Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River State Park is well-used and well-loved by Texans. The river is thick with cool waters and friendly swimmers. We hit the Guadalupe River State Park on our way back home from Bandera. It was a refreshing afternoon and allowed us to rinse off the dust we accumulated in the cowboy capital.
You'll find the park situated between Interstate 10 and Hwy 281 to the northeast of Boerne.
The limestone bluffs of the Guadalupe River tower over the river and cast shadows as you play at their feet. The bald cypress trees reach magnificent heights with their exposed root systems tangled and seemingly holding on to nothing more than a few clods of soil.
You can rent a tube after you've entered the park and the guys will transport you by van upstream several miles so you can float back down to your camp or car - estimated float time is 3 hours. The river crosses over four rapids and is a great tubing destination for the family.
Being a state park, you'll pay for entrance. If you're a native Texan, buy the park pass, it's well-worth the $60 investment. There are over 115 state parks in Texas. BUT don't lose your park pass, because the databases among parks are not linked; they won't be able to look you up if you've forgotten or misplaced your card.
Drive Times
Getting from one place to another takes time in the Hill Country. Texas is a big state and there's a lot of land to traverse. I've put together a drive time grid of how long it takes to get from one place to another.
Roadtrips through the Hill Country
The very thought of a roadtrip sparks energy in the air. As a college student, my best friend and I would stock the car with candy bars, sodas and enough clothing to last a week. We'd head off to Vegas or the mountains or sites yet unknown for an overnight.
