As far as major cities go, Austin benefits from its relatively low-key personality. Downtown Austin feels like an urban enclave, but the rest of the city has an almost suburban feel to it with plentiful greenspace and peaceful neighborhoods.

That said, even Austinites sometimes yearn for genuine small-town charm, and many commuters who work in the Lone Star Capital choose to make one of Central Texas’ many petite suburbs and country villages their places of residence. These four towns, all within an hour’s drive of Downtown Austin, offer up natural beauty, sightseeing highlights, and relaxed vibes to make them well worth a trip.

Taylor

Located about 40 minutes northwest of Downtown Austin, the charming town of Taylor is a popular local spot for architecture enthusiasts, thanks to the scenic Victorian houses scattered throughout its downtown center and many of its residential neighborhoods. If historic house viewings don’t spark your interest, then Taylor’s impressive array of eateries—including one hugely-acclaimed barbecue joint—just might do the trick.

Attractions:

  • Self-Guided Architecture Tour: On Taylor’s town website, you’ll find a thorough walking tour itinerary that features 29 of Taylor’s most noteworthy Victorian manors and historic structures, along with brief descriptions of each building and an easy-to-navigate map to help you journey from one to the next.
  • Louie Mueller Barbecue: This iconic barbecue spot amply earns its spot on numerous “Best Of” lists. Louie Mueller Barbecue has been holding court in Taylor since the late 1940s, and its smoked brisket and beef ribs count among some of the best you’ll find in Central Texas.
  • Murphy Park: A beautiful 120-acre greenspace, Murphy Park delights Taylor residents with its abundant lawns, numerous recreational fields, local plant life, popular hiking trails, and rookery used by egrets, whistling ducks, and great blue herons.

Lockhart

The Caldwell County Courthouse in Lockhart Texas outside Austin
The historic Caldwell County Courthouse at the center of Lockhart.

The Austin area and its surrounding towns have plenty of options for top-notch barbecue, but few municipalities can claim as many impeccable purveyors of smoked meats as the town of Lockhart. Foodies flock to this small Hill Country city (with a population just over 12,500) 35 miles south of Downtown Austin for world-class dining in a small-town environment.

Attractions:

  • Kreuz Market: A legendary barbecue establishment in Lockhart, Kreuz Market makes fantastic brisket, but they’re really best known for their housemade sausages, all crafted in the German tradition and serving as a flavorful reminder of the town’s heritage.
  • Smitty’s Market: Located in a massive warehouse-like space that was once home to Kreuz Market, Smitty’s Market takes pride in its no-frills status. But what Smitty’s lacks in fancy decor and hip affectations, it makes up for in sheer barbecue quality. Smitty’s serves its celebrated spicy sausage, pork ribs, and brisket on brown paper, and it happily upholds a “no sauce, no plates, no forks” policy. It’s a singular dining experience, and the flavor and texture of the meat more than justify the bare-bones approach.
  • Black’s Barbecue: The final leg of the unofficial “holy trinity” of Lockhart BBQ joints, Black’s Barbecue wields such enormous cult popularity that the owners have decided to branch out into franchise locations in Austin, San Marcos, and New Braunfels. But the original belongs to Lockhart, and locals have been swarming this spot for decades to get their hands on dinosaur beef ribs, barbecued turkey, jalapeno cheddar sausages, and (of course) brisket. 

Bastrop

An overhead shot of the bridge leading to Bastrop, Texas outside Austin
Bastrop is an ideal destination for outdoorsy Texans.

If you drive 40 miles east of Downtown Austin, you’ll come across Bastrop, a serene town with a population of under 10,000 people and one of the most beautiful state parks in this part of Texas. Outdoorsy visitors will find plenty to occupy them in Bastrop. 

Attractions:

  • The “Lost Pines” in Bastrop State Park: Spanning over 2,000 acres, Bastrop State Park belongs on the to-do list of any Bastrop resident or visitor. There's no shortage of hiking trails, swimming spots, and lounging lawns, but the park’s greatest claim to fame is its high density of stunning loblolly pine trees, known as the “Lost Pines.” The best way to scope out these botanical wonders is to set out on a hike through the Lost Pines Forest, a 13-mile belt that shows off these remarkable trees to their fullest effect.
  • El Camino Real Paddling Trail: Central Texans love to set out on tubing and paddling excursions, and Bastrop’s El Camino Real Paddling Trail, a six-mile stretch down the Colorado River, is a widely-beloved destination for Austin-area water enthusiasts.
  • Fisherman’s Park: As its name suggests, Fisherman’s Park is a great place to cast a line. Families love to head here for kayaking, relaxing by the Colorado River, and letting the kids run through the splash pads.

Wimberley

A river runs through rocks and hills in Wimberley, Texas outside Austin
Wimberley is known for its many bodies of water.

Summers in Texas are no joke from a heat perspective, which accounts for the local popularity of swimming holes. Wimberley, a charming town 45 minutes southwest of Downtown Austin, is home to creeks, ponds, and abundant swimming locales, all ideal for cooling yourself down before grabbing a bite at one of the quaint eateries in Wimberley’s downtown center.

Attractions:

  • Blue Hole Regional Park: Blue Hole Park contains trail systems, athletic fields, picnic areas, and an amphitheater, but its most popular attribute is its scenic swimming area surrounded by shady cypress trees. Visitors need to make reservations for swimming time slots, but the cool water is well worth the effort, and fans of tubes, floats, and rafts are welcome to bring their favorite water toys to the swimming hole.
  • Jacob’s Well: Nature mavens love Jacob’s Well, a swimming area filled by an artesian spring and located above an intricate cave system. To explore the cave, you need SCUBA certification and research credentials, but the wildlife native to the cave system—like salamanders and crawfish—can be viewed and appreciated by all visitors.
  • Cypress Creek Reserve Rum Distillery: Wimberley is home to plenty of indie restaurants and bars, and folks who like to see how their spirits are made can head straight to the Cypress Creek Rum Distillery, where they’ll have the chance to sample the distillery’s three flagship rums and enjoy rum-based cocktails like pina coladas and mojitos.