Buckle Up for a Texas Road Trip Filled with Swimming Holes, Caves, and Waterfalls
The Highland Lakes region offers everything from Armadillo watching to cave diving.
Doctors should prescribe regular visits to Texas’s beautiful lakes to get a break from the often-scorching heat. As summer approaches, jumping in the car for a road trip to the Highland Lakes Region will be pure meteorological magic. Sprawling over 31,000 square miles of Central Texas real estate and most famously encompassing the cities of Austin and San Antonio, the small towns of the Texas Hill Country should jump to the top of your vacation wish list, too. The Highland Lakes Region features seven lakes, but chances are high that you’ve already experienced Austin’s Lady Bird Lake with some paddleboarding or swan pedaling. So, allow us to spotlight the small towns surrounding the region’s six other reservoirs: Lake Austin, Lake Buchanan, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, and Inks Lake.
Thanks to their proximity to each other, you could theoretically splash around every body of water all in a single weekend. Still, you might have better luck creating a Highland Lakes bucket list to experience a lake or two at a time. Located about three hours southwest of Dallas and 90 minutes from Austin, picturesque landscapes abound throughout the Highland Lakes region and exemplify the scenic diversity of the second-largest state in the union.
With five of the Highland Lakes within its borders, Burnet County (pronounced BURN-it) will be your central hub of activity. On Lake Marble Falls, LakeFest kicks off on June 4 with drag boat races and more. The Burnet County Fair starts that same weekend in June. And May through September, catch some live music at Jackson Street Jams.
As an idyllic road trip destination from Dallas or just about anywhere in Texas, Highland Lakes lures outdoorsy adventurers and culinary thrill-seekers alike. Read on and take a deep dive (pun intended) into one of the refreshing Highland Lakes.
Drive Time
3 hours from Dallas
More Things to Do in the Highland Lakes Region
If you’re planning a lake vacation, chances are you’re into other outdoor adventure and exploration. Go chasing waterfalls north of Lake Buchanan to explore Colorado Bend State Park, a 5,328-acre former fish camp lined with 35 miles of rugged hiking and mountain biking trail, plus fishing and swimming opportunities in the canyons along the epic Colorado River. Make time for the three-mile roundtrip hike to Gorman Falls, a 70-foot spring-fed waterfall that guarantees at least a few moments of sweet, sweet serenity. Even if water levels are low and certain features are dryer than usual, it’s a gorgeous place to visit.
During the summertime, Longhorn Cavern State Park makes a great place to beat the heat with its constant 68-degree weather inside the spectacular, ancient underground caverns, deemed the National Cave of Texas. If you need an adrenaline rush, book the Wild Cave Tour that takes you through the undeveloped lower levels of the caverns illuminated by headlamps—sometimes even dropping to your hands and knees to discover the smaller nooks and crannies. Don’t worry; you’ll get a commemorative T-shirt at the end for wearable bragging rights.
Inks Lake may be one of the lesser-known bodies of water to those living outside the Highland Lakes, but it’s a helluva fun place to swim. Inside Inks Lake State Park, you can hike a trail to an overlook above the Devil’s Waterhole before venturing down to the pool itself, where Spring Creek enters the lake. It’s also a great spot for kayaking and canoeing. Other swimming spots along the lake include the Spring Creek Delta and Valley Spring Creek Waterfall.
Take a ski lift where snow dare not show itself: Spider Mountain Bike Park. Then your vacation’s all downhill from there—literally. Ride to the top in a chair lift (the only one in Texas) and partake in one of nine downhill mountain biking trails rated blue (easiest) to double black (advanced). Bring your own wheels or secure rental bikes once you’re there. You can hike down on your own two feet, or you can simply opt to ride the lift round trip.
Bird-watching might not seem like the most exciting use of your time, but at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, you’ll set your sights on hundreds of species of birds, as well as other critters, including armadillos, beavers, deer, and sheep. Of course, definitely keep an eye out for the bobcats, rattlesnakes, and skunks that also call this habitat home. Getting back to nature can be a truly wild experience as long as you know where to look.
If you want to check off two of the three modes of transportation at the heart of one of the best movies of all time—Planes, Trains & Automobiles—cruise over to the Austin suburb of Cedar Park, park your car, and hop aboard the Hill Country Flyer. This steam locomotive winds its way through the scenic countryside to Burnet County. You can also book wine-soaked journeys and other specialty train rides with starting points in Highland Lakes.
Where to Eat and Drink in the Highland Lakes Region
Depending on your route into the region, you’re likely to pass Opie’s BBQ in Spicewood. Otherwise, make a special trip to this barbecue joint, where diners are greeted by a 12-foot smoke pit right inside the front door.
In Marble Falls, head to Wingman Brothers Smokehouse for some tender, juicy brisket to rival anything smoked in Austin. For breakfast, dessert, or dessert-for-breakfast, Blue Bonnet Cafe has dominated the pie game since 1929, and you can order them by the slice or whole for a tasty souvenir. River City Grille offers spectacular views of the Colorado River and an extensive menu, from Fried Catfish Sandwiches to Green Chile Pork Tacos.
Perched on the water in Kingsland, Wakepoint offers fuel for cars, boats, and humans from a location on the Llano River. Burgers (single, double, and triple) are the go-to, but you’ll also find delicious pizzas, barbecue, and bar snacks. And if you want a little small-town charm, check out Trailblazer Grille on the historic Burnet County Square.
The Texas Hill Country has grown to be one of the top wine destinations in the state and Highland Lakes boasts several outstanding vineyards and tasting rooms. At Torr Na Lochs Winery, you can savor wines made from Syrah, Malbec, and Petite Syrah grapes grown on their property. Wedding Oak Winery operates three area tasting rooms, but the Burnet location is most convenient, stashed just across the town square from Trailblazer Grille. And out at Fall Creek Vineyards in Tow, a $20 tasting gets you samples of five of their best-selling wines, but you should also stick around for a bottle of your favorite once you’ve settled on a winner.
When you’re ready for a change of pace from vino, the region’s many breweries have you covered. Bear King Brewing Company has some incredible offerings, especially the Bird’s Word Pecan Porter, which bursts with a real depth of flavor. Best of all, the burgers and tacos there are so good you can easily spend a few hours sipping and supping on their spacious patio. Also in town, Save the World Brewing Co. features a taproom serving their greatest hits, seasonal creations, and special collaborations with other Texas breweries.
Where to Stay in the Highland Lakes Region
On the shores of Lake LBJ, Horseshoe Bay Resort offers guests luxurious accommodations, including rooms, suites, and multi-room villas, condos, and private homes. Golf, racquet sports, and off-roading in Ford Broncos at one of only four Bronco Off-Roadeo locations nationwide supplement all the relaxing you’ll be doing poolside and on the massage table. Multiple on-site restaurants and bars mean you never have to leave if you don’t wanna. Also on Lake Travis, Lakeway Resort & Spa features lake-view rooms, multiple pools, and a variety of indoor/outdoor dining options. Make the spa a truly Texan experience with a Lady Bird Wildflower Body Wrap or a hot stone massage with Texas river rocks.
At Canyon of the Eagles in Burnet, you’ll enjoy plenty of amenities across the nature-based resort’s 940 acres overlooking Lake Buchanan. In addition to being a cozy place to sleep, guests can partake in guided hikes, stargaze at an onsite observatory, and participate in educational programming detailing the many species that call this area home. RV slots and campsites offer that rustic element many braver vacationers crave.
For a quirky and comfortable—but decidedly no-frills—overnight stay, check out Container City, Texas, where you can either park your RV or settle into slumber in one of six cabins made from transformed shipping containers with rooftop decks.
Meanwhile, 30 miles south on the shores of Lake LBJ, Log Country Cove features 170 acres of awe-inspiring beauty alongside cabins spanning everything from cozy one-bedroom hideaways to extremely spacious six-bedroom retreats with private pools and hot tubs. Springing for the latter is fantastic if you’re rolling deep with friends and family.