Day Trippin' › Texas › From San Marcos
From San Marcos, the Spring Lake glass-bottom boats are minutes away, Gruene under 20, the Comal River and Blue Hole about 20, Austin's Capitol and Barton Springs about half an hour, Natural Bridge Caverns about 35, and the Alamo under 45. The best day trips from San Marcos, by drive time.
85 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Cave · 35 min southwest
Big show cave near New Braunfels named for the natural limestone bridge at its entrance. Two guided cavern tours plus zip lines, a maze and gem mining above ground.
Town · 46 min southwest
A walkway below street level along the San Antonio River, lined with restaurants, shops and hotels downtown. It runs about 15 miles in all.
Historic site · 50 min southwest
Four Spanish colonial missions on the south side of San Antonio, Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan and Espada. The Espada Aqueduct and Rancho de las Cabras are part of the park too.
Theme park · 54 min southwest
A big theme park in San Antonio with roller coasters, family rides and shows.
Swimming · 34 min north
A three-acre spring-fed pool in Austin's Zilker Park that stays around 68-70 degrees all year. It is home to the endangered Barton Springs salamander.
Historic site · 45 min southwest
The famous mission and 1836 battle site (check) in downtown San Antonio. You can walk the grounds and visit Alamo Church.
Family fun · 28 min north
284 acres of native Texas gardens and trails in south Austin, run by the University of Texas.
Bike trail · 32 min northeast
A 2.8-mile hard-surfaced trail inside McKinney Falls State Park that suits road bikes, strollers and easy walks.
Swimming · 1 hr 1 min north
A swimming hole under a roughly 50-foot waterfall in a box canyon west of Austin. A short, steep, rocky trail leads down to it.
Town · 1 hr 23 min northwest
A Hill Country town founded in 1846 by German settlers, known for German food, history museums, more than 150 shops and nearly 100 wineries nearby.
State park · 1 hr 48 min northwest
A huge 425-foot pink granite dome north of Fredericksburg with about 22 miles of trails, rock climbing and dark night skies. The short, steep Summit Trail gives wide Hill Country views.
Family fun · 1 hr 55 min northeast
Busy shopping and food complex in Waco with shops, places to eat and a big turf lawn.
Historic site · 1 hr 6 min northwest
Across the river from the LBJ Ranch, this free park has the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, where rangers in period dress run a farm from about 1918. Bison and longhorns graze along the Pedernales.
Wildlife refuge · 1 hr 22 min west
An old railroad tunnel near Fredericksburg where up to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats fly out at dusk from May to October.
State park · 1 hr 4 min northwest
The Pedernales River tumbles over wide limestone ledges near Johnson City. There are hiking, horse and mountain bike trails, plus a separate swimming and tubing area.
Swimming · 1 hr 7 min west
Four miles of Guadalupe River frontage north of San Antonio for swimming, tubing, fishing and canoeing. About 13 miles of hike and bike trails wind through the hills.
Museum · 2 hr 56 min east
Space museum and visitor center by NASA's Johnson Space Center with exhibits, The Moonwalkers show and NASA tram tours.
National park · 2 hr 4 min north
See mammoth fossils left where they were found, on a guided tour of the dig shelter in Waco.
Lake · 2 hr 16 min south
A brush-country lake near Mathis for swimming, boating, fishing and birding, with a 1930s CCC refectory.
Family fun · 2 hr 33 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.
Zoo · 2 hr 33 min east
Big zoo in Houston's Hermann Park.
State park · 2 hr 45 min east
Lakes and moss-draped forest where alligators are common, with 37 miles of hiking and biking trails and the George Observatory.
Town · 2 hr 53 min southwest
A border city on the Rio Grande with a historic downtown of Spanish colonial buildings, murals and San Agustin Plaza.
Bike trail · 2 hr 28 min east
Houston bayou park with trails for walking and biking, the historic Cistern, kayak and bike rentals and the Johnny Steele Dog Park.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 78666 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.