We uncovered the best small towns near Fredericksburg TX so that you can get yourself immersed in the true essence of Texas Hill Country.

When people hear about Fredericksburg, the image of wine, peaches, and German food is usually conjured up. But, the real magic of this part of Texas spills far beyond the Fredericksburg’s city limits.

If you take a short trip outside of the town, you’ll find that the vast plains of the Hill Country is filled with cozy small towns. Best of all, most are less than an hour’s drive from Fredericksburg. So, whether you’re planning to relocate or just looking for a weekend escape, think this list of the top small towns near Fredericksburg, TX will give you the perfect Hill Country experience.

We made sure to research towns that are actually accessible, so we limited our list to a max of a 1 hour drive away from Fredericksburg.

8. Johnson City

Minutes from Fredericksburg: 30 minutes
Population: 1,746
Location: Check on Google Maps

You could blink and miss Johnson City, but why would you? Named after the family of Lyndon B. Johnson, this place has history baked into its bones. It’s a 30-minute jaunt from Fredericksburg, but it feels like you’ve stumbled into a different world—one where time ticks slower, the air feels thicker with stories, and there’s an echo of presidential whispers lingering in the streets.

This little town carries a strange weight, a kind of historical gravity. It might be small, but it’s bursting at the seams with quirks. The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is like walking through a living museum, except it’s all real—there’s a childhood home, a ranch, and a schoolhouse that hasn’t heard a modern bell in decades.

But the heart of the place? The Science Mill, where they’ve transformed an old mill into an oddball interactive museum that’s perfect for anyone who prefers their science with a side of steampunk.

As you wander, you’ll notice something else, too—a certain quiet stillness, almost like the town’s holding its breath. Maybe it’s the way the Pedernales River lazily meanders nearby, or maybe it’s the antique shops, each stuffed with forgotten treasures, their contents waiting to tell you tales of bygone eras.

7. Blanco

Minutes from Fredericksburg: 40 minutes
Population: 2,116
Location: Check on Google Maps

Blanco is the kind of town that feels like it was sketched into existence with soft pencil strokes, smudged around the edges to make everything just a little too perfect. A quick 40-minute hop from Fredericksburg, and you’re there. Don’t expect anything flashy—this town is subtle. Like the river it’s named after, it flows slow and steady, with no intention of being anything other than what it is: calm, serene, and blissfully quiet.

The Blanco River is where you’ll start, its cool waters carving a gentle path through the heart of the town. Blanco State Park is the perfect place to lose yourself in the lull of nature—cast a line, take a hike, maybe even lose track of time entirely. The town square is the kind that makes you want to sit on a bench, close your eyes, and breathe deep. There’s the grand courthouse in the middle, surrounded by quirky little shops selling things you didn’t even know you needed but now absolutely must have.

And the surprise twist? Blanco’s got a wild side. Real Ale Brewing Company is tucked away here, crafting brews that’ll make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about small-town beer. In Blanco, life is simple, but never boring—just waiting for you to slow down enough to notice.

6. Stonewall

Minutes from Fredericksburg: 20 minutes
Population: 460
Location: Check on Google Maps

Stonewall is just a quick 20 minutes down the road, but it feels like you’ve stepped into another dimension, one where the Texas air is thick with the scent of ripe peaches and history tangles with the roots of the trees. This tiny speck of a town might be easy to overlook, but it sure knows how to stick around in your memory.

You can almost taste summer here, the peaches so sweet they melt on your tongue. Peach stands dot the highway like little shrines to Texas’s favorite fruit. But Stonewall’s got layers—Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site is the crown jewel, where you can walk in the footsteps of a president and feel the pulse of Texas history beneath your boots.

Wine lovers will find themselves at home here, too. Stonewall sits squarely on the 290 Wine Trail, where local vineyards beckon with promises of full-bodied reds and crisp whites. This isn’t just a pit stop; it’s a place where time itself seems to stretch, beckoning you to stay just a little longer.

5. Ingram

Minutes from Fredericksburg: 50 minutes
Population: 2,084
Location: Check on Google Maps

Ingram is just under an hour from Fredericksburg, but it feels worlds away. Tucked alongside the meandering Guadalupe River, Ingram is a place where artists and dreamers find their refuge, where the sound of the wind in the trees is all the background music you’ll ever need.

Here, the Hill Country Arts Foundation stands out, drawing in creatives from every corner, and offering a sanctuary for those who see the world just a little bit differently. Sculptures, paintings, performances—it all happens here. And let’s not forget Stonehenge II, a bizarre yet magnetic replica of the ancient British monument that feels both out of place and perfectly at home among the Texas hills.

4. Bandera

Minutes from Fredericksburg: 50 minutes
Population: 929
Location: Check on Google Maps

Bandera is the Cowboy Capital of the World. You don’t come here if you’re looking for polished and pretty. This is raw Texas—a town where boots clomp on dusty floors and country music spills out from the saloons onto the street. It’s a 50-minute ride from Fredericksburg, but when you arrive, it feels like you’ve crossed some invisible line between the present and the past. Welcome to the Wild West, alive and well.

It’s not all spurs and lassos, though. The Medina River carves through town, offering a cool respite for those looking to swap their cowboy hats for swim trunks. And just outside the city limits, the Hill Country State Natural Area sprawls out—a rugged, wild landscape waiting for you to hike, bike, or ride your way through.

At night, the town lights up—not with neon signs, but with stars, stretching across the sky in a way you forgot was even possible. Grab a seat at one of Bandera’s honky-tonks, order a beer, and get ready to two-step your way into the Texas night.

3. Kerrville

Minutes from Fredericksburg: 30 minutes
Population: 24,278
Location: Check on Google Maps

Kerrville isn’t so much a town as it is an experience. A short 30-minute drive from Fredericksburg, it sits nestled in the Guadalupe River Valley, and it feels like the kind of place where the world just makes sense. The river winds through the heart of town, a constant, quiet presence, offering a calming backdrop to everything from morning coffee to evening strolls.

The arts are alive here—galleries tucked into old buildings, theaters where the magic of the stage can whisk you away. But the outdoors might just be Kerrville’s true masterpiece. With parks like Louise Hays Park and Kerrville-Schreiner Park, you’ve got endless space to hike, picnic, or just sit by the river and watch the world float by.

And every year, the town explodes with the sound of music during the Kerrville Folk Festival, a pilgrimage for music lovers who understand that sometimes, you just need to sit under the stars and let the melodies take over. Kerrville has heart—more than you’d expect—and it’s the kind of place where you can feel it beating in every corner.

2. Boerne

Minutes from Fredericksburg: 45 minutes
Population: 19,715
Location: Check on Google Maps

Boerne offers a great, historic Main Street charm and boutique windows that twinkle with curated treasures. But spend just a little more time here, and you’ll realize this place is more than meets the eye. Only 45 minutes from Fredericksburg, Boerne offers a little something for everyone—a mix of old-world character and the buzz of a town that knows it’s on the rise.

You can wander down Main Street, popping into art galleries and cafés, but the real magic might just be found outside. Cibolo Nature Center is where you’ll breathe it all in—the trees, the trails, the birdsong that fills the air like a forgotten language. And if you’re the sort who lives for a good meal, you’ll be spoiled here. Farm-to-table restaurants serve up dishes that taste like they were grown with care and plated with love.

But Boerne’s not just a pit stop—it’s the kind of place where you can see yourself living, where the days are long, and life is good.

1. Comfort

Minutes from Fredericksburg: 30 minutes
Population: 3,000
Location: Check on Google Maps

Comfort is a town that delivers just that. A quick half-hour drive from Fredericksburg, and you’re there—wrapped in the embrace of a town that knows exactly how to live up to its name. High Street greets you with a quiet smile, a string of antique shops and galleries that feel like a cozy secret. You can almost hear the stories whispering from the bricks, tales of the German settlers who laid down roots here back in the 1800s.

There’s a certain charm to Comfort, a quiet dignity that comes from being unpretentious. You don’t come here for glitz; you come for peace. Cypress Creek flows gently along the edge of town, its waters as steady as the town itself. Comfort’s the kind of place where you’ll find a vintage bookshop tucked between two old buildings, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Then, there’s Bending Branch Winery, where the wine flows and the Hill Country views stretch on forever. Comfort is simple, but it’s not plain. It’s the kind of town that lets you exhale, breathe deep, and feel like, just maybe, you’ve finally come home.

A Few Towns Worth the Extra Drive

If you’ve got the time and are craving more small-town vibes, there are a few gems just outside that one-hour radius from Fredericksburg:

1. Marble Falls – With its stunning lake and vibrant downtown, Marble Falls is about an hour and 15 minutes away.
2. Wimberley – Known for its artisan shops and beautiful swimming holes like Jacob’s Well, Wimberley is roughly an hour and 20 minutes from Fredericksburg.
3. San Marcos – A lively college town with great outdoor activities, just about an hour and a half away.

In short, the Hill Country has more than just vineyards and Fredericksburg’s famous Main Street. Whether you’re looking for a new home base or just a peaceful weekend escape, these small towns near Fredericksburg, TX, have got you covered.

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