All You Need to Know – Insider’s Travel Guide to Dripping Springs, TX [Updated 2023]
I love Dripping Springs. If you don’t know already, I live (and play and explore) in this small town outside of Austin, Texas.
After living in South Austin for 9+ years the decision to move “out of town” was a tough one for us. But we traded hour-long waitlists at up and coming restaurants for sprawling ranches turned into breweries or wineries, and smaller local places to eat. I think I’ll take it.
People are becoming more and more familiar with the Hill Country as one of the top wine trails in the country. Dripping Springs is the beginning of that trail, but we have so much more than wine!
I recently spent the day treating my town as a visitor and want to share all my travel tips with you below.
How to Get There
By Plane – If you are traveling from out of state, Austin Bergstrom International Airport is your best bet. You could also fly into San Antonio as an option. You will need a car to get anywhere. Drive time from ABIA to Dripping Springs is approximately 35 – 45 minutes (depending on traffic).
Driving – If you are coming from somewhere in Texas, you’ll want to make your way to 290, the highway that flows through the center of Dripping Springs. From San Antonio you can drive north on I-35 to 290 or take the scenic route up 281 where you’ll hit 290 close to Johnson City.
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Seasons and Weather
The ideal time to visit Texas and enjoy the outdoors are Spring and Fall. With that said, that’s when everyone prefers to visit. You’ll want to weigh temperature and weather with the cost of lodging during different seasons to decide on when to visit.
Winter: December – February. Temperatures range from 30 – 60º Fahrenheit. This can really vary and could be worth the chance for the lower cost of lodging during this season. December is your best bet. You might even get to see some Christmas lights.
Spring: March – April. Temps range from 60 – 80º. This time of year is ideal, but expect higher prices and bigger crowds. Both months are equally great in my opinion. You might catch the wildflowers blooming, including bluebonnets, during this season!
Summer: May – September. It gets hot in Texas, really hot. Temperatures range from 80 – 100+ degrees. If you want to travel during this time, I would suggest either May when it’s still closer to the 80-degree range and maybe September. On the plus side, the crowds will be thinner.
Fall: October – November. Temps range from 50 – 80º, with averages in the 70’s. This time of year is also ideal, but can be busy just like Spring. This would be the perfect time to shop for Holiday gifts!
Read More: Tips You Need for Your First RV Rental Trip
Where to Stay
Although Dripping has fewer accommodation options than further into wine country, you can find some hidden gems in this area.
One of the best way to find an affordable and nice place to stay is Airbnb. Whether you are a solo traveler or a large family, you’ll be able to find a great place.
I did a quick search on their site for a long weekend stay in April, and it gave me over 200 options in all different price ranges.
Feature: Lucky Arrow Retreat
On our day trip around our own town, we stopped by this super cool spot, and they so graciously allowed us to wander the entire property and takes pictures.
Located off Bell Springs Road and directly next to Bell Springs Winery, this is a great place to make your basecamp. In fact, that’s their tag line, “Your basecamp for adventure.”
Here’s what they offer:
- Luxury cabins and yurts – I mean how fun and unique, am I right?
- Private Events and Weddings – There is a hill country view overlook on the property that would be an amazing wedding spot. Event center on the property as well.
- Beautiful Pool – Complete with a bathhouse to change in right next door.
- Troopy Tours – You can book their Toyota Land Cruiser Troop Carrier to visit wineries, breweries, restaurants or scenic spots.
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Where to Eat in Dripping Springs
Let’s get to the good stuff here. I love to plan travel based around good food.
Dripping is just starting to hit the radar in this area, and I’ll give you my top suggestions for every meal of the day.
(Click on any of the restaurant names below to go directly to their website for hours, menus, etc!)
Breakfast & Coffee
- Rolling in Thyme and Dough – Located off 290 just west of downtown. This is the local go-to for fresh breakfast and pastries. They use fresh, local organic ingredients. Not open Sundays.
- Crepe Crazy – Also located on 290 west of downtown. All crepes all the time, they do offer some other items as well like sandwiches salads and soups. This place is really tasty, and they support the deaf community. All of the staff who work here are deaf.
- Flores Breakfast Taco Shack – Located at the corner of Mighty Tiger and 290. There is usually a line, so come prepared. Run by the owners of Flores Mexican Restaurant. Not open Sundays.
- Mazama Coffee – Located on Mercer Street. Our local coffee shop. Good coffee and small snacks if you are feeling like a light breakfast.
Lunch
- Bistro at Texas Hill Country Olive Company – Located on Fitzhugh Road, right at Bell Springs Rd. A small menu made fresh in front of you. The food was delicious and of course, the salad dressings were amazing. This is a great place to pick up some yummy olive oil and balsamic to take home with you. They offer free samples!
- Pieous – Located closer to Austin on the edge of Dripping in Belterra Village. This is a pizza mecca. They have an Italian pizza certification (Vera Pizza Napoletana), and pastrami to die for. Oh and pastries too. STOP, now I’m hungry.
- Torchy’s Tacos – In the same shopping center at Pieous, Torchy’s is an Austin institution. Grab some chips and queso and your choice of taco, and maybe even a beer.
- Route 12 Filling Station – Located, you guessed it, on RR 12. This is kid-friendly and offers fast-casual service. American style food, with a few vegetarian options. I like the cauliflower tacos as a lighter choice. Splash pad and playground on-site!
Dinner
- The League Kitchen & Tavern – Located in Belterra Village. Mid-range prices and good food. Excellent happy hour Monday – Friday from 3:00 – 7:00 pm.
- Alice’s Restaurant – On-site at Treaty Oak Distilling (see below). Elevated comfort food and BBQ options. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until 9 pm.
- Epicure – Upscale dining in downtown Dripping. Their food is absolutely delicious and they have a great wine menu.
- Tillie’s – Located at a wedding venue called Camp Lucy, but the restaurant is open to the public. The interior was a former building from Vietnam that was taken down and re-built in this location. It is 100% Instagram worthy. Food is expensive but amazingly delicious with an excellent cocktail and wine list.
Dripping Springs Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries
I hate to crush your spirits here (haha get it?), but it would be near impossible to hit all of these in just a short visit.
You might just need a second trip to explore all of the breweries and distilleries in this area. Drippings Springs is where I really discovered my love and appreciation of wine, almost a decade ago.
You don’t get a whole lot of wine options in Ohio where I’m originally from, just saying.
Below are my personal top 3 (ish) best wineries, breweries and distilleries in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Best Wineries in Dripping Springs
- Hawk’s Shadow – Located off McGregor Rd. Definitely off the beaten path, this winery is well worth that trek. The views are beautiful from their large covered patio, and the wine was a pleasant surprise. I liked almost everything I tasted. Only open on Saturdays, contact the winery to schedule an appointment on other days of the week.
Address: 7500 McGregor Ln, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
- Solaro – Located off Fitzhugh Road. If you like Italian varietals this will be your spot. Grapes are grown in Texas, but the family who started the winery originates from Italy. They took their Italian wine-growing processes and style and applied it here. You can walk in for a tasting, but I would make an appointment on their website beforehand to ensure a spot.
- Bell Springs Winery – Located off Bell Springs Road. This one is technically a 2-for-1 deal. They are a winery, and as of recently also a brewery. One of the few kid-friendly wineries, with lots of outdoor space to roam. The first building on the property is the wine tasting room, and the second is now the tap room. We’ve spent many a day at Bell Springs as it’s just a mile from our home. 🙂
Graveyard Winery: Adding this newish spot to the list because I really enjoy their wine. This is not a local vineyard, all of their grapes are grown and bottled in Paso Robles California. One of my favorite things about wine tasting is the variety you get to experience. Add Graveyard to your list and pretend like you are in Paso, while in Dripping!
Address: 5258 Bell Springs Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Best Breweries in Dripping Springs
- Acopon – Located on Mercer Street, this cool little spot is a great place to stop for a drink while shopping and wandering. The owner loved the beer experience in the U.K. and decided to brew his beers using the same methods. Expect English style cask beers, along with some American styles as well.
- Suds Monkey Brewing – The owner and head brewmaster previously worked at Stone Brewing in San Diego. Beers range from IPA to Amber and Hefeweizen, with experimental seasonal beers. They offer events throughout the year, trivia every Wednesday, and a relaxed “hang out as long as you would like” atmosphere. Kid-friendly too!
- 12 Fox Beer Co – New on the scene, as of summer 2019, this place is quickly growing in popularity. With a huge playground on site as well as food trucks, you can relax and stay awhile. They brew a few of their own beers including a Saison and Belgian Trippel and also have a few popular brews from Austin on tap.
If you are looking for a proper brewery tour, you won’t find it at the above breweries. So for my honorable mention, I would head over to Vista Brewing to get the full experience. Technically in Driftwood, not Dripping, their tasting room is a little bit more upscale with an onsite kitchen. Large playscape for kids towards the rear of the property is a plus!
Best Distilleries in Dripping Springs
- Treaty Oak – One of our favorite places. Their specialty is bourbon whiskey here. You can do a tasting, take a tour, or enjoy a cocktail on-site. Also available are beer and wine for those who may not partake in spirits. With a restaurant on site and a huge property to roam this is a gathering spot that many people love. Kid-friendly as well.
- Deep Eddy Vodka – With an expansive tasting room and a fun outdoor area, if you like vodka cocktails this is a great stop. Typically a food truck will be on-site on the weekend. Not kid-friendly.
- Dripping Springs Distilling – Formerly just a production facility with a small tasting area, they recently built a building called Distiller’s Hall. Here you can take a tour, sample different liquors (including Bourbon, Gin, and Vodka), or have a craft cocktail. There is also food on-site.
Address: 5330 Bell Springs Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Things To Do in Dripping Springs
Whether you want to shop or head outdoors, Dripping has some great options for you.
One of our favorite places to roam around is on Historic Mercer Street in downtown Dripping Springs. I’ll give you some top recommendations there, and also for what things to do outdoors in Dripping Springs below.
Historic Mercer Street - Downtown Dripping Springs
Shopping
- Home Decor – Revel Wilde, Penache, Farmhouse Cortale
- Gifts – Vintage Soul, Revel Wilde
- Women’s Fashion – Vintage Soul (my favorite!), Starrs on Mercer, and Palm Social Collective
Beverages
- Coffee – Mazama
- Beer – Acopon, Barber Shop, Hudson’s on Mercer
- Cocktails – Grawlix Cocktail Bar
- Wine & Beer – Sidecar Tasting Room (located a little north on Old Fitzhugh)
Things To Do
- Live Music – Check out the schedule at Hudson’s on Mercer to see who’s playing live.
- Feed Store – Wander into the feed store to see an untouched historic building
- Special Events – Founder’s Day in the Spring, Christmas on Mercer in December, and Farmer’s Market every Wednesday night just across 12.
Dripping Springs Outdoor Activities
Hamilton Pool – Pictured, this swimming hole is truly beautiful. Located close to Dripping Springs off Hamilton Pool Road, this popular swimming spot is a great place to cool down during the summer month. In the off-season you can still visit to hike the grounds and enjoy.
Note: You will need to hike down to the hole a bit, so bring a decent pair of shoes. Reservations need to be made year around. Cost is $15 a car, or $5 a car if someone is over 62. You will need to make a reservation for your car in advance, and then pay a per person fee once you arrive. They only accept cash in-person.
Pedernales Falls State Park – Close to both Dripping Springs and Johnson City, this park offers a lot to do and see. There are hiking trails that are both easy or advanced, as well as mountain biking trails. You can hike to see a waterfall, or swim at other locations along the river. There are primitive camping sites, as well as sites that offer water and electricity.
Note: There is an entrance fee of $6 for adults, children 12 & under are free. Campsites range from $10 – $20 a night plus the daily entrance fee. Please read the safety guidelines on the park website before arriving.
RV Camping: We recently spent a night in a RV rental here! It’s an amazing spot to camp overnight with plenty of space between sites. Cost per night for electric and water was $20, on top of per person park entry fee (total of $32). We would absolutely camp here again!
Are you going to add Dripping Springs to your destination list? Comment below and let me know!
This small but growing town is such a great place to spend some time, and I hope you have a chance to come check it out. If you have any questions about trip planning or Dripping Springs things to do, comment below.
Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase through these links (we so appreciate your support), at no additional cost to you.
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