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Dallas to Hamilton Pool Preserve road trip: best stops

The drive from Dallas to Hamilton Pool Preserve takes about 3 hr 23 min (southwest of Dallas), by real roads from ZIP 75201. Along the way we found 90 stops within a short detour: 18 coffee shops, 7 bakeries, 20 ice cream and treats and 29 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 Dallas) 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 Dallas

Where you are going: Hamilton Pool Preserve 3 hr 23 min from Dallas

Hamilton Pool Preserve

Photo: Eric in SF, CC BY-SA 3.0

Swimming

Hamilton Pool Preserve

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.

  • 2-3 hrs
  • Year-round; swimming only when water tests allow
  • Reservation fee per vehicle plus cash entry fee per adult (kids 12 and under free)

Heads-up: Reservations required every day (morning or afternoon slot). Swimming is often closed for bacteria or falling rock, so call the info line before you go. No pets at all, even in cars. No water or food for sale.

Official site

Map of the stops between Dallas and Hamilton Pool Preserve

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Hamilton Pool Preserve

First stretch 9 stops

  1. Starbucks Coffee shop · Red Oak
    About 22 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  2. Pollo Regio Chicken place · Red Oak
    About 22 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  3. Bruco, The Texas Italian Caterpillar Attraction · Italy
    About 42 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  4. Twisty Donuts Bakery · Italy
    About 43 min into the drive · detour about 6 min
  5. Rice Box Express Asian restaurant · Italy
    About 43 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  6. Texad Best Smokehouse Restaurant · Italy
    About 43 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  7. Lone Star Cafe American restaurant · Hillsboro
    About 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  8. Starbucks Coffee shop · Hillsboro
    About 58 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  9. El Taco Jalisco Mexican restaurant · Hillsboro
    About 58 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website

Middle of the drive 14 stops

  1. Czech Stop Bakery · West Our pick
    About 1 hr 9 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  2. Gerik's Ole Czech Bakery & Deli Bakery · West
    About 1 hr 9 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Kissing Pig Cafe Barbecue restaurant · West
    About 1 hr 9 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Sa 06:00-22:00
  4. Collin Street Bakery Bakery · Bellmead
    About 1 hr 22 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  5. Common Grounds Coffee shop · Waco
    About 1 hr 24 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th 07:00-19:00, Fr 07:00-20:00, Sa 08:00-20:00, Su 14:30-20:00
  6. Waco Traffic Circle Attraction · Beverly
    About 1 hr 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  7. Black Rifle Coffee Company Coffee shop · Waco
    About 1 hr 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 08:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-21:00 Website
  8. Creamy Donuts Donut counter-service · Bruceville-Eddy
    About 1 hr 40 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  9. Starbucks Coffee shop · Temple
    About 1 hr 49 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  10. Black Rifle Coffee Company Coffee shop · Temple
    About 1 hr 52 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 05:00-20:00 Website
  11. Old Town Salado Attraction · Salado
    About 2 hr 5 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  12. Sugar Shack Candy shop · Salado
    About 2 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 12:00-18:00
  13. Country Donuts Donut counter-service · Salado
    About 2 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  14. Salado Museum and College Park Museum · Salado
    About 2 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Last stretch 7 stops

  1. Frozen Flamingo Ice cream · Georgetown
    About 2 hr 23 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00 Website
  2. Tiff's Treats Cookie Delivery Bakery · Georgetown
    About 2 hr 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-22:00 Website
  3. The Yard Milkshake Bar Ice cream · Georgetown
    About 2 hr 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00 Website
  4. Paige-DeCrow-Weir House Historic site · Georgetown
    About 2 hr 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  5. N'Star Donut Donut counter-service · McNeil
    About 2 hr 41 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  6. Russell's Bakery and Coffee Bakery · Mesa North
    About 2 hr 48 min into the drive · detour about 6 min Website
  7. Artificial Chimney Attraction · West Lake Hills
    About 2 hr 53 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Questions about the drive from Dallas to Hamilton Pool Preserve

How long is the drive from Dallas to Hamilton Pool Preserve?

About 3 hr 23 min by road, heading southwest from the middle of ZIP 75201. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Dallas to Hamilton Pool Preserve?

Good ones to start with: Czech Stop (West). The page lists 30 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Dallas and Hamilton Pool Preserve?

Starbucks in Red Oak, Twisty Donuts in Italy, Starbucks in Hillsboro and Czech Stop in West. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Hamilton Pool Preserve?

Pollo Regio in Red Oak, Rice Box Express in Italy, Texad Best Smokehouse in Italy and Lone Star Cafe in Hillsboro.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Bruco, The Texas Italian Caterpillar in Italy, Waco Traffic Circle in Beverly, Old Town Salado in Salado and Salado Museum and College Park in Salado.

More about Dallas and Hamilton Pool Preserve

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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