Day Trippin' › Texas › From Austin › Best family-fun places
Our picks for the best family-fun places within 3 hours of Austin: 15 places, 2 under an hour away, 7 between 1 and 2 hours and 6 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 78701.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Spring Lake Glass-Bottom Boat Tours, 30 min southwest of Austin.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: ljpelletier, CC BY-SA 2.0
#1 · Theme park · 48 min southwest
A big riverside waterpark in New Braunfels with about 45 rivers, rides and slides in four sections, each with a lazy river and kids' area.
Heads-up: Now run by Six Flags. Check the calendar and park rules for coolers and outside food. Go early on summer weekends.
Photo: Jpp858, CC BY-SA 3.0
#2 · Theme park · 1 hr 21 min southwest
A big theme park in San Antonio with roller coasters, family rides and shows.
Heads-up: Check the calendar for open days. Includes Hurricane Harbor waterpark in summer. Check park policies and accessibility pages.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#3 · Family fun · 1 hr 29 min north
Busy shopping and food complex in Waco with shops, places to eat and a big turf lawn.
Heads-up: Open Monday to Saturday 9 to 6, closed Sunday; hours shift for holidays and events. Leashed dogs welcome but must stay off the turf and out of ticketed events. Pair with other Waco stops.
Photo: Druidhills, CC BY 3.0
#4 · Theme park · 1 hr 1 min southwest
A nonprofit, ultra-accessible theme park in San Antonio built so guests of all abilities can play, with a splash park called Morgan's Inspiration Island.
Heads-up: Free parking, cashless. You may bring your own food and drinks. Best for ages 2-12.
Photo: TheConduqtor, CC BY-SA 3.0
#5 · Theme park · 1 hr 28 min southwest
A marine theme park in west San Antonio with coasters, orca and beluga shows, dolphin encounters and a kids' area.
Heads-up: Kids 5 and under free with a Preschool Fun Card through 2026. Check the calendar, some days closed.
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 3.0
#6 · Family fun · 2 hr 31 min east
Houston's big central park with pedal boats on McGovern Lake, a park railroad, carousel, splash pads, the Japanese Garden and McGovern Centennial Gardens.
Heads-up: Park open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; gardens 9 to 6. Dogs on leash except in McWilliams Dog Park. Ride hours change with weather and season. Next to the Houston Zoo.
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
#7 · Family fun · 2 hr 54 min north
Large botanical garden in East Dallas with seasonal festivals, concerts and holiday displays.
Heads-up: Open daily 9 to 5. Buy parking online ahead; plates are read at entry. No pets, only service animals. Free wheelchairs at the ticket booth first come first served; scooters rent for a fee.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#8 · Family fun · 30 min southwest
Glass-bottom boat tours on Spring Lake in San Marcos, a tradition since 1947, run by Texas State University's Meadows Center.
Heads-up: Tours run daily, first come first served, about 30 minutes. School groups fill boats March-July. Boats don't run in lightning or high wind.
Photo: Jouaienttoi, CC BY-SA 4.0
#9 · Family fun · 1 hr 14 min southwest
A free city garden on North St. Mary's Street near the San Antonio Zoo, open every day of the year.
Heads-up: Open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some paths have stairs. Pair with the zoo.
Photo: Jouaienttoi, CC BY-SA 4.0
#10 · Family fun · 1 hr 12 min southwest
39 acres of gardens including a Texas Native Trail, a family garden and the glass Lucile Halsell Conservatory.
Heads-up: Hours change by season, call ahead. Holiday light show from late November.
Photo: Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0
#11 · Family fun · 2 hr 44 min north
Large Fort Worth garden that includes a Japanese Garden.
Heads-up: Open daily 8 to 6, last entry 5. Dogs only on select Dog Days weekends each month, leashed, fee per dog. Japanese Garden may have its own hours.
Photo: Cwolfsheep at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
#12 · Theme park · 2 hr 57 min north
Water park in Arlington with slides including a six-story plunge, lazy rivers and the Splash Island family play area with 17 slides and 100-plus water features.
Heads-up: The 2026 season opened May 16; closing is early September. Check the calendar for weekend-only stretches. Cabanas can be reserved.
Photo: Jeremy Thompson, CC BY 2.0
#13 · Theme park · 2 hr 57 min north
Arlington theme park with more than 100 rides, shows and attractions, including 14 roller coasters.
Heads-up: Holiday in the Park on select days from late November through December 30, 2026. Evening chaperone rule for young guests. Only service animals. Cashless park.
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
#14 · Family fun · 2 hr 59 min east
Waterfront boardwalk with rides like the Boardwalk Bullet coaster, a Ferris wheel and double-decker carousel, Stingray Reef and restaurants.
Heads-up: No entrance fee; buy ride tickets or a day pass. Free fireworks and concerts on many nights. Only service animals. Paid parking, credit card only. Ride hours vary.
#15 · Family fun · 1 hr 12 min southwest
San Antonio's hands-on children's museum, open since 1995 as the San Antonio Children's Museum.
Heads-up: Several discounts, one per visit. Check the hours page for closures.
Our top picks are Schlitterbahn New Braunfels (48 min), Six Flags Fiesta Texas (1 hr 21 min), Magnolia Market at the Silos (1 hr 29 min), Morgan's Wonderland (1 hr 1 min) and SeaWorld San Antonio (1 hr 28 min). The page lists 15 places in all.
15: 2 under an hour away, 7 between 1 and 2 hours and 6 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 78701.
Spring Lake Glass-Bottom Boat Tours, about 30 min southwest of Austin.
4 need no pass or fee, including Magnolia Market at the Silos, Hermann Park and Kemah Boardwalk. Fees change, so check each place.
9 of the 15 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.