Fall is truly a magical time of year. The mornings are crisp, hot coffee is enjoyable again, and the leaves transform into some of the most beautiful things on earth. We don't normally associate Texas with fall foliage, but if you know where to look, it's comparable to the northern states. These 8 country drives are some of the best for seeing gorgeous scenery in the fall.
East Texas is easily one of the best places in the state for fall foliage, especially because there are so many long country roads to drive on and enjoy it. This one just south of Tyler is no exception.
The hill country is also a great place to see the changing leaves this time of year. This road runs into US 83 before ending near Concan. It's a winding path with vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges that will make you forget you're still in Texas.
Heading back to East Texas, this farm road runs parallel to a neighborhood lake in Tyler. The sight of the fall leaves reflecting on the water is a breathtaking one indeed.
I almost can't believe this picture is real. Loop 7 winds through seemingly endless miles of trees with eye-popping colors that will make you do a double-take and wonder if there's any way Photoshop could possibly exist in real life.
Athens is easily the best town in East Texas for fall foliage. The road that goes through Davey Dogwood Park is lined with towering Cypress trees that gently spill their vibrant leaves on the ground as you drive. If that isn't the definition of tranquility, I'm not sure what is.
6. FM 187 (Vanderpool)
I talk about Lost Maples a lot, but I usually approach it from the hiking angle. Even if you aren't up for getting hot and sweaty, you can still enjoy what's arguably the most beautiful place in our entire state during fall. Just cruise down FM 187 and gaze in awe at the unbelievably vibrant colors of the trees.
7. FM 3505 (Cooper)
Not many people know about Cooper Lake State Park, but I think that needs to change this season. Located in the tiny East Texas town of Cooper, the park is an ideal destination for the next few months. Each tree is all one color instead of being a combination of reds, oranges, and yellows, so it makes for an interesting, unforgettable view.
Lastly, we have FM 1050 in Utopia, but y'all might know it better as the road leading to Garner State Park. You've probably driven it many times during the summer to partake in water activities at the most popular state park in Texas, but you're truly missing out if you haven't done it during the fall.
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Have you driven on any of these roads in the fall? Are there any other roads in Texas that have beautiful foliage this time of year?
When thinking about the Texas Hill Country, Austin is probably the first place that comes to mind for most people. And while our capital city has plenty of perks, solitude is not one of them. Luckily, this vast region encompasses many remote areas that offer peace and quiet, such as the Texas Hill Country Overland Route. This 191-mile journey is by far one of the best scenic drives in Texas, showcasing lush greenery, pristine bodies of water, and undulating hills.
The trail begins near Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River, and ends just before crossing the Llano River. Other than Fredericksburg, the route doesn’t pass through any densely populated areas, so you can roll the windows down and revel in the sounds of nature with few distractions. The drive will take you a minimum of several hours, but you’ll want to allot more time if you have a sedan due to the water crossings.
You’ll feel like you’ve entered a painting as you navigate the winding streets leading through the vast and untouched landscape. The views are an absolute dream, from the hillsides dotted with fertile greenery to the crystal-clear streams to the native wildlife grazing in the pastures. It’s also amazingly calm out here. You may even be inspired to ditch your road trip playlist and opt to listen to the sweet sound of silence instead.
Visit AllTrails for more information about the route. I also recommend signing up for AllTrails+ if you spend a lot of time outdoors. My favorite feature is offline map access — it’s so comforting to know I won’t get lost, especially when exploring remote areas with spotty cell service. If you decide you want to spread the trip out across two days, Fredericksburg is the perfect town for a quick getaway.
Have you ever embarked on the Texas Hill Country Overland Route? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments, as well as your personal favorite scenic drives in Texas!
I turned 40 this year and made a resolution to travel more. You see, I have four kids and we generally take one big family trip a year, but as a travel editor and 40-year-old resolving to heed the call of her wanderlust, I wanted more. More trips, more adventures, more intentionality. And so I put an amendment to my original resolution: each year, I would take each of my kids on a 1:1 getaway, traveling to all of the places in the US I've been wanting to explore. Spoiler alert: my bucket list is BIG.
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I booked my flights and got to work setting up trips, itineraries, and accommodations, and the lucky McCosham kid who won the spot on the very first Sarah McCosham + Sidekick Adventure was Mary, my second-born, 11-year-old mini. Mary's starting sixth grade this fall and truthfully, I don't know where the time's gone.
Back to the trip: we both immediately agreed on Austin, citing Hamilton Pool, several parks and attractions, and variety of vegan cuisine as our rationale. (These factors outweighed the sweltering temps that might give some pause to visit Austin in August, but we were steadfast: Austin or bust!) As a family of six, it's important I pay close attention to budget when planning a trip, and so, after striking gold in terms of awesome and affordable Austin Airbnbs, I set an ambitious challenge: 48 hours in Austin, Texas, on a budget of under $100 (lodging excluded). Could it be done? We set off to find out.
Things To Do for Free in Austin
My hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio -- a place touted for its low cost of living -- so I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to access to free and budget-friendly activities. With a population of nearly a million, Austin is roughly three times bigger than Cincinnati, and I was a bit worried the "bigger is better" mantra for which Texas is known would also apply to the cost of activities, attractions, and dining. Happily, not only did I find prices to be incredibly reasonable in Texas's capital city, I also stumbled upon tons of free things to do in Austin, too.
Austin’s public art is unrivaled; you’ll find graffiti and large-scale murals on pretty much every main drag and side street. Mary and I were delighted by the plethora of public art: Wonder Woman on a downtown building, vibrant murals brightening up alleyways, and of course, the ionic “i love you so much” mural on Congress Avenue.
Speaking of Congress Avenue, not only is this *the* place for shopping and dining, but it’s also home to the Texas State Capitol, another must-visit in ATX.
Admission is free and there are both guided and self-guided tours available. The grandeur of this building — which is actually taller than our nation’s capital — is incredible.
Of course, Austin is known for its natural beauty and robust parks, and I was blown away by how many of these attractions were free. The Austin Nature & Science Center was an awesome gem we found while exploring Zilker Park (another free treasure worth exploring in full).
Also, the peacocks at Mayfield Park (and this glorious urban park in and of itself) stood out as a high point of the trip. Mayfield Park is home to a large flock of free-roaming peacocks known to strut their stuff and put on quite a show.
Speaking of avian species, ATX is also home to to the world’s largest urban bat colony; the Congress Avenue Bridge houses an estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats who emerge each night, like the Dark Knight himself.
Not only did I find lots of free activities in Austin, but I was delighted by the number of inexpensive options in this Texas town. Mary and I bounced from park to park and attraction to attraction -- seemingly on a dime! Here are some of our favorite inexpensive attractions in Austin, Texas:
Texas has an extraordinary parks system and Travis County (where Austin is located) is no exception. For $12, Mary and I got access to all Travis County Parks for the day, including Reimers Ranch, a park with some of the most varied flora and fauna in ATX, from lush trees and bold flowers to prickly cacti and brush. There’s also a short trail that leads to a jaw-dropping view of the Pedernales River that’s worth the trip alone.
There are over two dozen parks that make up the Travis County Parks system; most famous, of course, is Hamilton Pool Preserve. This bucket-list destination is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful natural pools in the country and I have to say, it absolutely lived up to the hype.
When visiting Hamilton Pool, you’ll want to make a reservation through the Travis County Parks website; you’ll select a spot in either the morning or afternoon “reservation times” — this ensures the pool doesn’t get too crowded. In addition to the day use fee ($12), I paid $8 for my own entry — kids under 13 are free. Please not that the day use pass can be pre-purchased online via credit card online; however, the entry fee to Hamilton Pool is cash only.
There’s a quarter-mile hike from the parking lot to the pool; it’s very steep and rocky at times, so definitely wear good hiking shoes. Depending on water levels and other conditions, swimming may or may not be allowed when you visit, and/or only in designated areas.
An unexpected surprise when we visited Hamilton Pool was how many catfish were cruising around the shallow end. (Don’t worry — they were all very uninterested in us!) Because the water is so clear, you’ll be able to see all sorts of creatures that call this Texas oasis home.
The grand total for our Austin parks adventures? $20.
Cheap Eats in Austin
Austin is known for Tex-Mex cuisine, and you'll find delicious taquerias on pretty much every corner of the city. With its warm weather year-round, this Texas town is also known for its food trucks, with large "pods" featuring multiple trucks and sidewalk singletons equally ubiquitous. Add in budget-friendly grub for the local college students and you'll find it's really easy to dine on a budget in Austin, Texas.
After spending the afternoon at Hamilton Pool, Mary and I were starving for some classic Tex Mex fare. We visited De Nada Cantina on the advice of our Airbnb hosts, and it didn’t disappoint. We ate our weight in homemade chips and salsa roja, grabbing a vegetarian taco and drinks (a world-famous margarita on the rocks for me and a watermelon aqua fresca for Mary) to round out our meal. Because we visited for an early meal during Happy Hour (read = discounted menu!) grand total for this meal was $20 — quite a deal!
Other on-the-cheap meals during our trip included a massive plate of black bean nachos from The Vegan Nom ($13), Texas-size slices of cheese 'za from Home Slice Pizza on Congress Avenue ($8.50), and the Vegan Crispy Taco Plate from Bouldin Creek Cafe ($10). We rounded out our meals with fresh produce and snacks from Whole Foods ($18), putting our grand total for food at $68.
Happily, the affordability of Austin extends to its accommodations; I'd booked us an adorable Airbnb in East Austin that was the perfect "home base" for our adventures, though I'd also researched hotels and other options for affordable lodging in ATX.
After browsing Airbnb and weighing our options, I booked two nights at Casa Plata, a sleek, new, modern casita-style guesthouse in East Austin.
This Airbnb in East Austin was a steal at $113/night; inside this one-bedroom home was a laundry, full kitchen, full bath, and adorable outdoor patio that was absolutely perfect for our needs. The owners were kind and responsive, and even provided us with a few provisions at arrival. (They also had tons of great restaurant recommendations, all compiled in a cute coffee table book.)
If you’re more of a hotel kind of traveler, you’ll find tons of great options on Booking.com — centrally located, well-appointed, super affordable options! Pictured here: the iconic Fairmount in Downtown ATX which offers luxury and prime location at a surprisingly affordable rate.
So, y'all, back to my original question: Is it possible to visit Austin, Texas, on the cheap? Indeed it is. Texas's capital city isn't just a music mecca with killer Tex Mex food, fascinating history, immense natural beauty, and the quirkiest, coolest attractions, it also makes for an amazing and affordable getaway. My daughter and I found so many free and cheap things to do in Austin, Texas, that we definitely needed more than just one weekend to do them all. A return trip is most definitely in order.
