Any interesting roads to drive on around Austin, TX?

If you are willing to drive down toward San Marcos “Devil’s Backbone” is a great drive.

From San Marcos follow RR 12 west of to where it connects with RR 32. The road runs the crest of the ridge called the “Devil’s Backbone”.

I second the “Devil’s Backbone” suggestion. Also, RR1826 (Camp Ben) to RR 150 is beautiful. Once you reach 150, turn left toward Driftwood and keep driving till you reach another dead end at 3237. Turn right toward Wimberly. You won’t reguret it.

And BTW, you can extend the Wimberley trip on to Devil’s Backbone—throw in a side order of Canyon Lake, and you have a day trip you won’t forget.

@YoBob & @picante I have been checking those routes out on Google maps and they do look very interesting. I’ll also end up somewhere around Blanco if I chain them together.

You gotta love that about Texas: you can drive all over Hell and creation and never leave the state.

@mrentropy, if you really want to drive all over Hell, just go west of San Angelo. On second thought, keep exploring the Texas Hill Country.

i believe 5th street (near Univ of Tx – Austin Campus) is the street that is closed off during most weekends to party with plenty of bars, eateries, and jazz clubs, including rock bands on rooftops. Also, the bridge near 5th street has millions of bats that fly out at dusk… I enjoyed it

@christos99 I believe you mean 6th street rather than 5th. 6th street is known as the “club district” and was largely responsible for Austin becoming known as the live music capitol of the world.

The bridge you are talking about is just a few blocks south where Congress st. crosses the river. The largest urban colony of Mexican freetail bats make the crevices under that bridge their home during the summer months. They come out in swarms right at dusk do do their job of keeping the bug population in check. It’s really an awesome site.

As for drives, 2222 has some excellent views. Loop 360 down near the “Pennybacker” bridge is also still kind of nice, but development is starting to encroach out that way.

thanks for the correction YoBob :)

One of my favorite activities is driving (or being a passenger while someone else drives) the beautiful Texas Hill Country. @mrentropy, if you’ve not made the journey on 290W to Johnson City and Fredricksburg, put that on your “to do” list. Near Fredericksburg, there is a route called “The Willow City Loop.” It’s a beautiful drive at any time of the year, it is exquisite when the wild flowers are at their peak (late Aprilish, usually). Google “Willow City Loop” and see what you get.

Though now straining under the weight of urban sprawl, Highway 71 from the Y in Oak Hill toward Llano is lovely, too.

I’m ready to pack a picnic lunch and hit the road!

I’ll second the drive towards Johnson City.

If you are into the shopping thing in an old town square, Fredricksburg is worth a side trip. The Nimitz museum there is also worth a couple of hours.

If you are into the hiking thing, go to Enchanted Rock. The drive out there is pleasant and walking the trails there is a great way to spend a day.

I love this part of the world! (as if you can’t tell)

So far I’ve got a huge four hour loop that goes from Mopac to 1826 to 150 to 32 (with a stop at Riley’s On The Backbone) then to 281 to Blanco (Riley’s Rockin’ R Steakhouse), up through Johnson City. I could take 290 East from there, but I chose to go north to Marble Falls, taking a brief stint on 1431 and then cutting through the Balcones Canyon Lands National Wild Refuge. If I’m not too tired of driving by that point I can go halfway up FM 1174 and go back south on CO 328 and rejoin 1431, or if I’m ready to collapse I can keep on 1174 to 29 and finish on I35.

Drive safely and enjoy!

@mrentropy If you are in Marble Falls around dinner time, make a point to stop at the local cafe (I think it’s called the Blue Bonnet). It’s one of those places you might find on “Diner’s Drive in’s and Dives”. They have those great ice box pies with meringue stacked as high as aunt Mable’s bee hive. However, the really cool thing is the marble table and counter tops. The UT geology department actually takes field trips there because some varieties of that marble were completely mined out during the 50’s and are now extinct.

Have a great trip!

@YoBob I have breakfast at the Blue Bonnet every couple of weeks. I’m not a big fan of meringue so those pies look pretty gross to me. I like the omelets, though. I wish I could find my Blue Bonnet t-shirt, though.

@picante Thank you, I will enjoy it :D When I get it set in stone. I’ve found a co-pilot, already.

You are all making me homesick!

I’ve also been hearing about the “Three Sisters” down near San Antonio. They sounds pretty interesting, but that would be a definite day trip.

Today is the day for the big loop. I couldn’t actually get a co-pilot so I’ll be going solo on this trip.

Have fun! Tell us what you liked when you get back.

I had to change the route a little bit. Took I35 most of the way. It was all right. There’s a lot of scenic viewing, but the road seemed pretty straight except for the up and down bits. I didn’t take it all the way, though, because I thought I would curve southwards towards Canyon Lake. Which wasn’t the best idea, ever.

Riley’s On The Backbone was my favorite part. Friendly people and the cheeseburger was damn good.

Try the drive out to Mansfield Dam and Lake Travis via FM 2222. Scenic drive, or at least used to be before all the growth. My hometown, I know Austin well.