Calling all you Texans! When is the best time to see the beautiful blue wildflowers known as the bluebonnet? We are planning a bluebonnet-viewing trip to the Texas Hill Country this spring and are nervous about the best time to visit. Online sources seem to indicate optimum viewing time might be early April. I’ve also read they can bloom as early as mid-March and I’m afraid April 8-10 might be too late. Wondering what your recommendations might be. Thanks for your help!
We always see them in early April.
It’s hard to predict peak, just like foliage in New England. Late March or early April. I would recommend a trip to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin and the Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg. While you’re in that area, be sure to take the Willow City Loop, a short scenic drive through the countryside. I would also take the easy hike up Enchanted Rock and go through the shops in Fredericksburg.
You should also talk to locals about where the best bluebonnet patches are.
This is what I do when I go home for bluebonnets. 
1 Like
OH! If you need a place to stay, I HIGHLY recommend Rose Hill Retreat, outside of Fredericksburg. Rose Hill Retreat It’s pricey but worth it. There’s a main building and also little cottages. I can’t even count the number of times I stayed there with my mom and sister, and sometimes my daughter and niece. It will be hard for us to go back now since my mom passed. If you mentioned Maxine to the owners, they would know who you meant. 
If you like wineries, there are a ton of them now. I haven’t been to any since my parents are teetotalers, but they look cool.
Be sure to drive around west of Austin if you can. Take Loop 360 across the Loop 360 Bridge. It’s gorgeous. When I was in high school, the highway ended at the river. There were no houses or development of any kind. Now it’s crammed with stuff, but it’s still pretty.
Yeah, the time they come out varies due to temps and the amount of rainfall in the fall/winter. Having said that, Texas is huge so if you get here and it’s early you can drive a little south and might catch some. Likewise, if it feels late, drive north.
1 Like
I second MaineLonghorn’s recommendation about Fredericksburg. It’s a fun place to go, and if by some chance you miss the bluebonnets, there is still plenty to do and see.
We just stayed there this past weekend at an Airbnb called “Gazebo Haus.” It is a very cozy/charming house and very close to the main historic part of town.
Have fun!
Agree with the early April time. Plus, bluebonnets stay beautiful for a while, so it’s not like how the cherry blossoms have a short window of opportunity. I don’t recall when the Paintbrushes come out (I think a bit later), but they’re pretty and add a splash of red. If you’re staying in Fredericksburg, also look into the Hangar Hotel just south of town, right at the Gillespie County Airport. You can watch planes taking off and landing.
Rose Hill Retreat looks absolutely lovely. I’ve bookmarked it for our next visit.
Oh that makes me happy!
Thanks to all for your suggestions/input. We are planning to San Antonio, Fredericksburg and Austin. Rose Hill, Hangar and Gazebo all look lovely in Fredericksburg. Wondering if there are suggestions for SA and Austin as well.
I liked the Marriott on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. It’s nice to be able to go out the door and be right on the river. There might be other nice hotels there if you Google it.
Since I’m from Austin and always stay with family, I don’t know about hotels there.
Austin - not sure of your price range, but there are quite a few that come to mind in a few areas, if you want in town or on the outskirts (Lakeway, Round Rock, etc.). There’s always a house/condo to rent via websites. I’ve not stayed at any of these hotels, so buyer beware. My initial thoughts are (1) north part of town - Lone Star Court; (2) south of the river on South Congress - Hotel San Jose, Austin Motel or South Congress Hotel; and (3) downtown - the W hotel ($$$). The only hotel I’ve stayed at is the Omni Barton Creek Resort - really nice.
This thread is making me anxious to get to Austin. Two weeks from today! I know there won’t be any wildflowers, but I’m a little homesick.
1 Like
There are hundreds of short term rentals to choose from in Fredericksburg, many within walking distance of charming Main Street. I would not suggest the Hangar if you want to be close to nature or Main Street. It is in a very empty, warehouse-y part of town.
Fredericksburg has become so popular it’s like a three ring circus with all the tourists, although I think it’s still worth visiting. And make reservations NOW for dinner if you want to go to any of the more popular restaurants.
1 Like
Ooh, good point about restaurant reservations! When I was there in July, we had a hard place finding anywhere to eat. And a lot of restaurants seemed to close early. That’s probably true anyplace in Texas you visit that time of year.
We just passed through Fredricksburg this morning after spending a couple of days in Austin visiting BIL/SIL on our way home to AZ. No bluebonnets, but Fredericksburg looked like a very charming town that would have been a delightful way to spend a day, lots of quaint shops, eateries and bars. I thought of @MaineLonghorn and this thread as we drove through. On to Las Cruces for the night, then home.
1 Like
And for anyone reading this… Mondays restaurants and venues are mostly shut down, presumably to recover from the weekend! Some visitors are surprised and disappointed to find this out. (I have family in Fred so visit frequently.)
2 Likes
That was true in Maine this summer. I wonder where all the tourists ate!
After Labor Day, it seemed every restaurant in Maine outside Portland was either closed for the season or only open sporadically through the week with odd hours due to worker shortages. Really bummed at all the closed ice cream stands.
I know of one ice cream stand in Farmington that’s open year-round. I took a photo one time of people standing outside in line there when it was 10 degrees and incredibly windy.
1 Like