Making a list of the best small towns in Texas is no easy feat, mostly because there are so many to choose from. The good news is there’s a perfect town for everyone, whether you’re an avid hiker or prefer passing the time with some window shopping. I’ve put together a trip that leads to five of my favorite small towns in Texas, most of which are located in or near the beautiful Hill Country region. The towns I’ve chosen offer a nice mixture of urban and outdoor recreation, so you can enjoy a well-rounded vacation sure to leave you feeling refreshed.

The entire trip will take you about 7.5 hours to complete, and I created a customizable Google Maps route for your convenience. Of course, you’ll want to spend some time exploring each destination, so I would recommend breaking it up into two days and staying the night somewhere along the way.

Our first stop is beautiful Brenham, best known for being the birthplace of Texas’s favorite ice cream brand, Blue Bell. Touring the creamery is the highlight of a trip to Brenham, but if it happens to be springtime when you visit, driving through the seemingly endless fields of wildflowers is a close second. There are also lots of cute shops and restaurants downtown.

Our next destination is Wimberley, which just might be my favorite small town in Texas. In addition to a quaint downtown area that looks like something from a Hallmark movie, Wimberley is a nature lover’s dream. You can swim at Blue Hole Regional Park, soar through the air with Wimberley Zipline Adventures, and visit the eponymous Jacob’s Well (when it’s open, which is, unfortunately, pretty rare these days).

Now it’s time to head to Dripping Springs, a little town that harbors what is widely considered to be the most beautiful natural wonder in Texas: Hamilton Pool Preserve. The pool is often closed for swimming (even during summer) due to high levels of bacteria, but I think you’ll find that simply admiring this picture-perfect place, with its dramatic limestone overhang and 50-foot waterfall, is plenty of an adventure. Visit the Travis County Parks website to see if the preserve is currently open. Dripping Springs is also known for its breweries, like the celebrity-owned Family Business Beer Company if you’re into that kind of thing. This would be a good time to break for the night, and the Courtyard by Marriott Austin Dripping Springs has excellent reviews on Booking.com.

The next stop is a town you’ve likely heard of because of how much popularity it’s gained in recent years, and that would be Fredericksburg. I chose Fredericksburg as the best small-town weekend getaway in Texas for several reasons, one being that it truly has something for everyone. From world-class shopping and dining to nationally recognized museums to can’t-miss seasonal events, Fredericksburg is worth visiting any time of year.

Ennis is mostly talked about in the spring when it’s time for the annual Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival, so many people don’t realize just how much the town has to offer during the other three seasons. First of all, it’s one of those towns where everyone knows each other, and tourists are made to feel like locals. You can catch a race at the Texas Motorplex, visit a museum or a winery, and more.

Would you take this road trip to some of the most charming small towns in Texas? Which town is your favorite? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Check out our Ultimate Packing List if you need ideas for what to bring with you on the trip.