Many Texas motorcyclists and visitors name the roads across the Texas Hill Country as some of their favorite rides. Check out some of these Hill Country motorcycle rides the next time you’re near Austin and the area west of Texas Capital City.
Austin-Hill Country BBQ Day Trip Loop (With Visit to Enchanted Rock)
Any motorcycle enthusiast needs to eat, and trying out the Texas barbecue around Austin offers scenic roads with some of the best eats in the country.
Starting in North Austin at the Austin Steam Train Museum, go west on Whitestone Boulevard, which turns into FM 1431. This scenic road snakes westward through ranchland along the north side of the Colorado River.
After a bit more than an hour, your first stop will be Holy Smokes in Marble Falls (open for lunch). After your first BBQ tasting, head north on Avenue H (U.S. 281) 15 minutes to Burnet, where you’ll find Warehouse BBQ and Meetery (open only on weekends).
Turn left to go west about a half-hour (without stops) on Texas Highway 29 past Inks Lake State Park and Buchanan Lake Dam until you reach Llano, where visiting Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que is a must.
For a fabulous afternoon side trip, and to work up your appetite for your next BBQ pitstop, drive south on Texas 16 about 25 miles to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. This natural granite dome is one of Texas’s most fascinating geological wonders, and it’s quite a climb. The large granite boulders are a memorable sight.
From the park return north on Texas 16 for about 20 miles and then take Highway 71 eastward to get to Opie’s Barbecue in Spicewood just in time for dinner. From there, it’s an easy return to Austin.
Gruene-Fredericksburg-Bandera Loop
The 190-mile ride will take you through small towns, winding motorcycle roads, and historic areas. Stop by Plooky’s Cajun Boilin Pot in Canyon Lake, made famous on Queer Eye, or ride into legendary Luckenbach and stop at the dance hall for live country music in the town made famous by a song. Visit the oldest dance hall in Texas in Gruene and the cowboy capital of the world in Bandera.
Starting in Bulverde, take TX-46 E to Gruene. From there, take FM306. Follow that for 20 miles, then turn right on FM484 N. Make a left onto Farm to Market 32, riding through Blanco and leaving on Farm Road 1623/River Road. Ride through Luckenbach to Fredericksburg.
Take S State Highway 16 out of Fredericksburg to Kerrville, home of the famous Kerrville Folk Festival. In Kerrville, get on TX-173 S to ride through Bandera. Leave Bandera by TX-16 S and merge onto TX-46 E to head back to Bulverde.
Nueces River Valley Loop
This double-loop route offers some fantastic road options for winding twists and turns, plus tons of opportunities to stop for pictures. Starting in Rocksprings, head down to Brackettville by Ranch Road 674. Transfer to TX-55 N by RM 334 E. Head north on TX-55, then turn right onto Ranch Road 335. Follow the road along the Nueces River Valley.
At the end of RR-335, you’ll reach TX-41. Make a right and follow 41 for 14 miles. Turn right onto Ranch Road 336 S and follow it for 27 miles to reach Leakey. Take Ranch Road 337 W/6th Street west out of town, then turn right onto TX-55 N to head back to Rocksprings.
Don’t miss the natural beauty of the Nueces River, the Devil’s Sinkhole, or Kickapoo Cavern State Park.
Call Us at Law Tigers for Motorcycle Law in the Texas Hill Country
We hope you’ll enjoy these Hill Country motorcycle rides on your next visit to central Texas. For motorcycle law in Austin and across the country, call us at Law Tigers at 1-888-863-7216. We’re motorcycle accident injury lawyers who ride.
