Outdoor Fun

Top 17 Places to Find Texas Wildflowers

Texas Wildflowers. perfect spring getaway to Garner State Park
Along the highways and scenic byways, see wildflowers, including the Texas Bluebonnet. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

In Texas, winter is short in Texas. At the beginning of March the weather starts to warm and green colors the landscape. Soon after, the Texas Highways pop with colorful displays. Starting in March along the Texas Gulf Coast, travelers will find native wildflowers and native grasses along the roadsides First, the blue and pink flowers start to bloom then the reds and yellow flowers start to bloom and last to June. The best way to see wildflowers in Texas is to plan a road trip. Here are top 17 places to find Texas Wildflowers this spring.

Top 17 Places to Find Texas Wildflowers

Ennis Bluebonnet Trails and Festival
Georgetown Red Poppy Festival
Burnet Bluebonnet Festival
Texas State Highway 71
Texas State Highway 29
U.S. Route 290
Texas State Highway 16
U.S. Highway 87
U.S. Highway 83
Texas State Highway 55
LBJ National and State Parks
Enchanted Road State Natural Area
Blanco State Park
Pedernales Falls State Park
Garner State Park
Government Canyon State Park
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Top Texas Wildflower Festivals

Ennis Bluebonnet Trails and Festival

Located about 30 minutes from Dallas, Ennis is the official Bluebonnet City of Texas. It offers a quaint downtown and 40 mapped roads around town with spectacular wildflowers. The best wildflower viewing is from April 1 to April 30. The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival runs from April 19 to 21.

Georgetown Red Poppy Festival

Located north of Austin, the Georgetown Red Poppy Festival turns the town red. Visitors will find 120 artisans around the downtown square and live music. There’s a cooking competition and parade to round out the weekend. It is Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Burnet Bluebonnet Festival

Located in the Texas Hill Country, Burnet hosts the 41st Annual Bluebonnet with live music, a small-town parade, a 5k and even a car show. It runs from Friday, April 12 to Sunday, April 14, 2024.

Bluem Festival

New for 2024, Bluem Festival will be held at Muleshoe Ben Recreation Area. It will offer outdoor recreation, like e mountain biking, rock climbing and lots of wildflowers on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Located at 2820 County Road 414, Spicewood. Park admission is $5 per person; activities are extra.

Texas Hill Country Wildflower Drives

Find the best wildflowers along the scenic highways and byways of Texas, especially in the Texas Hill Country. Here are the best highways to drive for Texas Wildflowers.

Texas State Highway 71

West of Austin, Texas State Highway 71 is often covered in Texas wildflowers. Continue to U.S. Route 281, either north or south.

Texas State Highway 29

Head west from Georgetown, and take Texas Highway 29 to Burnet. You can continue west through Mason.

U.S. Route 290

U.S. Route 290 goes from Houston to Austin and through the Texas Hill Country. West fo Houston, wildflowers start popping up at Brenham and continue until the Austin City Limits.

Travelers can continue west out of Austin on U.S. Route 290. The wildflowers start in Dripping Springs and continue past LBJ National and State Parks all the way to Fredericksburg.

Texas State Highway 16

Located in the Texas Hill Country, take Texas Highway 16 north out of Fredericksburg to Llano then turn back on Texas Highway 29.

U.S. Highway 87

From Fredericksburg, travelers can drive along U.S. 87 Highway to Comfort.

U.S. Highway 83

Located in the far western Hill Country, U.S. Highway 83 offers the best wildflowers from Uvalde through Concan to Junction for wildflowers.

Texas State Highway 55

Another option near Uvalde, Texas State Highway 55 heads west to Rocksprings.

Best Spring Break Destinations in Texas
LBJ National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park offers wildflower meadows. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Best State Parks in Texas for Wildflowers

LBJ National and State Parks

Located near Johnson City, this pair of parks offers spectacular spring shows in the Hill Country. Visit the LBJ State Park first at 199 Park Rd. 52 in Stonewall to secure a driving permit to enter the LBJ National Historical Park. Located behind the state park. Free

Enchanted Road State Natural Area

Find wildflowers at the base of the 425-foot granite monolith.

Located at 16710 Ranch Rd. 965 in Fredericksburg. Adult admission (13+) is $8 and kids 12 and under are free. Camping available.

Top Things to Do in Fredericksburg
Blanco State Park is in bloom. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Blanco State Park

With wildflowers, a natural swimming area and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) buildings, find wildflowers along the banks of the Blanco River.

Located at 101 Park Rd. 6026 in Blanco. Adult admission (13+) is $5 and kids 12 and under are free. Camping available.

Pedernales Falls State Park

Along the banks of the Pedernales River, find limestone outcroppings and spring wildflowers.

Located at 2585 Park Road 6026 in Johnson City. Adult admission (13+) is $6 and kids 12 and under are free. Camping available.

Guadalupe River State Park

Along the Guadalupe River, wildflowers intermingle with native trees.

Located at 3350 Park Rd 31 in Spring Branch. Adult admission (13+) is $7 and kids 12 and under are free. Camping available.

Top Things to Do in Garner State Park
Mt. Baldy perfect spring getaway to Garner State Park
A hike up Mt. Baldy is a favorite with visiting Garner State Park. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Garner State Park

In the shadow of Old Baldy, the highest point in Garner, find wildflowers. They are also along the banks of the Frio River. Historic CCC buildings dot Garner State Park as well.

Located at 234 Ranch Road 1050 near Concan. Adult admission (13+) is $8 and kids 12 and under are free. Camping available.

Government Canyon State Park

Discover this rugged beauty and wildflowers along its 40 miles of trails. And it’s the recharge zone for San Antonio’s water system.

Located at 12861 Galm Rd. near San Antonio. Adult admission (13+) is $6  and kids 12 and under are free. Camping available.

Learn More About Wildflowers

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.” Lady Bird Johnson

Learn about wildflowers and native plants at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Lady Bird spent her life protecting the native plants and landscapes of Texas and the U.S.

Lady Bird and Helen Hayes, the actress, founded the National Wildflower Research Center, later renamed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. With 280 acres south of Austin find over 900 native Texas species. And it’s a Texas State Botanic Garden and Arboretum by the Texas Legislature.

Located at 4801 La Crosse Ave. in South Austin. Open every day except for major holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $15 and kids 5 to 17 are $8.

Top Wildflowers in Texas

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife, over 5,000 different species of wildflowers grow in Texas. Though many grow and flourish in the poor and rocky soils along the highways, not all do. Some flowers like the marshy areas down in ditches.

Texas Bluebonnet

The Texas Bluebonnet takes the top spot. And it doesn’t disappoint. Even visitors to Texas know about our state flower. Kids and pets patiently pose for the iconic Texas family photo while 18-wheelers whiz by.

Indian Paintbrush

The Indian Paintbrush forms a spectacular sight with bright red flowers when en masse.

Indian Blanket

The Indian Blanket offers cheery faces with rings of red and deep yellow.

Pink Evening Primrose

The Pink Evening Primrose are some of the first flowers to peek in the Spring. Freely reseeding, find colonies all over Texas roadsides.

Plains Coreopsis

Also called Tickseed, Plains Coreopsis forms colonies of yellow and maroon flowers.

Mexican Hat

Mexican Hat features a center that sticks out like a finger with petals of red or yellow.

Wine Cup

Wine Cup sports single deep wine-colored flowers covering sprawling plants.

Hike the Lady Bird Johnson Grove as one of the things to do in the Redwoods with kids.
Lady Bird Johnson’s grove of redwoods in California. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Plant Some Wildflowers

For all your wildflower seed, Texas’ own Wildseed Farms offers all the varieties and mixes. Also find native grass seed. Located at 100 Legacy Dr. in Fredericksburg.

Take a drive down a Texas highway and find a hillside covered in wildflowers. Or spend the day in a Texas State Park exploring a wildflower meadow. Here's 15 places to explore to find Texas Wildflowers during the Spring. Where to find the best wildflowers in Texas | Where to find wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country #Texas #Wildflowers

 

Catherine Parker has a passion for travel and seen all 50 U.S. States. As a former flight attendant with one of the largest airlines, there isn't a North American airport that she hasn't landed in at least once. Since clipping her professional wings after 9/11, she combines her love of the open road with visiting architectural and cultural icons. She is based out of Central Texas dividing her time between writing and restoring a pair of 100-year-old houses. She shares her life with her three kids and her husband.

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