My wife and I are going to be visiting my son in Austin. I plan on renting a Harley one day and would like to show her San Antonio. Is there a good scenic route to ride between the two cities? Pardon my ignorance, but is any part of that area considered "Hill Country" which I've heard so much about? I know these may be dumb questions, but my previous visits to Texas have all been fly-in, fly-out.

Thanks in advance.

 

In Austin Find HWY 290 to 1826 to 150 to Old Kyle Rd to 32 to Purgatory Rd to 306 to River Rd to Hueco Springs Rd to 46 to 3009 to Nacogdoches Rd to 1604 in San Antonio.

Google Maps will Help 2 hours and 51 Minutes ride.

Best BBQ Salt Lick. Best Breaksfast Taco Grumpy's Mexican Cafe (Henry Taco), only order one.

Then Ride San Antonio Mission Trail in South San Antonio. Now National Park Service sites.

Be careful in Austin.


Good Luck Walter

 

Definitely NOT I-35. There are several back roads leaving Austin going south, but many turn out to be gravel and then back to two lane paved. There are no really direct routes either, other than I-35. It`s a "take your chances and an adventure" thing if you `re into that......

 

Thanks! Are those roads all paved? The rental place says no gravel roads.

 

those are all paved
this is just barely on the edge of the hill country
to really enjoy the hill country you would have to go a little farther west

i use to commute on my bike between Austin and SA on 35 and it is a terrible section of road. If you are on vacation i would avoid it

 

How much time do you have? The Hill Country is right in your backyard to the west. Places like Marble Falls, Llano, Johnson City, Fredericksburg, Bandera, Leakey (LAY key), FM 335,336,337 can be folded into a route once you look at a map and search this forum. I'd say an overnight in Fredericksburg would be in order and suit your wife just fine. Or, overnight in Bandera and head into SA from there. Be a cryin' shame if you didn't do that😀

 

bandera is a good place to stay the night for this type of ride for sure.

 

Riding and staying overnight would be great at just about anywhere BUT Austin and San Antonio.. Gotta get away from town to enjoy what the bike and the countryside has to offer. Good news is you are within an hours ride to the West of being smack dab in the middle of the best riding Texas has to offer. Anywhere from Blanco to Bandera will be great riding.

I'd tour San Antonio and all of its attractions in the car, and save the bike rental day for a ride away from town..


The three sisters are some of my favorite roads I have ever ridden, but they are fairly technical and I enjoy them for that reason. Out here where I live its 80 mph flatlands, so I like the turns they have to offer.. The scenery you'll see wont really be any different than the rest of the hill country.

If you leave Austin and have a day, there is plenty of riding close to you. Just head west from I35 and you cant go wrong.

 

jory, funny story about crossing your neck of the plains and a dust devil. They were interesting in the morning and scary in the afternoon. Short version. I beat one and my riding buddy tried...but didn't. In the mirror i saw a wall of dust and he came riding out of it, pulled over and dumped the dust out of his goggles.

Good suggests here. Lots to enjoy west of San Antone.

 

I mapped out the route that you identified above and really like the looks of it! Exactly what I had in mind! Thanks again for taking the time to share it!