Austin to Lubbock Road Trip Guide

You can take your time waking up from your night in Lake Brownwood State Park since your next destination is only just over an hour away. Abilene is a small city that has plenty of fun activities for you and your friends to enjoy.

Since Abilene is a former frontier settlement there are plenty of interesting aspects of the Old West, most notably at Frontier Texas! This history museum is very interactive and has various exhibitions where you can learn about the history of the area. The museum also doubles as the official visitor center for Abilene, so it is the perfect first-stop during you and your friend's visit to the city.

If you want to see some more history you can take a drive out to the Historic Fort Phantom Hill where you can explore this 19th-century military post that served the Confederate and the United States Army. You could also pay a visit to the Abilene Zoo or view the impressive Jacob's Dream Sculpture that is near the city center. There are plenty of great restaurants in Abilene too, including Belle's Chicken Dinner House and The Beehive if you are feeling like some American eats.

Once you are worn out from all of the fun the Abilene KOA Journey is calling your name. Here you will be able to stay at sites that offer full or electric and water hookups, as well as having the option to use the pool, laundry room, and WiFi.

After you depart Hamilton Pool Preserve there are many places to visit as you head on the 71 West towards Lubbock. Balancing out your drive is important so that you have time to check out your chosen destination each day, and at under three hours from the preserve, Lake Brownwood State Park is the perfect place to stop.

Featuring a mixture of lakeside fun, rolling hills, forested slopes, and wide-open fields, Lake Brownwood State Park is the place to see if you and your friends want to spend a day and night in nature. The park was originally developed back in the 1930s and the main attraction is Lake Brownwood, which is over 7,000 acres in length. Popular recreational activities in the park include swimming, boating, and fishing on the lake, while off the water you can attend ranger-led programs, hiking, and birding.

The park is open all year round and is very serene, so make sure that you stop by on your way to Lubbock. Considering staying the night? The Main Campground in the park has 75 sites to choose from, including 20 that offer full hookups. Reserving a site next to your friends means you can set up camp together and continue the fun into the night, so the campground is a great accommodation choice.

Austin is home to so many great bars, clubs, and museums, so there is no shortage of things to do with your friends to kick off this weekend RV road trip. One of the best aspects of Austin is how green it is and the nature that surrounds the city, so consider spending some time in the great outdoors.

Barton Springs is the most popular place for natural swimming in Austin, but an outdoor paradise that is often overlooked is the Hamilton Pool Preserve. Located on the outskirts of Austin on the way to Lubbock, the Hamilton Pool Preserve is a gorgeous swimming hole that features a 50-foot waterfall and crystal clear water. Along with a beautiful swimming area, there are some great hiking trails and picnic areas, so you can easily spend the whole day here.

Hamilton Pool Preserve will be a quieter place to go for a swim in comparison to Barton Springs since it is around 30 miles outside of the city, so it is perfect for you and your friends to experience before hitting the road.

In order to limit the damage to this beautiful area, there is a cap in place on how many people can visit it each day. For this reason, reservations are required during the peak season from the beginning of March until the end of October.