Many Texans know that New Braunfels is a premiere vacation destination, especially in the summertime. Many of us have visited here time and time again, and for good reason. If you are from outside of Texas, maybe you have never heard of New Braunfels. It is a super fun town that is rich in water activities, natural wonders, and more. Depending on your preference and time allowed to travel, you can summer vacation in New Braunfels 4-7 days based on this recommendation.
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A Little About New Braunfels
New Braunfels is a city in the Texas Hill Country known for its German heritage. Every summer crowds flock to this town to participate in many of its tourist attractions. The town claims many “firsts” and “oldest” in Texas including Texas’ oldest bakery. Naegelin’s Bakery has been serving its famous strudel and other pastries for over 140 years.
The city was built around two rivers, the Comal River which is spring fed from the Edwards Aquifer and the Guadalupe River which is sourced from Canyon Lake. In addition to being a vital water supply source for New Braunfels, these rivers are the center of most of the tourism in New Braunfels.
How to Get to New Braunfels
New Braunfels is located between Austin and San Antonio. If you are flying here, you can choose to fly to either Austin or San Antonio airports. You will need to rent a car.
If you are traveling from Texas and choose to drive here, below are driving distances and approximate driving times from some major Texas cities:
Austin: 50 miles; 45 minutes
Dallas: 240 miles; 3 hours 35 minutes
Fort Worth: 240 miles; 3 hours 30 minutes
Houston: 190 miles; 3 hours
Lubbock: 400 miles; 6 hours
San Antonio: 30 miles; 35 minutes
Where to Stay on Your Vacation in New Braunfels
You have so many options when it comes to where you will lodge when spending your summer vacation in New Braunfels. The city hosts many hotels and Airbnb options.
If you plan to visit with your family, you may consider staying in an Airbnb. Many Airbnb homes in New Braunfels are historic homes within the town that come with kitchens. For budget travelers who would prefer to cook and eat meals in a home will prefer this type of lodging. However, if you prefer to stay in a hotel, here are some great options.
Budget Accommodations
Howard Johnson by Wyndham New Braunfels
Medium-Priced Accommodations
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson New Braunfels
Courtyard by Marriott New Braunfels River Village
Campsites on River Road
Another fun option is camping on River Road where you can find campsites right on the Guadalupe River. Some downsides to camping is the sweltering summer heat and the drive on River Road to New Braunfels. The road winds along the river, and low speed limits will hinder your ability to get to the city quickly.
When to Go to New Braunfels
Water activities in New Braunfels are generally open late April through September. Schlitterbahn will open for a couple weeks in March for Spring Break and will remain open on weekends only until the summer season. Therefore, if you plan to visit New Braunfels to participate in water parks and river tubing, then come in the summertime.
However, summers are extremely hot and crowded in New Braunfels. If you prefer to skip water activities and enjoy cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, you can visit anytime of the year.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark (2-3 days)
Schlitterbahn Waterpark has been voted the best waterpark in America for 22 years straight and is located on the Comal River. Visit their website for up-to-date hours and pricing. Schlitterbahn is split into two distinct sections, and a free tram will shuttle you between the areas. The original part of the park uses river water from the Comal while the newer parts use treated water. Even though admission prices can be steep, Schlitterbahn does offer a few free amenities to help alleviate the costs. Parking is free, and they allow outside food and drink inside the park. Depending on how many days you plan to visit Schlitterbahn, it may be more cost effective to purchase a season pass.
Tubing (1 day)
Spend a day tubing on the river down small rapids and through tube chutes during your summer vacation in New Braunfels. You have two river options: Comal River and Guadalupe River. Several tubing outfitters are available and located throughout the city for your convenience. Depending on the water flow rates and what float you decide on, your tubing adventure could last anywhere from 1 hour to 8 hours.
Based on my personal experience, the Comal River tends to be more family-friendly than the Guadalupe River. The Guadalupe is generally filled with party-goers who drink heavily while floating. However, the Comal River float is much shorter than the Guadalupe floats. You can bring any food and drinks you will need during your float. However, you are not allowed to bring any disposable containers if you float the rivers inside the New Braunfels city limits. Much of the Guadalupe River is located outside the city limits, which is ideal for partiers to bring disposable beer cans.
Things you should know about tubing in New Braunfels:
- Kids must be over the age of 3 to float the Comal and over the age of 6 to float the Guadalupe
- Disposable containers are not allowed on rivers inside New Braunfels city limits
- Containers smaller than 5 fluid oz. are not allowed on any river (i.e., jello shots)
- No Styrofoam coolers allowed on any river, and coolers should have a locking mechanism
- Police patrol the rivers and issue citations so do not think you will get away with breaking the rules
- Here is the full list of rules for river floating inside and outside the city limits.
Natural Bridge Caverns & Wildlife Ranch (1 day)
The Natural Bridge Caverns & Wildlife Ranch has enough activities to do that you could stretch this park to 2 days, but I have listed it as just 1 day here. Join the Discovery Tour to explore the largest show cavern in Texas, or you can join the Hidden Passages Tour to discover a smaller system of underground caverns. After that, drive through the Wildlife Ranch where you can feed exotic animals such as zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and more. Other activities include zip lines, rope course, maze, and gem and fossil mining. Each activity at this park has a separate fee; there is no one-price, day-pass entry fee. Therefore, if you participate in multiple activities, your day can get very expensive.
Gruene Historic District (1/2 – 1 day)
Gruene is a former ghost town that offers a General Store as well as several unique shopping boutiques. After a day of shopping, eat at The Gristmill Restaurant which is located inside the shell of the old cotton gin. Next to The Gristmill is the historic Gruene Hall, Texas’ oldest dance hall. Gruene Hall features live bands including Texas country staples like Cory Morrow, Eli Young Band, Randy Rogers, and more. If you keep an eye on their calendar, you may be able to snag tickets to big names like Kevin Costner’s band, Kevin Costner and Modern West.
Landa Park (1/2 – 1 day)
Landa Park is a beautiful recreational area you should visit during your vacation in New Braunfels. Here Comal Springs, which is fed from the Edwards Aquifer, fills a swimming area and large oak trees provide shade from the hot Texas sun. In addition to the swimming area, the park offers attractions such as paddle boats, miniature golf, miniature train, playgrounds, and a fishing pier. Also, enjoy a hike on the 1.6-mile Panther Canyon Trail that ascends the Balcones Escarpment into the Edwards Plateau.
Other Attractions You Can Visit During Your Vacation in New Braunfels
- San Marcus Outlet Malls
- Canyon Lake
- Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo
- McKenna Children’s Museum
- Guadalupe Brewing Company
- New Braunfels wineries
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