10 Unique Austin Weekend Getaways For Summer 2025 While our list of places to explore within the Austin city limits seems to go on for miles alone, it’s important to get away from the hustle and bustle every once in a while. Fortunately, we’ve got plenty of weekend getaways right here in Texas! (We better have them with a state this ginormous.)
I’m as guilty as anyone of staying in Austin far too many weekends of the year, which I hope to change in 2025 by exploring more of this great state I’ve called home for the past 30 years.
Let’s commit to exploring more together! Beginning with the 10 Austin Weekend Getaways listed below. While I’ve been to almost every place on this list, it’s been years – So cheers to heading back to a few local gems soon and sharing our experiences with each other! 1. Explore Tiny Texas Houses In Salvage, Texas There’s a reason I’ve listed Tiny Texas Houses first and that is because this is a place like no other. Here in Salvage, what I thought was going to be a relaxing weekend in a cabin turned out to be a two-day adventure consisting of junkyard magic, the most beautiful man-made watering hole (pictured above), and random eerie activities, such as climbing up to an abandoned tool shed, walking planks, and even unsupervised ax-throwing. Honestly, this description only scrapes the surface of what you will discover at Tiny Texas Houses – You truly need to head over to Salvage and visit Brad Kittel to see and experience this masterpiece for yourself.
Distance From Austin: 1 Hour 2. Splash Around At One Of The Son’s Island Getaways In New Braunfels, TX When the original Son’s Island opened in my hometown of Seguin, TX – It was the talk of the neighborhood! (It probably still is, but I wouldn’t know.) Since then, they’ve opened a handful of new locations around the area, so they definitely seem to be doing something right!
From glamping to water adventures, any of the Son’s Island getaways would be a great option to get outside of Austin and in touch with nature, ideally with a group of friends or family members!
Distance From Austin: 1 Hour 3. Climb Enchanted Rock In Fredericksburg, TX (And hit downtown Fredricksburg for shopping and treats after!) I’ve climbed Enchanted Rock more times than I can count, and it never seems to get less challenging. The picture above doesn’t quite do it justice, but this rock is absolutely massive and provides enough adventure to fill an entire weekend! What’s not shown above are the little tunnels and separate trails you can explore throughout the park – I will never forget my sister leading me through a dark tunnel starting from the top of the rock and ending all the way at the bottom. Honestly, it was as terrifying as it was thrilling! (I did not ever do this again, haha.) After a long day of hiking, drive 30 minutes down the road and explore Main Street in Fredricksburg, where you’ll find shopping, restaurants, and wineries.
OR spend some more time outdoors by camping at the park! (Make sure to book early; This place is always a hot ticket, especially in Spring and Fall.)
Distance From Austin: 1 Hour 45 Minutes 4. Get in touch with your artsy side in Marfa, TX Marfa has been on my Texas Bucket List for years, and what’s holding me back is the drive. The town is almost 7 hours away from Austin, but if you’re willing to make the trip – I’ve heard it’s a truly unique experience, especially for creatives and art-lovers. You may recognize the photo above from Beyonce’s Instagram page – And that’s exactly what it is, an Instagram shot. The doors to Prada Marfa do not open and the items inside are not for sale, but this art installation remains to be one of the most popular sites in the famous art town! What else is there to do? From the Marfa Mystery Lights to art studios all throughout the town, there’s plenty to see and experience here, but since I’ve yet to make the trip for myself – I’ll let Rebecca & The World tell you all about it, for now.
Distance From Austin: 6 Hours 45 Minutes 5. Relax with some Glamping In Terlingua, TX Headed out to see Marfa but not sure you want to stay in town for the weekend? Drive down to Terlingua for some of the most gorgeous glamping in Texas, where you can hike the Indian Head Trail and spend some time with sweet Mother Nature at Big Bend National Park.
Distance From Austin: 7 Hours 30 Minutes 6. Soak In The Sunshine In Galveston, TX You’re probably aware of the many beaches in Texas, but Galveston stands on its own for a few reasons. For starters, there’s Pleasure Pier, where you can hop on a coaster that dives directly towards the ocean with the soundtrack to Jaws playing in the background. While this amusement park is fairy small, it so quirky and fun to find in Texas and is the perfect place to spend an afternoon post-beach day. Galveston also has a charming little downtown with an old school candy and ice cream shop, a handful of local boutiques and restaurants, and even a Rainforest Cafe with an indoor rainforest ride. (No, you’re never too old.)
Distance From Austin: 7 Hours 30 Minutes 7. Spend a weekend shopping, eating, and dancing in Downtown Gruene, TX Not enough people talk about this cozy little town, but as someone who grew up near New Braunfels – Gruene has always been a Texas hidden gem. Gruene is full of small quirky shops selling silly T-Shirts, handmade items, and local culinary goods. Spend the day trying on cowboy boots, shopping at the weekend Farmer’s Market, and sampling food from all of the fantastic restaurants in town. (My favorite has always been The Gristmill for their massive chicken fried steak.)
While you’re there – Be sure to head out to Gruene Hall for some live music and dancing, as this is probably the most important part of your Gruene experience!
Distance From Austin: 1 Hour 8. Explore Dinosaur Valley State ParkIn Glen Rose, TX I’m not going to lie to you guys – I have never heard of this place until I was doing some research for this post. Now I feel as though I need to plan a trip here ASAP and bring my nephews! (What age do kids start liking dinosaurs?)
Dinosaur Valley has all the activities you’d expect from a state park, except here you can track Dinosaur tracks along the way…
Distance From Austin: 2 Hours 45 Minutes 9. Get away from the hustle and bustle with a weekend at Lake Travis Sometimes you don’t need to drive far away to escape, and a weekend on Lake Travis proves just that.
Rent an Airbnb or stay at a Luxury Resort & Spa – Either way, you will have endless activity options during the summer – Rent a boat for water adventures on the lake, hike the day away at my favorite spot, Riverplace Nature Trail, or you can even spend a day in the nude at Hippy Hollow. Whatever you choose, you will feel rejuvenated by the time you’re headed on a short drive back to the city!
Distance From Austin: 30 Minutes 10. Stroll the Riverwalk in Downtown San Antonio, TX You’d think this would be the most obvious of weekend trips from Austin, and maybe it is. But you would be shocked at the amount of Austinites who’ve never spent a weekend in San Antonio! I’m not one to compare the two cities – Austin is simply the place to be. BUT… San Antonio downtown is absolutely gorgeous, and the Riverwalk is totally different from anything we have here in Austin. In San Antonio, you can find just about any activity – A few of my favorites: Going to a Spurs game, riding coasters at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, getting your feelings hurt at Dick’s Last Resort, and of course, eating some killer Mexican Food. (Oh, did you think I was going to say The Alamo? That too, I suppose…)
Distance From Austin: 1 Hour
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Okay, so who else is hopping in the car for a road trip in summer 2025 after seeing this list?
For more summer bucket list inspiration, head over to the ATX corner of DGL!
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