Pick a direction first
| Direction | Road | What is out there | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| West | US-290 | Dripping Springs, Johnson City, Hye, Stonewall, Fredericksburg — the wine corridor | 35–90 min |
| Southwest | FM-1826 / RR-12 | Driftwood, Wimberley, the swimming holes | 40–55 min |
| Northwest | TX-71 / US-281 | Spicewood, Marble Falls, the Highland Lakes | 60–80 min |
| South | I-35 / TX-46 | New Braunfels, Gruene, the Guadalupe | 45–60 min |
Itinerary 1: the wine day
- Direction
- West on US-290
- Total
- About 7 hours
- Best for
- A first Hill Country day
- 110:30 — Leave Austin west.
- 211:00 — First tasting in Dripping Springs.
- 312:30 — Down to Driftwood.
- 41:00 — Lunch at The Salt Lick.
- 52:45 — Second tasting at Duchman.
- 64:15 — Third tasting at Fall Creek Driftwood or Driftwood Estate.
- 76:00 — Home.
Itinerary 2: the water day
- Direction
- Southwest
- Total
- About 8 hours
- Best for
- May through September
- 18:30 — Leave Austin for Wimberley. Reservations for Blue Hole or Jacob's Well booked weeks ahead.
- 29:30 — Two hours at the swimming hole while it is cool and quiet.
- 312:00 — Lunch on the Wimberley square.
- 41:30 — Drive twenty minutes to Driftwood.
- 52:00 — A winery or two, or Vista Brewing on the lawn.
- 65:00 — Home.
Itinerary 3: the Fredericksburg day
- Direction
- West on US-290, all the way
- Total
- About 9–10 hours
- Best for
- The full Texas wine country experience
- 19:30 — Leave Austin. This one needs an early start.
- 211:00 — First tasting on the 290 corridor near Hye or Stonewall.
- 312:30 — Lunch — a winery kitchen, a BBQ stop, or into Fredericksburg.
- 42:00 — Second tasting.
- 53:30 — Third tasting, or trade it for Main Street.
- 65:30 — An hour in town, or a stop at Altdorf Biergarten.
- 76:30 — Leave, home by eight.
Austin Wine Car
The Fredericksburg day, without three hours of driving
Door-to-door from Austin, three wineries, and an optional BBQ or biergarten stop. You pick the wineries.
Not ready to book?
Itinerary 4: the outdoor day
- Direction
- West and northwest
- Total
- About 9 hours
- Best for
- Cool months, and groups that do not want tasting rooms
- 17:00 — Leave Austin for Enchanted Rock, with an entry reservation booked ahead.
- 29:00 — The summit hike, about ninety minutes.
- 311:00 — Drive thirty minutes to Fredericksburg.
- 412:00 — Lunch on Main Street.
- 51:30 — The National Museum of the Pacific War, or one winery on the corridor.
- 64:00 — Home by six.
What people get wrong
- Leaving after noon. Every itinerary above assumes a morning departure, and a one o'clock start costs you the last stop.
- Combining directions. Fredericksburg and Wimberley in one day is two hours of extra driving for nothing.
- Not booking the timed entries. Enchanted Rock, Hamilton Pool, Jacob's Well, and Blue Hole all sell out.
- Underestimating closing times. Tasting rooms at five or six, shops at five, kitchens earlier than you expect.
- Assuming there is somewhere to eat. Long stretches of the Hill Country have nothing, particularly on the 290 corridor.
- Driving home at dusk after a tasting day. Two-lane roads, no lights, and deer.
Practical notes
- Cell service is patchy west of Johnson City. Download your map.
- Gas stations thin out on the corridor. Fill up in Dripping Springs or Johnson City.
- Sunset on the drive home is directly in your eyes heading west much of the year — and directly behind you coming back, which is better.
- Bring more water than you think, especially May through September.
- Carry cash for roadside stands.