Bluebonnets Around Central Texas

Bluebonnet Season

Bluebonnet season is right around the corner, so it’s time to start enjoying the outdoors again! Springtime in Texas is one of our favorite seasons. Not only is the weather fabulous, but It’s also the time when Bluebonnets, purple-flowered plants which are the state flower of Texas, start to bloom and create scenic views for the locals and visitors. Generally, they start blooming in the last week of March and peak by the first or second week of April.

Bluebonnet Festivals in Texas

BURNET BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL | 101 N Pierce St, Burnet, TX 78611 | April 7-9, 2023

The annual Bluebonnet Festival has grown into one of the most exciting and successful small-town festivals in Texas. The event draws crowds topping 30,000 each year. This year’s activities features Mighty Thomas Carnival, Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Show, Bluebonnet Festival Grand Parade, Live Music from Different Guests and so much more. Check the schedule here.

FREDERICKSBURG BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL | 7905 Old San Antonio Rd, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 | April 22, 2023

Fun-filled event of amazing wines, live music, activities, vendors and food! We are in the center of the Bluebonnet universe, and this is a day-long celebration of every Texan’s favorite flower. We encourage you to enjoy the wildflowers along the roadsides on your trip to Bankersmith. Continuing to Bankersmith Texas Dance Hall and Saloon, there is a scenic view where bluebonnets are planted.

CHAPPELL HILL BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL | 9220 Poplar St., Chappell Hill, 77426 | April 15-16, 2023

Enjoy the picturesque landspace of bluebonnets around Washington County. Celebrate the state flower with arts, live music, and activities for the whole family. The annual festival attracts many visitors from around Texas. Even pets are allowed to come.

Texas Bluebonnet – The Official State Flower

Did you know that the bluebonnet has been the state flower of Texas since 1901? While the traditional blue bluebonnet was chosen as the state flower in 1901, the law was amended to include all species of bluebonnets as the state flower in 1971.

The famous state flower is easily accessible at the roadside, along the medians of the freeways, in the fields, on rolling hills, gas stations, and in vacant corners around churches and grocery stores, but there are also plenty more beautiful spots where they bloom every year.

Here are some lovely spots where to find Texas Bluebonnets:

BURNET | 1001 Buchanan Drive, Burnet, TX 78611

Burnet, known as the “Bluebonnet Capital of Texas”, is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country near the Highland Lakes, just 50 miles northwest of Austin and 90 miles north of San Antonio at the intersection of State Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 281  The city offers a countless of amenities for our residents including broad-ranging recreational opportunities, an excellent school district, reputable hospitals, amusing airport, unique shopping, museums, historic district, and exciting yearly festivals.

THE BLUEBONNET HOUSE | 413 W Travis St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

On scenic Highway 281 between Burnet and Marble Falls, you’ll come across what’s been referred to as “The Bluebonnet House,” a two-story stone home surrounded by a field of bluebonnets, old oaks, and a wide array of different wildflowers. If you came at the right season, the scene is magnificent and one that will mark a memory, it looks more like a picture-perfect painting.

BALCONES DISTRICT PARK | 12017 Amherst Dr, Austin, TX 78759

You can find a large field of bluebonnets that runs against Duval Rd. as well as near the playground closer to Amherst Dr.

BRUSHY CREEK LAKE PARK | 3300 Brushy Creek Rd, Cedar Park, TX 78613

Brushy Creek Lake Park is a 90-acre park that provides environmental resource-based recreational adventure. The whole family will enjoy the lake with trails, a playground, a fishing pier & wildlife viewing area.

EDWARD’S UNIVERSITY | 3001 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Just south of downtown, on South Congress Avenue, is the beautiful St. Edward’s University. Head to the campus grounds for mesmerizing fields of bluebonnets. One of the best fields is located on the corner of St. Edwards and University Loop Drive. Bluebonnets bloom next to historic buildings and you will have a great view of downtown.

ENNIS | Ennis, TX 75119

Ennis is located about 45 mins drive southwest of Dallas and is famous for over 40 miles of mapped bluebonnet trails. It is the official bluebonnet city of Texas and is, undoubtedly, the best place to see bluebonnets in the city. Visiting during the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival is the best way to see the flowers plus enjoy the local festivities.

TEXAS STATE HIGHWAY 360 | Hwy 183 to Mopac

There’s a scenic of gorgeous bluebonnets and other wildflowers along Highway 360 between Hwy 183 to Mopac. No need to interrupt the drive because many of the spectacular stretches are best viewed via drive-by.

KINGSLAND | Kingsland, Texas 78639

Kingsland is situated on the banks of the Colorado River and Lake LBJ. The town’s official slogan is: “Where the rivers flow and bluebonnets grow”. Head to this tiny town’s abandoned railroad tracks for fantastic bluebonnet pictures.

MARBLE FALLS | 801 Hwy 281 Marble Falls, Texas 78654

This cozy town is a quick road trip from Austin – we recommend making the Bluebonnet Café a destination to order a delightful slice of pie. On your drive through the Hill Country to get to Marble Falls, you’re likely to see some of the Bluebonnet Cafe’s pleasing blooms.

MCKINNEY FALLS STATE PARK | 5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy, Austin, TX 78744

Located just 13 miles southeast of downtown, McKinney Falls State Park offers 726 acres of hiking and cycling trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, a campground, and picturesque rows of bluebonnets. Reservations encouraged.

MULESHOE BEND RECREATION AREA | 2820 Co Rd 414, Spicewood, TX 78669

An hour northwest of Austin, Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area is tucked into a bend of the Colorado River, boasting wide-open riverfront sights, boating, camping, picnicking, and fields of lush, green grass dappled with bunches of bluebonnets.

OLD SETTLERS PARK | 3300 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665

In Round Rock’s Old Settlers Park, take your choice from more than 40 picnic areas, and then roam the grounds to see violet bluebonnets and red Indian paintbrushes.

PACE BEND PARK | 2805 Pace Bend Rd N, Spicewood, TX 78669

Pace Bend is one of the most popular camping areas in Austin, offering visitors a wide variety of recreational activities. The park showcases remarkable bluebonnet spots and high limestone cliffs. The cliffs have numerous rocky coves with some of the most notable views available of Lake Travis—especially at sunset. This is a great place for boats, and adore spotting bluebonnets from the water.

THE INTERSECTION OF MANOR & TILLEY IN MUELLER | Manor Road & Tilley St Austin, TX 78723

This peaceful field at the crossing of Manor and Tilley in the Mueller neighborhood has a large field of Bluebonnets, as well as various other Texas wildflowers, that spread for numerous dozen patches.

THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER | 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739

With 279 acres and displaying over 800 native plants, including Bluebonnets, the Wildflower Center is a wonderful place to visit. There’s no time like springtime to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in southwest Austin. The Center displays nearly 900 native Texas plant species (including bluebonnets and other wildflowers) in gardens, meadows, and nature trails. Visitors can also explore the family garden, dine in the cafe, buy souvenirs at the gift shop, and more.

TURKEY BEND | 4000 Shaw Dr, Marble Falls, TX 78654

Discover the relaxation waiting for you at Turkey Bend Recreation Area. This 1,100-acre park is covered with breathtaking scenes of bluebonnets! Whether you come for a day of picnicking or for a night of camping, Turkey Bend is the place for an adventure worth remembering. Turkey Bend Recreation Area is located on the Northern shore of Lake Travis, almost opposite to Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area.

WILDSEED FARMS | 100 Legacy Dr, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

For an easy day trip, drive an hour and 40 minutes from Austin to historic Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country, where you’ll find Wildseed Farms, a family-owned wildflower farm, vineyard, and seed store with apparently endless fields of blossoms.

At Wildseed Farms, you can find well-maintained wildflower fields. This is the USA’s largest wildflower farm and has rows and rows of bluebonnets, poppies, lantanas, and more.

WILLOW CITY LOOP | Hwy 16 North Fredericksburg, Texas 78624

Willow City Loop is gravel, unpaved road that offers the very best of the hill country. It is 13-mile long and in spring, it is surrounded by blue, yellow, red, and pink wildflowers. This is where you get the iconic Texan picture of cowboy boots hung on a fence with bluebonnets in the background.

Reminders on exploring the bluebonnet fields

There is no law against picking wildflowers in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. However, there are some areas where it is illegal or against the rules. For example, it is against the rules to pick them up at Texas State Parks. Be sure to observe the policy of wherever you pay a visit.

If out in nature, the general rule of thumb is, to be considerate! The bluebonnets are a thing of exquisiteness we all should be able to adore. Also, these wildflowers use their seeds to continually bloom annually, so if everyone picks them, nothing would be left to enjoy.

If you’re enjoying and taking photos with the wildflowers, remember that fire ants, snakes and other potential hazards are a possibility.