Overview
Burton is a small rural town on the western end of Washington County (Texas) in the state of Texas. Built on the traditions of German immigrants, Burton still holds true to its small town values. You will be hard to find an unfriendly face or an unpleasant greeting. Although Burton is in the middle of it all - minutes from Washington on the Brazos, a couple hours from The Alamo, an hour and half from the State Capital, and a few hours from the coast - the citizens still keep to a humble small-town life that is rare to find.
2 sights · 4 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Burton
The Burton Cotton Gin
Began operation in 1914, and still makes a bale of cotton at the annual Cotton Gin Festival
Burton Train Depot
The location of the train depot where tracks used to run by downtown Burton.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 98°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Oct. (climate data from nearby Austin)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CLL Easterwood Field, College Station — 31 mi away. Directions
- AUS Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Austin — 64 mi away (major hub). Directions
US Hwy 290 runs straight through Burton. You can either enter eastbound on 290 coming from Austin or westbound coming from Houston. You may travel down FM 1697 or FM 390 to come in on the Northern side of town. Both routes offer plenty of historical markers for understanding the historical significance of the area. If you are traveling by private plane, Brenham has the closest municipal airport, and is approximately 20 miles away.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Burton Cotton Gin
- Lunch The Burton Cafe
- Afternoon Burton Train Depot
- Dinner The Brazos Belle
- Evening Pig & Whistle Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Understand
Burton was established in 1862 and named for John M. Burton, an early settler in the area. The town is a rural, farming, German community with deep heritage. The town's economy benefited from the extension of the Houston and Texas Central Railway from Brenham to Austin after the Civil War. During the 1880s Burton had three churches, a bank, a school, and a hotel, and by 1885 it had a population of 150. Burton had a population of 800 and thirty businesses by the mid-1940s. During the 1970s, however, the town declined, and its residents had dwindled to 311 by 1990.
Get in
US Hwy 290 runs straight through Burton. You can either enter eastbound on 290 coming from Austin or westbound coming from Houston. You may travel down FM 1697 or FM 390 to come in on the Northern side of town. Both routes offer plenty of historical markers for understanding the historical significance of the area. If you are traveling by private plane, Brenham has the closest municipal airport, and is approximately 20 miles away.
Get around
All modes of transportation are accommodated to the streets of Burton. You can easily get around in a car or bicycle, but it due to its size walking is a great alternative. You might even find a group of horseback riders out for a ride.
See
See The Burton Cotton Gin
Began operation in 1914, and still makes a bale of cotton at the annual Cotton Gin Festival
See Burton Train Depot
The location of the train depot where tracks used to run by downtown Burton.
Eat
Eat The Burton Cafe
Serves up authentic made from scratch German cuisine, in a small rustic cafe. Also the pastries and pies are worth a stop in themselves.
Eat The Brazos Belle
Big city cuisine in a small town. The Belle prides itself in fine cuisine on weekend nights. Made from scratch French inspired meals for a night out on the town.
Eat The Cactus Restaurant
Just good old home-cooking. If you're looking for a country meal to leave you stuffed, The Cactus is the right place. If you're feeling really hungry try to tackle the huge mountain of an order of onion rings.
Eat The Burton Short Stop
A place to grab a quick but good home style meal.
Drink
Even though Burton is a small town, but you can still find places to wet your whistle. Keeping true to its German heritage, a cold beer is always a great way to spend an evening catching up.
Sleep
Stay Knittel Homestead Bed and Breakfast
Nearby
Brenham
City / town · 17 listings · 12 mi away
La Grange
City / town · 7 listings · 25 mi away
Bryan-College Station
City / town · 36 listings · 35 mi away
Weimar
City / town · 4 listings · 35 mi away
Schulenburg
City / town · 1 listings · 39 mi away
Bastrop
City / town · 34 listings · 43 mi away
Magnolia
City / town · 4 listings · 51 mi away
Cameron
City / town · 7 listings · 52 mi away
My experience
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