluebonnet Cafe. (Order a pie to bring home!) Downtown Marble Falls is always a charming spot to shop at boutique stores, order ice cream at the quaint general store, and enjoy the small town feel.
15. Temple
Distance from Austin: 67.9 miles (1 hr 4 min)
Temple, TX might just seem like another city that you drive through when you’re traveling on I35. But anything can be a fun day trip if you know what you’re looking for!
Temple is first and foremost home to….BUC-EE’S. Yep. You’ve gotta start your day at the world’s largest convenience store with the most pristine bathrooms. Ha! But really, kids love stopping by and looking at that giant wall of candy (and maybe picking out a treat to enjoy in the car!)
Temple has a lot of lakes and parks and outdoor activities. You can swim, picnic, rent a kayak, or just play on playgrounds near the water. Need indoor things to do in Temple? There’s a bowling alley, a trampoline park, and a very cute children's museum. Plenty of fun things to do that could easily fill up a day trip from Ausin with your kiddos!
16. Salado
Distance from Austin: 51.2 miles (48 min)
I would actually pair this one with Temple and visit both of these small Texas towns in one day! Salado is teeny-tiny, but there are a few really cute things to do there. (And it’s a very easy drive from Austin in one day.)
Kids love the Salado Sculpture Garden. It’s a cute place to run around for a little bit and explore the big sculptures. You can stop by the antique book store where children can choose a souvenir to bring home. And observing the glassblowing at Salado Glassworks is always cool, no matter your age.
17. Buda
Distance from Austin: 15.4 miles (21 min)
If you live in north Austin, Buda is absolutely a destination-worthy day trip from Austin! The brand new Buda City Park has a fun playground and splash pad, making it a great place to burn some energy. There’s are a few good kid-friendly restaurants in Buda, including a cool live music venue that’s family-friendly and has a playground on site.
Be sure to explore the historic downtown area (and get some coffee cinnamon rolls at Teal House) before stopping by the historic general store for a scoop of ice cream.
18. Pedernales Falls State Park
Distance from Austin: 42.6 miles (1 hr 4 min)
This state park is the perfect driving distance from Austin to make it a destination-worthy day trip. (If you want a state park that’s closer to Austin, check out McKinney Falls. But sometimes you want to leave this city and escape a bit!)
Pedernales Falls has a fun swimming area that’s consistently cool. It’s a great place to camp out for the day, enjoy fishing and swimming, and then grill burgers for dinner before packing up and heading home.
19. Spicewood
Distance from Austin: 35.6 miles (50 min)
You’ve probably heard of Krause Springs, and that’s because it's’ one of the top swimming holes in Texas. There are waterfalls, rope swings, and multiple swimming areas. It’s pretty epic and absolutely worth visiting in Spicewood with your kids!
After swimming, be sure to get some barbecue at Opie’s or stop for delicious pizza at Sorellina's. (They have handmade pizza, live music, and a playground for kids!)
20. Burnet
Distance from Austin: 54.6 miles (1 hr 3 min)
If you’ve ever wanted to visit Inks Lake State Park, why not make a day trip out of it to explore? You can enjoy swimming, hiking and fishing. Or, head to Lake Buchanan and rent a kayak or SUP and enjoy a day out on the lake.
For a little bit of history, stop by Fort Croghan, which was established in 1849 and used until 1855. Older children might get a bit out of the history lesson, and younger ones will just enjoy running around.
21. Brenham
Distance from Austin: 89.3 miles (1 hr 33 min)
The central Texas city is a pretty easy drive from Austin (it’s a bit south of College Station). Of course, you’ve gotta stop by Blue Bell Creameries! Plan a tour of the ice cream factory or just stop by the ice cream parlor for a sweet treat.
The downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places and has plenty of cute stores and restaurants, and a cool kid-friendly fire museum to check out. And Brenham, Texas has a German heritage festival every May that’s worth going to!
Related posts:
21 Best Date Night Restaurants In Austin
Wondering where you should plan your next date night? Good news: I’m sharing my favorite…
Read More
25 Phenomenal South Austin Restaurants
South Austin restaurants have never been better. Just when you think you’ve hit up all…
Read More
18 Coffee Shops With Amazing Pastries In Austin
One of the most luxurious treats in life is settling into an adorable coffee shop…
Read More