Dripping Springs, TX
Hamilton Pool Preserve
A collapsed grotto with a 50-foot waterfall into a jade pool. Reservation required, and swimming is often closed after rain.
- Swimming
- Ages 5+
- ~2h
- Paid
Things to Do 1–2 Hours from San Antonio with Kids
43 kid-friendly adventures about 1 to 2 hours from San Antonio, nearest first.
- Under 1 hour (21)
- 1-2 hours (43)
- 2-3 hours (15)
- 3-4 hours (9)
About these times. Each estimate is a straight-line measurement from downtown San Antonio, padded by 17% for winding roads and divided by a 55 mph average — so “about 1 to 2 hours” means roughly that, not a routed time. Traffic, where in San Antonio you start, and the last few miles of park road can all move it by half an hour. Check a map before you load the car.
about 1 hr 15 min drive
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Dripping Springs, TX
Reimers Ranch Park
Premier Central Texas rock climbing with 18 miles of trails. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Rock Climbing
- Ages 6+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Johnson City, TX
Pedernales Falls State Park
Dramatic tilted limestone falls and river swimming in the Hill Country. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Johnson City, TX
Pedernales Falls State Park Camping
Shaded campsites and walk-in tent sites under some of the darkest night skies within an hour of Austin, beside the Pedernales River
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Johnson City, TX
Pedernales Falls Trammel Crossing
Historic river crossing with natural wading pools away from the crowds. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Johnson City, TX
Pedernales River Nature Park
Quiet Pedernales River swimming with limestone wading pools. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Dogs welcome.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Fredericksburg, TX
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Iconic granite dome summit scramble with 360-degree Hill Country views. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Fredericksburg, TX
Enchanted Rock Walk-In Camping
Walk-in tent sites and primitive backcountry camping at the granite dome, and the reliable way in when the day-use gate closes
- Camping
- Ages 6+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park Camping
City-run RV and tent camping ten minutes from Main Street, the practical base for Enchanted Rock and the Fredericksburg peach stands
- Camping
- Ages 2+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Gonzales, TX
Palmetto State Park
Tropical palmetto forest and warm springs along the San Marcos River. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.
- Hiking
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Vanderpool, TX
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Stunning fall foliage and limestone canyon trails along the Sabinal River. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 5+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Vanderpool, TX
Lost Maples State Natural Area Camping
Riverside campsites and hike-in primitive sites at the one Texas park with real fall color, and your guaranteed entry in November
- Camping
- Ages 4+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Concan, TX
Garner State Park
Legendary Frio River swimming and summer dances in the Hill Country. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Easily a full day.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~5h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Concan, TX
Garner State Park Camping and Cabins
Cypress-shaded campsites, screened shelters and CCC cabins along the Frio River at the most in-demand family park in Texas
- Camping
- Ages 2+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Austin Aquarium
Hands-on north Austin aquarium where kids feed stingrays, touch sea stars in shallow pools and walk into a bird aviary with nectar cups.
- Aquarium
- Ages 2+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Austin Bouldering Project
Indoor bouldering gym in south Austin with colour-graded routes, padded floors and day passes with rental shoes for first-time kids.
- Rock Climbing
- Ages 5+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Austin Yacht Club
Lake Travis summer sailing camps on Picos, Sunfish and Flying Juniors, with a published non-member rate. Paid. Ages 8 to 16.
- Sailing
- Ages 5+
- ~8h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Barton Creek Greenbelt
12 miles of creek trails with swimming holes and bouldering in Austin. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 5+
- ~3h
- Free
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Barton Springs Pool
Iconic 3-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park at 68 degrees year-round. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Blanton Museum of Art
UT Austin art museum whose Ellsworth Kelly stone chapel floods the floor with shifting colored light that kids instantly respond to.
- Museum
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Bull Creek Greenbelt
Shallow limestone creek pools perfect for toddler wading. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Dogs welcome. Easy going.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Free
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Bullock Texas State History Museum
Three floors of Texas history in downtown Austin anchored by a real 1686 shipwreck hull, plus an IMAX theater and weekend family days.
- Museum
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Emma Long Metropolitan Park
Sandy Lake Austin swimming beach and lakeside camping inside Austin city limits - entry $5-$10 per vehicle, campsites reservable online
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Lady Bird Lake
Kayaking and paddleboarding on calm water through downtown Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Easy going.
- Kayaking
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
McKinney Falls State Park
Two limestone waterfalls with wading pools inside Austin city limits. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Mount Bonnell
102-step climb to panoramic views over Lake Austin. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~1h
- Free
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Thinkery
Austin children's museum built for hands-on play, with water tables, a light and shadow lab, a maker studio and a baby-only zone.
- Science
- Ages 1+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Austin, TX
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Peaceful woodland trails with a waterfall and nature programs. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Moderate effort.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~1h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Cedar Creek, TX
McKinney Roughs Nature Park
1,100 acres with horseback riding and river trails along the Colorado. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Grelle Recreation Area
Uncrowded Lake Travis cove with wooded trails and swimming. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Krause Springs
Spring-fed pools under ancient cypress trees with camping. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Easy going.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Krause Springs Camping
Camp above a spring-fed swimming hole and rope swing on a family-owned Hill Country property, with the water to yourself at dawn
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area Camping
Primitive lakeside campsites, family-friendly singletrack and a famous spring bluebonnet field on the upper end of Lake Travis
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Pace Bend Park
Rocky limestone coves and cliff jumping on Lake Travis. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Pace Bend Park Camping
Drive-up primitive camping right on the Lake Travis shoreline, with sheltered swimming coves on the east side of the peninsula
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Bastrop, TX
Bastrop State Park
Lost Pines hiking with swimming pool and Junior Rangers. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Bastrop, TX
Bastrop State Park Cabins
Historic 1930s CCC stone cabins among the Lost Pines east of Austin, among the hardest reservations in the Texas park system
- Lodging
- Ages 1+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Cedar Park, TX
Brushy Creek Regional Trail
14-mile paved trail with playgrounds connecting Cedar Park and Round Rock. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours.
- Biking
- Ages 2+
- ~2h
- Free
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Pflugerville, TX
Lake Pflugerville Park
Free lake beach with swim area and 3-mile paved loop. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly. Dogs welcome.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Free
about 2 hr drive
Burnet, TX
Inks Lake State Park
Spring-fed lake swimming and cliff jumping at Devil's Waterhole. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 2 hr drive
Burnet, TX
Inks Lake State Park Camping and Cabins
Waterfront campsites and small cabins on a constant-level lake with pink granite shoreline and the Devils Waterhole swimming cove
- Camping
- Ages 2+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 2 hr drive
Burnet, TX
Longhorn Cavern State Park
Kid-friendly guided cave tour near Burnet TX - walk a mile through cathedral-sized underground rooms formed by an ancient river, great for ages 4+
- Nature
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 2 hr drive
Burnet, TX
Reveille Peak Ranch
Granite bouldering and mountain biking near Burnet. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day. Moderate effort.
- Rock Climbing
- Ages 5+
- ~5h
- Paid