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Austin to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area road trip: best stops

The drive from Austin to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area takes about 1 hr 44 min (west of Austin), by real roads from ZIP 78701. Along the way we found 31 stops within a short detour: 6 coffee shops, 2 bakeries, 6 ice cream and treats and 9 places to eat.

The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Austin) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.

Plan this trip All day trips from Austin

Where you are going: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area 1 hr 44 min from Austin

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Photo: Jmbuytaert, CC BY-SA 4.0

State park

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

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.

  • Half day
  • Year-round; busy season Sept-May
  • Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)

Heads-up: Reserve a day pass ahead to be sure of getting in. Dogs only in picnic areas, campgrounds and on the Loop Trail. No swimming and no bikes on trails. Little shade on the dome, so bring water.

Official site

Map of the stops between Austin and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

First stretch 11 stops

  1. SquareRüt Kava Bar Coffee shop · Austin
    About 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Tu-Su 12:00-19:00 Website
  2. Simplly Pho House Vietnamese restaurant · Austin
    About 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th 11:00-20:45; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:45; Su 12:00-20:45 Website
  3. Shipley Do-nuts & Kolaches Coffee shop · Cedar Valley
    About 19 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  4. Flores Mexican restaurant · Dripping Springs
    About 22 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. TCBY Ice cream · Dripping Springs
    About 24 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  6. Mazama Coffee Coffee shop · Dripping Springs
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  7. The Great British Baking Company Bakery · Dripping Springs
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  8. Southern Sweets Candy Co. Candy shop · Dripping Springs
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 4 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su closed, Mo-Th 12:00-18:00, Fr 12:00-17:00, Sa 11:00-17:00 Website
  9. Rolling in Thyme & Dough Restaurant · Dripping Springs
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 08:00-15:00 Website
  10. Drippin Donuts Donut counter-service · Dripping Springs
    About 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  11. RailRoad BBQ Barbecue restaurant · Dripping Springs
    About 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Middle of the drive 5 stops

  1. Home Town Donuts Donut counter-service · Johnson City
    About 47 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Johnson City Coffee Co. Coffee shop · Johnson City
    About 48 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  3. Science Mill Museum · Johnson City
    About 48 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  4. L.B.J. Boyhood Home Museum · Johnson City
    About 48 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  5. Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm Museum · Stonewall
    About 1 hr into the drive · detour about 2 min

Last stretch 10 stops

  1. Sophie's Bakery Bakery · Fredericksburg
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 11 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-17:00 Website
  2. Texas Rangers Heritage Center Museum · Fredericksburg
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  3. Hill Country Donuts & Kolaches Donut counter-service · Fredericksburg
    About 1 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  4. National Museum of the Pacific War Museum · Fredericksburg
    About 1 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: We-Su 09:00-17:00 Website
  5. Java Ranch Espresso Bar & Cafe Coffee shop · Fredericksburg
    About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  6. Sozial Haus Coffee shop · Fredericksburg
    About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  7. Big Pop's Popcorn Co Candy shop · Fredericksburg
    About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th, Su 10:00-19:30; Fr, Sa 08:00-21:00 Website
  8. Hondo's on Main Burgers · Fredericksburg Our pick
    About 1 hr 19 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  9. Old German Bakery & Restaurant German · Fredericksburg Our pick
    About 1 hr 19 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  10. Pioneer Museum Museum · Fredericksburg
    About 1 hr 19 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00

Questions about the drive from Austin to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

How long is the drive from Austin to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area?

About 1 hr 44 min by road, heading west from the middle of ZIP 78701. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Austin to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area?

Good ones to start with: Hondo's on Main (Fredericksburg) and Old German Bakery & Restaurant (Fredericksburg). The page lists 26 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Austin and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area?

SquareRüt Kava Bar in Austin, Shipley Do-nuts & Kolaches in Cedar Valley, Mazama Coffee in Dripping Springs and The Great British Baking Company in Dripping Springs. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area?

Simplly Pho House in Austin, Flores in Dripping Springs, Rolling in Thyme & Dough in Dripping Springs and RailRoad BBQ in Dripping Springs.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Science Mill in Johnson City, L.B.J. Boyhood Home in Johnson City, Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm in Stonewall and Texas Rangers Heritage Center in Fredericksburg.

More about Austin and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.

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