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San Antonio to Hamilton Pool Preserve road trip: best stops

The drive from San Antonio to Hamilton Pool Preserve takes about 1 hr 36 min (north of San Antonio), by real roads from ZIP 78205. Along the way we found 32 stops within a short detour: 6 coffee shops, 3 bakeries, 7 ice cream and treats and 12 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 San Antonio) 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 San Antonio

Where you are going: Hamilton Pool Preserve 1 hr 36 min from San Antonio

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 San Antonio and Hamilton Pool Preserve

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Hamilton Pool Preserve

First stretch 13 stops

  1. La Panaderia Bakery · San Antonio
    About 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 07:00-20:00; Sa-Su 07:00-18:00 Website
  2. Krispy Kreme Donut counter-service · San Antonio
    About 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Brevity Coffee shop · Hollywood Park
    About 16 min into the drive · detour about 10 min
  4. EOG Resources Attraction · Hollywood Park
    About 17 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
  5. Makies Bakery Stone Oak Bakery · San Antonio
    About 18 min into the drive · detour about 13 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th 08:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-21:30; Su 10:00-20:30 Website
  6. Pot Belly Sandwich place · Hollywood Park
    About 19 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
  7. Parry's Pizzeria & Taphouse Restaurant · San Antonio
    About 19 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  8. Cub Cave Attraction · Hollywood Park
    About 19 min into the drive · detour about 7 min
  9. Casa Morgana Gelatos Ice cream · San Antonio
    About 21 min into the drive · detour about 6 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 12:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-21:00 Website
  10. The Laurel Coffee shop · San Antonio
    About 22 min into the drive · detour about 9 min Website
  11. Apollos Coffee Coffee shop · Bulverde
    About 24 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  12. Hatch Cafe & Bakery Coffee shop · Bulverde
    About 26 min into the drive · detour about 7 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 08:00-14:00; Su 09:00-14:00 Website
  13. Baskin-Robbins Ice cream · Anhalt
    About 30 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Middle of the drive 5 stops

  1. Club Restaurant Restaurant · Spring Branch
    About 32 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Dulces Caprichos Ice cream · Spring Branch
    About 34 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 14:00-21:00
  3. Mettie’s Mercantile & Tea Shoppe Coffee shop · Blanco
    About 50 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Mo closed, Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00 Website
  4. Uptown Blanco Restaurant American restaurant · Blanco
    About 50 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su 09:00-14:00, Mo-Tu closed, We-Fr 11:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-21:00 Website
  5. Blanco Pioneer Museum Museum · Blanco
    About 50 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo,We,Fr,Su 11:00-15:00

Last stretch 7 stops

  1. Drippin Donuts Donut counter-service · Dripping Springs
    About 1 hr 13 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Mazama Coffee Coffee shop · Dripping Springs
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  3. Rolling in Thyme & Dough Restaurant · Dripping Springs
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 08:00-15:00 Website
  4. The Great British Baking Company Bakery · Dripping Springs
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  5. Southern Sweets Candy Co. Candy shop · Dripping Springs
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su closed, Mo-Th 12:00-18:00, Fr 12:00-17:00, Sa 11:00-17:00 Website
  6. Natkhat Flavors (A Dance On Your Tastebuds) Indian restaurant · Dripping Springs
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Tu,Th-Sa 10:30-20:30 Website
  7. Pound House Historical Farmstead Museum · Dripping Springs
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website

Questions about the drive from San Antonio to Hamilton Pool Preserve

How long is the drive from San Antonio to Hamilton Pool Preserve?

About 1 hr 36 min by road, heading north from the middle of ZIP 78205. Traffic and weather change that.

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

Good ones to start with: La Panaderia (San Antonio), Krispy Kreme (San Antonio), Brevity (Hollywood Park), EOG Resources (Hollywood Park) and Makies Bakery Stone Oak (San Antonio). The page lists 25 in all, in driving order.

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

La Panaderia in San Antonio, Brevity in Hollywood Park, Makies Bakery Stone Oak in San Antonio and The Laurel in San Antonio. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

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

Pot Belly in Hollywood Park, Parry's Pizzeria & Taphouse in San Antonio, Club Restaurant in Spring Branch and Uptown Blanco Restaurant in Blanco.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

EOG Resources in Hollywood Park, Cub Cave in Hollywood Park, Blanco Pioneer Museum in Blanco and Pound House Historical Farmstead in Dripping Springs.

More about San Antonio 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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