11 Romantic Small Towns In Texas For A 3-Day Weekend
Three days in Texas is long enough to flirt with adventure but still completely unwind if that's what you're after in a three-day weekend romantic getaway. Outside of San Antonio or Houston are an array of small towns in the Hill Country, on the Gulf of America, or woven into the riverbanks of the U.S. state. Places like South Padre Island or Jefferson or Rockport all tempt couples to sip wine, chase sunsets, explore tide pools, hike a mountain, or stroll under twinkling lights at Christmas time. Romance wears many faces, and in Texas, every pair can find the version that fits them best, perhaps with a little mischief along the way.
Port Aransas
Couples can wander Port Aransas Beach with nothing but warm Gulf water in front of them and pastel-painted cottages behind them. A couple blocks away from the beach, Seashell Village Resort is just one of the more romantic places to stay in this Gulf resort town on Mustang Island. Roberts Point Park gives you one of the better places to walk hand-in-hand with fishing boats sliding in and out of the harbor and dolphins occasionally breaching close enough to shore. Not far away is the 1,217-acre coastal Port Aransas Nature Preserve, which provides scenic trails and wildlife spotting opportunities mere minutes from downtown. Speaking of downtown, there are numerous date night spots to enjoy during your long weekend getaway. This includes Tortuga's Saltwater Grill and the Crazy Cajun.
South Padre Island
South Padre Island stretches along the Gulf of America with 34 miles of beach that make sun and sand as easy to find as margaritas on a patio in this resort town. The shoreline itself is frequently rated as one of the best beaches in the U.S., so it's no wonder why this is one of the better spots for couples to plan a long weekend. Beyond the sand, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center lets you wander boardwalks through salt marsh and spot egrets and herons from elevated platforms, and Sea Turtle, Inc. brings couples face-to-face with rescued sea turtles. Lagoon cruises and eco-tours out of the island's marinas let you look for pelicans and dolphins on the water, and a sunset cruise on Breakaway Cruises may take the cake. Given this is a resort town, there's really no shortage of places to stay. You have Margaritaville Beach Resort near Isla Blanca Beach, Coco Beach Hotel on the beach, and a number of cottages and vacation homes. Beyond town, Ocean Boulevard will take you up through sand dunes, past deserted beaches, to South Padre Adventure Park, where horses will guide you up the sand further as the road comes to an end.
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is a major romantic getaway spot and wedding destination in the middle of Texas Hill Country. Limestone buildings, German lettering, and an endless line of tasting rooms make Main Street ideal for couples seeking somewhere magical for a three-day weekend. Among the many tasting rooms along the strip are Fredericksburg Winery, Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten, and Grape Creek. Numerous date-spot restaurants crowd Main Street as well, and the Marktplatz von Fredericksburg, the central community park, becomes even more romantic when the Christmas lights go up. Museums and galleries are also plentiful in this Texas town, especially those honoring the German settlers who helped found it in 1846. There's an array of accommodation options in Fredericksburg to pick from, including hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and traditional bed and breakfasts such as Clear Springs Log Cabin and Behr House. The latter sits on a sprawling property less than two miles from historic Main Street. About 20 minutes north of town is the Enchanted Rock Natural State Area with its well-known 425 ft tall pink granite rock. But within the town limits, couples can enjoy the trails through wetlands and mud flats at the Fredericksburg Nature Center.
Marble Falls
A Colorado River town backed by Hill Country ridges, Marble Falls is built for couples who want water, wine, and a total lack of urgency. Lake Marble Falls runs along downtown, so the weekend can start with nothing more than walking the shoreline in Johnson Park and watching kayakers drift by. A few blocks inland, Blue Bonnet Cafe handles the a.m. routine, and Main Street pulls the focus at night. On it are restored early-1900s storefronts, bars, local galleries, and the Highland Arts Guild. When December rolls in, the lake turns reflective with the Walkway of Lights at Lakeside Park and the Light-Up Parade down Main Street. Hidden Falls Inn at Lake Marble Falls puts you within walking distance of it all.
Port Isabel
Port Isabel feels a lot like parts of Florida with channels weaving their way through town and Laguna Madre curled around the outside with the Queen Isabella Causeway pointing toward South Padre. The nearby island town has more of the bigger, more plush resorts, but Port Isabel is far more quaint. Meaning you'll find smaller inns to stay at, including The Lighthouse Boutique Hotel. It sits near the causeway and Pirate's Landing Pier and the Dolphin Docks, where you can embark on a cruise out into the waters to spot the playful creatures. This is jsut one of many romantic ways to spend three-days in Port Isabel. The Arturo Galvan Coastal Park is a great place to wander and catch some rays together, and the town itelf has some great date-night spots like Hooper Haus and Taqueria Los Nava.
Granbury
Granbury calls itself the "Celebration Capital of Texas" thanks to year-round events, meaning that couples can time their long weekends there to any number of annual festivals. This includes Granbury's Old Fashioned Fourth of July Festival, which includes one of the top-rated fireworks shows in America, and the Harvest Moon Festival of the Arts in October. Lake Granbury wraps the town's edge with 103 miles of shoreline that keeps boats, kayaks, paddleboards, and fishermen in motion, and Granbury City Beach Park puts sandy water access right next to town. The Inn on Lake Granbury pairs lakefront rooms and balconies with quiet spots to unwind after sunset over dinner and wine. It's also only a couple of blocks away from the historic Granbury Opera House, which fills evenings with musicals and plays and has done so since 1886.
Wimberley
Couples can plan weekends around doing nothing more than walking the banks of the Blanco River and finding a rock to stretch out on. Or they can push their limits at Wimberley Zipline Adventure, clipping into a line across pasture, cedar, and limestone hills. That's the beauty of Wimberley, a Hill Country town between Austin and San Antonio; there's pretty much something for everyone. Old Baldy is a major trail workout, with 218 stone steps to a lookout where the Hill Country rolls in every direction. In town, Emily Ann Theatre and Gardens runs everything from outdoor Shakespeare to seasonal displays, making it a draw for date nights. Onera Wimberley handles the overnight part with elevated treehouse-style suites and private soaking tubs. It's exactly what people book when they want a weekend with no airtight schedule.
Johnson City
Johnson City's changes the entire personality of its downtown during the month of December. The Blanco County Courthouse turns white with millions of bulbs for Lights Spectacular, and Memorial Park joins in, making night walks feel theatrical without going anywhere beyond a few blocks. The Boyhood Home of Lyndon B. Johnson stays open for walk-throughs on a residential corner, grounding the flashier holiday side of this Texas Hill Country town. Couples scheduling their three-day trip outside of December will find fun date activities throughout the year. Drinkers will love Pecan Street Brewing and Lost Draw's tasting room a few blocks away. Wine culture creeps right into the edge of town at Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, where dinner, drinks, and lodging share the same property so nobody has to drive after a long flight of reds. Outdoorsy couples can head east to the Pedernales River at Pedernales Falls State Park. The stacked limestone shelves spread across 5,200 acres, and trails cut along the river's edge.
Rockport
Rockport Beach delivers shallow, Blue Wave-certified waters and picnic areas shaded by massive live oaks, a perfect place for a relaxing and intimate long weekend with your partner. This is a town that skips ostentatious vibes and instead focuses on essentials like beach access, approachable dining, and comfortable accommodations like Days Inn by Wyndham Rockport Texas and Taylor Oaks RV Park. Though there are some luxury waterfront rentals to be found. When it comes to dining options, there are a few highly rated spots like PIK-NIK Deli and Wine Bar, as well as Shelley's. Just beyond town, across the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Bridge, Goose Island State Park preserves 321 acres of coastal habitat, offering a 1,620-foot fishing pier, birdwatching, and the ancient "Big Tree."
Jefferson
Couples can wander Jefferson's brick streets under canopies of ancient live oaks, imagining the bustle of a 19th-century inland port while the Big Cypress Bayou curls around the east side of town down to the south. The Excelsior House Hotel, Texas' oldest continuously operating hotel, keeps its Greek Revival grandeur alive with period furnishings, perfect for a romantic night after Cajun flavors at Auntie Skinner's Riverboat Club. Days in Jefferson can be spent exploring history and various curiosities around town. The Grove property reveals Greek Revival elegance and ghost stories for couples who like a little bit of the macabre with their romance. Outdoorsy couples can enjoy one of the many bike routes that take you around historic downtown and out by Lake O' the Pines.
Lockhart
Vintage shopping, BBQ, and adventures in Lockhart State Park await couples planning a three-day weekend getaway in Lockhart, Texas. The town is just south of Austin and is stripped of all the pomp and circumstance the big city provides. But couples will find luxury, boutique cabins at The Leona. The private cabin experience can be found just a few blocks away from the hub of town, despite being on a lush, rural property. BBQ is a love language in Lockhart, and Kreuz Market has worked the same no-frills ritual since 1900, all market-style service and no sauce. Smitty's Market keeps its fireboxes burning inside a historic downtown grocery building, its walls darkened from decades of smoke. A great date idea is poking around the vintage shops downtown, specifically near the intersection of North Main Street and Walnut. South of town is where you'll find the State Park, complete with trails and a quaint waterfall tumbling over a dam.
From paddling along Lake Granbury to sipping wine on the banks of the Pedernales or feeling sand between your toes on South Padre Island, there's no single formula for romance in Texas. These towns let couples write their own long-weekend story, whether that means late-night strolls along a lake, ziplining over cedar hills, dancing at a festival, or laughing over breakfast in a 19th-century cafe. In Texas, three days can stretch as wide as your sense of adventure... and still leave you wanting more.
