Overview
San Marcos is a college town in the Central Hill Country region of Texas in the United States of America, about half an hour's drive south of the state's capital, Austin. The site of human habitation for over 10,000 years, it was settled in 1808 by Mexican families, and is now the home to Texas State University-San Marcos. In 2020, it had a population of 58,000 people.
7 sights · 9 things to do · 5 places to eat · 6 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about San Marcos
San Marcos River
The river that made the city runs through town. It's popular for tubing, canoeing, swimming, and fishing. There are many parks and restaurants along the river, and it's pretty much impossible to see any of San Marcos wit…
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment - Texas State University
Nature center, springs, wetlands, glass bottomed boats on Spring Lake.
Wonder World Cave & Adventure Park
A cave and theme park. With a train. This is a tectonic cave', a rare type of cave formed by shifting plates beneath the earth's surface. There are no stagmites or stalagmites in a tectonic cave.
Rio Vista Park
When the old dam was nearing collapse, the city decided to replace it with an artificial whitewater course. The new addition to the park has made it tremendously popular with swimmers, tubers, and boaters alike. There ar…
San Marcos Discovery Center
Ecological exhibit center for the San Macros and Blanco Rivers.
Downtown (The Square)
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.
- AUS Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Austin — 28 mi away (major hub). Directions
- SAT San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio — 40 mi away (major hub). Directions
San Marcos is located along interstate 35 (I-35) in between Austin and San Antonio.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $57–$68 a night (typical $67), from 5 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$90, mid-range ~$120, comfortable ~$190.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning LBJ Museum, Calaboose African American History Museum, Wonder World Cave & Adventure Park
- Lunch Herbert's Taco Hut
- Afternoon San Marcos Discovery Center, Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club
- Dinner Ivar's River Pub
- Evening The Tap Room
Day 2
- Morning Five Mile Dam Park, San Marcos River, San Marcos Lions Tube Rental
- Lunch Grins
- Afternoon Texas Water Safari, Summer in the Park
- Dinner San Marcos BBQ
- Evening Showdown
Day 3
- Morning Meadows Center for Water and the Environment - Texas State University, Rio Vista Park, Downtown (The Square)
- Lunch Palmer's Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard
- Afternoon Purgatory Creek Natural Area, Movies in the Park
- Evening Sean Patrick's Irish 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
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
San Marcos is often considered a college town, with the huge percentage of the population attending or supporting Texas State University-San Marcos. Most bars, restaurants, and attractions are centered around services to a college crowd. There is also a considerable conservationist mindset associated with the local rivers and endangered species. Several species live only in the headwaters of the San Marcos River.
Get in
San Marcos is located along interstate 35 (I-35) in between Austin and San Antonio.
From Austin, take I-35 South about 23 miles. You can take exits 206-204 to access the town. The university is on the West (right) side of I-35 coming from the direction of Austin.
From San Antonio, take I-35 North approximately 46 miles. You may take exits 204 thru 206 to access the town. Texas State University and the town square are on the West (left) side of the freeway coming from San Antonio.
Notably, San Marcos is a popular shopping destination, as it hosts large outlet malls South of the town about 5 miles, in the direction of San Antonio. You cannot miss them from I-35 (on the East side of the freeway).
To get to San Marcos from Houston, take IH-10 west to Luling (exit 632, about two hours), turn right (on to SH-80) and go through Luling. Continue on SH-80 north (the designated highway turns left, just after the railroad tracks). Beware of the speed traps in Martindale, just before San Marcos.
Get around
By car
Travel in most American cities, especially outside of major metro areas, is primarily by private vehicle. Parking is almost always abundant and free. (There are a few lots close to the city square where the owners tow aggressively; be sure to watch for parking signs.) The average tourist would be well-advised to rent a car from a rental agency if they don't already have their own vehicle. Traffic is usually light.
Take caution at some low water bridges. Never drive through a flooded low water crossing. Even a couple of inches of water can wash your car into the river. You then stand a good chance of losing your life.
By bus
Capital Area Rural Transportation System offers limited bus service. The fare is 50 cents.
By bicycle
Most attractions are very close to the down town and campus areas. While the hills sometimes get steep and can present an athletic challenge, many destinations are a very short ride away.
See
See San Marcos River
The river that made the city runs through town. It's popular for tubing, canoeing, swimming, and fishing. There are many parks and restaurants along the river, and it's pretty much impossible to see any of San Marcos without seeing a lot of the river.
See Downtown (The Square)
Do
Do Rio Vista Park
When the old dam was nearing collapse, the city decided to replace it with an artificial whitewater course. The new addition to the park has made it tremendously popular with swimmers, tubers, and boaters alike. There are also rope swings, good picnic areas, and a great playground just up the river.
Events
- Hill Country Jazz Festival at Texas State University in February.
- Eddie Durham Day Festival, September.
Buy
Eat
Budget
Eat Herbert's Taco Hut
Tex-mex. Local taco joint, loved by the locals.
Mid-range
Eat Ivar's River Pub
Some tasty American grub with a pond setting.
Eat San Marcos BBQ
Some serious slabs of meat and BBQ here.
Splurge
Eat Palmer's Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard
Drink
Downtown San Marcos is surrounded by what the locals call "The Square." There are more than enough bars next to and around each other to "bar hop" until you find an establishment that is right for you.
Bars
All the bars are open until 2AM every night now, and you are allowed to smoke cigarettes inside
Drink The Tap Room
A wide selection of beer.
Drink Sean Patrick's Irish Pub
On the southeast corner of the downtown square. It offers a nice assortment of beers and whiskies and fine examples of Irish fare and Texas bar staple foods. Sean Patrick's also has shuffle board and billiards.
Drink Cheatham Street Warehouse
An established venue where once neophyte musicians like George Strait and Stevie Ray Vaughn got their start.
Local Beer
Drink Real Ale Brewing Company
Makes several distinct brews, available at retail outlets in the area.
Coffee Shops
Drink Mochas & Javas
Cappuccinos with palm frond designs and sandwiches at this local startup.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Stay safe
San Marcos is a small city, and tends to be very safe. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, so it's not necessary to carry large amounts of cash.
Emergency services such as police, fire, and medical can be reached by calling 911.
There are many places to swim in the local rivers. Some are often crowded, some are very secluded. Regardless of where you swim, always use the buddy system, and always have a way to contact emergency services (note that cell phones often lose service in the low area immediately about the river, so check the signal at your designated "towel spot" before swimming if you will rely on your cell phone for calling emergency services).
Go next
- Comal River, a popular tubing destination.
- Guadalupe River, tubing and canoeing.
- Hill Country
- Bastrop
- Austin
- Luling
- San Antonio
- New Braunfels - Located 19 miles southwest of San Marcos, this town is best known for its German culture and heritage, not to mention the Schlitterbahn, persistent in being voted the world's best waterpark.
Wimberley
Place Jack Glover's Cowboy Museum
The museum's founder, Jack Glover, was a cowboy who died in 2015 at 97 years. His small museum displays a large collection of cowboy exhibits, story of Jack 'Barbed Wire King' Glover and stories about past life.
Place Jacob's Well
A 120-foot-deep spring, with hidden caves that attract swimmers and divers (but be careful; they can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing).
Nearby
Kyle
City / town · 3 listings · 8 mi away
New Braunfels
City / town · 33 listings · 17 mi away
Driftwood
City / town · 4 listings · 18 mi away
Seguin
City / town · 14 listings · 21 mi away
Luling
City / town · 14 listings · 22 mi away
Dripping Springs
City / town · 3 listings · 23 mi away
Natural Bridge Caverns
Park · 27 mi away
Austin
City / town · 65 listings · 29 mi away
My experience
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