I’m not going to lie to you, I’m pretty biased about when to visit the Texas Hill Country. the perfect time of year is really non-negotiable to me. It’s spring and no other time is better.
We don’t really get “fall”. Sure, there’s a few places with some fall colors but the real color comes in the Spring. And really, winter is mostly Jan-Feb when you’re over it and summer is very hot.
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When Visit the Texas Hill Country? (and why!)
The flowers we get year after year in the Texas Hill Country is what makes it great. Yes, it does depend on the amount of rain we get but even if the bluebonnets are in full force, there will be other flowers. It’s when the land becomes alive again and if you plan it right, the weather is wonderful.
It usually warm enough to start getting back into the water, but not so hot that you’re dying if you’re not in the water. If you love the outdoors, then spring is THE time to visit the area. And I’m going to show you where to go, what to do, and how to see the flowers.
Where is the Texas Hill Country?
First things first, let’s talk about what I mean when I say “the Texas Hill Country”. I create a map to show you the area and the key places to visit. Please note this map is not to scale and not be used for getting you from place to place. It’s just to give you a general idea of the area.
Places to Visit in the Spring & What to Do There
Fredericksburg
Let’s go around the map, starting with Fredericksburg because it’s a great base to explore the area. It’s an old German town that has acquired a lot of cute little shops and wineries over the years.
My family has property out in this area and my dad can remember when it was just a feed store. It’s not anymore. It’s a great travel destination and where I recommend starting your hill country adventures.
Spring is a great time to head to Fredericksburg because you can walk the quaint downtown area without sweating.
Top Tip:
Use VRBO to book your Accommodations in Fredericksburg
Dripping Springs
Now, going clockwise around the map, Dripping Springs is actually my home town and NOT a place I thought I’d recommend visiting when I was a kid. It was a dry county, we had no large grocery stores, and we got excited when Sonic came to town!
However, it is now a haven for wineries, breweries, and classic hill country views. It’s a top wedding destination in Texas too.
My favorite place to visit in Dripping is actually Hamilton Pool. It’s lovely in the spring because you can hike and dip your toes in the water.
Events happing in March in Dripping Springs are:
- Farmers Market: March 5
- Wildflower Spring Market: March 22
Austin
Austin is the capitol of Texas and in the spring you can enjoy it without sweating your butt off. It’s the perfect time to stroll 6th for live music.
Here’s a few events happening in March in Austin:
- SXSW® Music, Film and Interactive Conference and Festival is March 7-15.
- Rodeo Austin is March 14-29
- Bloody Mary Festival is March 22
- Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays is March 26-29
- MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix is March 28-30
- Austin Urban Cultural Fest is end of March
- Tuesday Twilights is an event at the Ladybird Wildlife Center on Tuesdays in the spring.
Gruene
Next up is Gruene and it’s one of my favorite places in the Texas Hill Country. The Old Gruene Market Days are well worth a visit and of course, there’s wine!
- Gruene Market Days are March 15 & 16 in 2025.
Wimberley
Wimberley is a cute little town with cute shops and in the spring has lovely wildflowers. It also has a couple of events happening in March for small town charm:
- Wimberley Coffee & Cars: March 2
- Wimberley Market Days are also held on the first Saturday of each month
San Antonio
San Antonio is next and it’s another big city. Visit the Alamo when it’s not 100 degrees outside. You definitely don’t want to visit it in the summer and sweat your butt off. I also recommend the river walk cruise during this time of year!
Top Tip:
Book a River Ride ahead of time to avoid waiting in a long line!
Another great thing about spring in San Antonio is that it is basketball season! There’s also seasonal parties such as:
- Mardi Gras Artisan Show: March 1 & 2
- St. Patrick’s Day River Dying (see it go green!): March 15 & 16
- St. Patrick’s Day Artisan Show: March 14-16
- St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl: March 15 & 16
Finally, spring is the perfect time to visit the San Antonio Zoo! They have two special events in March at the Zoo:
- Monarch Fest: March 23 & 24
- Kids Zoo Ball: March 28
Top Tip:
The San Antonio Zoo ticket purchasing has gone all online, buy your tickets ahead of time so you don’t have to stand outside the gate on your phone!
Bandera
Next up is Bandera, which is the Cowboy Capital of the World™. If you want a classic “Texas” vacation, then Bandera may be for you. Visit a dude ranch, go horseback riding, or learn about “cowboy culture”.
The spring also offers the following events:
- Bandera Farmers Market: March 6, 13, 20, &27
- Brewery Second Saturday Market Days: March 8
Kerrville
Finally, Kerrville is another small Texas town worth visiting in the spring. It’s the perfect place to explore the Guadalupe River, as well as walk a few trails without dealing with the heat.
Events happening in March in Kerrville:
- Heart of the Hills Farmers Market: March 8
- Family Free Day at Museum of Western Art: March 29
Where to Find the Flowers in the Texas Hill Country
Now it’s time to discuss the elephant in the room, which is the wildflowers and why I love spring in the Texas Hill Country so much. On good years you’ll find highways that look like the photo below. For a full take on how to find bluebonnets specifically, head to this post, I lay out all my tricks.
All the locations above are great starting places to find wildflowers in the spring. End of March is when the bluebonnets look their best but they don’t come out every year in full force so check how much rain fell in the winter to find out if the year will be a good one.
There are common drives known in Texas too that will get you off the beaten path and on the road to wildflowers, those routes are the following (sticking to the hill country area):
- Llano, Burnet, Marble Falls
- Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock, Johnson City
Now, for the ultimate bluebonnet trip, I recommend going from Llano to Fredericksburg to Johnson City to Burnet with a detour through Willow City. I’ve got a map below to show you since it’s not all shown on the photo at the top of this post. However, I put little flowers on the map (at the top of this post!) where you will also find flowers.
Hopefully you found one or two reasons to visit the Texas Hill Country in the Spring! Please don’t go in August, you have been warned!
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