9 Unforgettable Fall Getaways From San Antonio
The San Antonio area is known for its enchanting “Día de los Muertos” celebrations, Oktoberfests, artisan craft fairs, and fall harvest festivals. There are plenty of perfect getaways a short distance away, making the area the ideal fall destination for a quick getaway or weekend out of town. Explore historic sites or some of the best natural parks in the US. Whether you visit from afar or are looking for a getaway from the city, celebrate the fall with great places less than a three-hour drive from San Antonio.
Kingsland
An hour and forty-seven-minute drive from San Antonio brings you to Kingsland. Kingsland is the perfect fall getaway for water lovers. The city sits right on the Colorado River and includes Lake LBJ. Come for the fall foliage or to do some late-season fishing, boating, or swimming. Kingsland is a favorite for antiquing, birding, golfing, and hiking.
The Legends Golf Course runs near Lake LBJ and is a public par 72 championship-level course. Bikers can experience the thrill of a lift-served mountain bike park on Spider Mountain. Ride the lift up and then bike down a variety of beginner or advanced trails. Inks Lake is also perfect for swimming, fishing, or paddleboarding. Fall is the perfect time to check out Longhorn Cavern State Park. The park offers guided walking tours through the cavern.
Get your Halloween spirit on during the Horror Festival Weekend running October 25 through 27. Catch a holiday festival or craft show at the Kingsland House of Arts and Crafts. Check out the daily creative workshops or find the unique gifts you need for the holidays.
Port Aransas
If your idea of fall includes the beach, take a two-and-a-half-hour drive and find yourself in Port Aransas. Port Aransas is a hidden treasure and one of the best beaches in Texas in the fall. Fewer crowds in the fall means hearing the waves crashing as you walk quietly down the beach for miles.
Port Aransas offers year-round fishing excursions as well as kayaking, paddleboarding, and surfing. The island offers dozens of paved biking and walking trails that are also perfect for bird-watching. The island community offers plenty of fresh seafood at waterfront restaurants. Rent a vacation home or commute from the mainland hotel. Visitors can rent beach cruising golf carts and catch all the scenery. There are also Dolphin sightseeing cruises and a boat tour.
Looking for the nightlife? Heading to Port A Live for theater and live music offerings. While you're here, go to Beachtober between October 23 and October 31 to celebrate Halloween on the beach.
Canyon Lake
Visitors looking to enjoy the lake life for a weekend will find Canyon Lake the perfect spot to unwind in the Texas Hill Country, less than an hour’s drive from San Antonio. Canyon Lake offers visitors several day-use parks, including Overlook Park, Comal Park, and Guadalupe Park. Each includes hiking trails, picnic areas, and scenic lake views. Water lovers will enjoy the two swim beaches at Canyon Park and Comal Park Beach.
For golfers, there are 72 holes of golfing joy available year-round at Canyon Lake. History lovers must stop by the Heritage Museum of Texas Hill Country. Visit the Canyon Lake Dam or camp on the river at the Lazy L&L Campground. Other options include wine-tasting or helicopter tours for an aerial view.
Fredericksburg
Take a scenic drive for a little over an hour and find fall fun in Fredericksburg. Visitors can enjoy the cool weather and fall colors at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Enchanted Rock offers hiking and biking trails and is a popular bird-watching spot. The beauty and openness of the scenic vistas give every visitor plenty of space to roam.
Fredericksburg is home to dozens of farms and orchards. Many offer pumpkin picking and a wide variety of fruit and other produce and seeds. Go to Wildseed Farms just seven miles out of town and roam hundreds of acres of flowers. Grab some seeds and plant a bit of Fredericksburg at home. Run amongst the pumpkins and find the perfect one to take home. Head down to Main Street and visit over 150 shops and art galleries, each locally owned and operated. Head to Chocolat for a treat or taste a few first at Chocolates El Rey. Not motivated by chocolate? Head over to the Circle E Candle store or Creations in Jewelry. Find everything pecan at the Fredericksburg Pecan Company and many more.
Wine lovers get a taste or two at the Safari Winery. History lovers will find several local museums downtown, like the Pioneer Museum, that houses hundreds of artifacts and presentations on the life of Fredericksburg’s German settlers. The museum is hosting a class on October 19 on how to make hand-dipped candles.
Smithville
Smithville is famous as the backdrop for the 1998 movie Hope Floats starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr. Smithville has been the scene for 13 movies. It’s a small, scenic town an hour and forty-five minutes from downtown San Antonio. Smithville is a charming small town with classic historic buildings, local fall festivals, and plenty of natural space.
Smithville is located on the Colorado River, making it a popular place to get outside and boat, swim, hike, bike, camp, or fish all in one long weekend getaway this fall. Experienced mountain bikers will love the Rocky Hill Ranch, with 25 miles of advanced trails. Bikers looking for less intense trails go to Vernon L. Richards Riverbend Park. There are plenty of trails to get lost on while experiencing the peace and beauty of the river. The park also features a disc golf course and a dog park.
Golfers up to the challenge can visit the ColoVista Golf Club and hit a round or two. Come to play and enjoy the scenic views while you’re here. The Power Plaza Skate Park features hips, staircases, rails, wallrides, and ledges for skateboarders, skaters, or boarders. It’s a challenge for any boarder or skater.
Rockport
Does your fall adventure or getaway need to include a beach? Look no further than Rockport. Rockport is a two-hour and twenty-five-minute drive from San Antonio, but a different world. Rockport Beach features a mile of blue wave beach with public cabanas, palapas, restrooms, a boat ramp, and a fitness trail. Rockport Beach also features a Wildlife Sanctuary to help preserve the beauty of the beach and its natural inhabitants. Bird watchers and anglers will want to visit Goose Island State Park. Consider camping for a night or two and enjoy the lighted fishing pier and birding tours.
Visit the Texas Maritime Museum and learn about Texas’s surprisingly rich maritime history, starting with the Spanish explorers and continuing with the offshore oil and gas industry. Find out how much Texas depends on the ocean. Next, check out the Fulton Mansion and Education History Center and learn about life in the Texas Gulf Coast in the late 1800’s.
Get into the arts at the Rockport Center for the Arts. Peruse rooms full of exhibits that change monthly. There’s also a local talent gallery room for artists to display their goods. There is no cost for admission. If you have time, take a class or enjoy a free family class on October 19th and build animal leaf masks! In October, learn to etch metal for jewelry or make your own decorated pillows. Check out the gift shop and enjoy live music, including the Malpass Brothers on November 15.
Johnson City
Johnson City is the ultimate getaway from the city and experience the quiet luxury of the country lifestyle. When an escape from the city is needed, drive an hour north and find Johnson City. Johnson City is the hometown of past President Lyndon Johnson. Visitors can tour the former home and property of Lyndon Johnson. It is locally known as the Texas White House. The Pedernales River runs through the property, and the rolling hills are covered with Oak trees whose branches curl down to the ground. The Lyndon B Johnson National Historic Park is one of the best places to relax, have a picnic, and enjoy the quiet beauty of this amazing property.
While there, visit the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm from the late 1800s. Visitors can partake in daily farm chores, learn how to churn butter, gather eggs, or work in the gardens or fields. Consider taking a leisurely stroll down numerous trails and enjoy the scenery, including roaming bison and fields of fading wildflowers and colorful fall foliage. Visitors can access the Pedernales River or take a swim in the pool. Check out the Visitor Center for a map, a book, or an array of souvenirs.
Next, explore the Pedernales Falls State Park for a day or two. The river flows down slabs of limestone and granite. Visitors can lounge near the water or slide down the natural slides. A hike of a half mile brings you to the scenic falls overlook, where you can hear and see the walls of water crashing down the canyon. Kayak, swim, mountain bike, or bird watch. It’s the perfect place for viewing fall colors and getting in some water activities before winter.
Spring Branch
Spring Branch is a short thirty-five-minute drive from San Antonio—an excellent place for a quick getaway for the day or the weekend. Get a taste of fall in nature at the Guadalupe River State Park. The park features several swimming holes, places to tube and even canoe. Take the family camping and enjoy the colorful changing of the trees and cooling weather.
Go to the Visitor Center to borrow fishing gear. Test your fishing skills while enjoying the peace and quiet. Bring your bike or hiking boots and hit the Painted Bunting Trail or the River Overlook Trail. Both trails are under three miles but run along the river for extra enjoyment. Golfers get some game in at The Club at Rebecca Creek back in town. There’s also a variety of live country music and dancing at the Anhalt Hall in downtown Spring Branch.
Marble Falls
Marble Falls is a unique town approximately a two-hour drive from San Antonio. Marble Falls sits along the Colorado River and is the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The beauty of fall shows up as the weather cools and the leaves start to change. Time to get outside before winter and enjoy a variety of walkable downtown shopping, state parks, and an array of high-quality local wineries.
Wine lovers can visit Torr La Lochs Vineyards through the end of October. Enjoy a tasting amongst the vines, or try Perissos Vineyard for an exceptional experience. The Fall Harvest Fun runs from October 10 to November 13 at Sweetberry Farm just outside town. Pick pumpkins, take a hayride, and wander through miles of corn mazes. There’s also live music with Music on Main from October 16 to November 2. Listen to the likes of Billy Scott on October 23, Jesse Stratton on October 24, or Wake Eastman on October 25.
Downtown Marble Falls hosts a Farmer’s Market every Tuesday year-round, weather permitting. Get a taste of the local fare and enjoy wandering and looking at a variety of goods like fresh bread, honey, jams, candy, and seasonal vegetables. Fall visitors can smell the fall as the smell of pumpkin spice fills the air. When you head home, take the scenic route through Inks Lake State Park and view the massive granite outcroppings and Inks Lake.
Embrace Fall’s Charm with These Quick Getaways
Immerse yourself in the enchanting autumn season around San Antonio. Known as the Texas Hill Country, the surrounding towns within a short drive of San Antonio are worth visiting. The fall brings mild, cool weather, which makes it perfect for outdoor and indoor activities. The high-spirited and lively mix of cultures comes out in the fall with diverse celebrations, festivals, and fairs. It’s also off-season at the national parks with fewer crowds and more peace and quiet to enjoy.
