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Fort Worth to San Antonio River Walk road trip: best stops

The drive from Fort Worth to San Antonio River Walk takes about 3 hr 52 min (south of Fort Worth), by real roads from ZIP 76102. Along the way we found 98 stops within a short detour: 20 coffee shops, 4 bakeries, 25 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 Fort Worth) 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.

Where you are going: San Antonio River Walk 3 hr 52 min from Fort Worth

San Antonio River Walk

Photo: Kkmd (talk · contribs), CC BY-SA 3.0

Town

San Antonio River Walk

A walkway below street level along the San Antonio River, lined with restaurants, shops and hotels downtown. It runs about 15 miles in all.

  • Half day
  • Year-round
  • Free to walk; boat cruises cost extra

Heads-up: Go Rio narrated cruises take about 35 minutes and don't run when flood gates are closed. Holiday River Parade in late November.

Map of the stops between Fort Worth and San Antonio River Walk

First third Middle third Last third San Antonio River Walk

First stretch 11 stops

  1. Rueda's Mexican Food Mexican restaurant · Alvarado
    About 24 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Entwined Grounds Coffee shop · Grandview
    About 31 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 06:00-14:00; Sa 07:00-15:00 Website
  3. Lone Star Cafe American restaurant · Hillsboro
    About 46 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  4. Starbucks Coffee shop · Hillsboro
    About 47 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. El Taco Jalisco Mexican restaurant · Hillsboro
    About 47 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  6. Czech Stop Bakery · West Our pick
    About 59 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  7. Gerik's Ole Czech Bakery & Deli Bakery · West
    About 59 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  8. Kissing Pig Cafe Barbecue restaurant · West
    About 59 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Sa 06:00-22:00
  9. Smokin Buns Barbecue restaurant · West
    About 59 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  10. Common Grounds Coffee shop · Waco
    About 1 hr 14 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
  11. Waco Traffic Circle Attraction · Beverly
    About 1 hr 16 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Middle of the drive 13 stops

  1. Black Rifle Coffee Company Coffee shop · Waco
    About 1 hr 17 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
  2. Creamy Donuts Donut counter-service · Bruceville-Eddy
    About 1 hr 31 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Black Rifle Coffee Company Coffee shop · Temple
    About 1 hr 44 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 05:00-20:00 Website
  4. Country Donuts Donut counter-service · Salado
    About 1 hr 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  5. Old Town Salado Attraction · Salado
    About 1 hr 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  6. Greenfield's Coffee & Tea House Coffee shop · Salado
    About 1 hr 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  7. Sugar Shack Candy shop · Salado
    About 1 hr 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 12:00-18:00
  8. Salado Museum and College Park Museum · Salado
    About 1 hr 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  9. Frozen Flamingo Ice cream · Georgetown
    About 2 hr 15 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
  10. Tiff's Treats Cookie Delivery Bakery · Georgetown
    About 2 hr 17 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
  11. The Yard Milkshake Bar Ice cream · Georgetown
    About 2 hr 17 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
  12. Paige-DeCrow-Weir House Historic site · Georgetown
    About 2 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  13. Hay Elotes Ice cream · Austin
    About 2 hr 29 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 12:00-21:15 Website

Last stretch 4 stops

  1. Franklin Barbecue BBQ · Austin Our pick
    About 2 hr 40 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  2. Texas Music Museum Museum · Austin
    About 2 hr 40 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Tu-Fr 12:00-17:00; Th off Website
  3. Doyle Farm Historic site · Austin
    About 2 hr 43 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  4. Abuelita's Bakery Bakery · Kyle
    About 2 hr 59 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Tu-Fr 07:30-16:00; Sa-Su 07:30-14:00

Questions about the drive from Fort Worth to San Antonio River Walk

How long is the drive from Fort Worth to San Antonio River Walk?

About 3 hr 52 min by road, heading south from the middle of ZIP 76102. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Fort Worth to San Antonio River Walk?

Good ones to start with: Czech Stop (West) and Franklin Barbecue (Austin). The page lists 28 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Fort Worth and San Antonio River Walk?

Entwined Grounds in Grandview, Starbucks in Hillsboro, Czech Stop in West and Gerik's Ole Czech Bakery & Deli in West. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to San Antonio River Walk?

Rueda's Mexican Food in Alvarado, Lone Star Cafe in Hillsboro, El Taco Jalisco in Hillsboro and Kissing Pig Cafe in West.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Waco Traffic Circle in Beverly, Old Town Salado in Salado, Salado Museum and College Park in Salado and Paige-DeCrow-Weir House in Georgetown.

More about Fort Worth and San Antonio River Walk

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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