--- title: "Day Trips From Austin With Kids | 5 River & Outdoor Adventures" description: "The best day trips from Austin with kids — tubing, kayaking, riverside cabanas and Hill Country escapes within 60 minutes. Easy parking, clear water, easy day." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch", "alternateName": [ "Sons River Ranch", "SRR Kingsbury", "Son's River Ranch Kingsbury" ], "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com", "logo": "https://sonsriverranch.com/logo.png", "description": "Family-friendly riverside resort with private river access on the 72-degree spring-fed San Marcos River. Glamping, air-conditioned cabins, tubing and kayaking in Kingsbury, TX — 45 minutes from Austin and San Antonio.", "parentOrganization": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Getaways", "url": "https://sonsgetaways.com" }, "knowsAbout": [ "San Marcos River tubing", "private river access glamping", "Kingsbury TX lodging", "72-degree spring-fed river", "family river getaways", "air-conditioned cabin glamping", "San Marcos River vs Guadalupe", "San Marcos River vs Comal" ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1400 Sherrill Rd", "addressLocality": "Kingsbury", "addressRegion": "TX", "postalCode": "78638", "addressCountry": "US" }, "telephone": "877-577-7667", "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/sonsriverranch", "https://www.instagram.com/sonsriverranch", "https://www.tiktok.com/@sonsriverranch", "https://www.bluerivercamp.com/", "https://sonsisland.com/", "https://www.sonsgeronimo.com/", "https://www.sonsriocibolo.com/", "https://www.sonsguadalupe.com/" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Day Trips From Austin With Kids: 5 River & Outdoor Adventures", "description": "Kid-friendly day-trip ideas from Austin to the spring-fed San Marcos River and Hill Country.", "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog/day-trips-from-austin-with-kids", "image": "https://sonsriverranch.com/og/og-day-trips-from-austin-with-kids.jpg", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com/logo.png" } }, "datePublished": "2026-05-11", "dateModified": "2026-05-11", "keywords": "day trips from Austin with kids, family day trip Austin, kids activities near Austin" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Day Trips From Austin With Kids", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog/day-trips-from-austin-with-kids" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What's a fun day trip from Austin with kids?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A river day at Son's River Ranch — 45 minutes south of Austin — with tubing, kayaking, swimming, picnic tables and a private cabana." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are cabanas worth it for a day trip?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, especially with kids — shade, a table, a grill and a fixed home base that makes the day way easier." } } ] } ] --- [ 🎉 Join us for Sunday Fun Day - $79 Cabanas! Includes Entry for 8! — BOOK NOW! 🎉 Join us for Sunday Fun Day - $79 Cabanas! Includes Entry for 8! — BOOK NOW! ](/book-now) [![Son's River Ranch - Tubing, Live Music, Glamping](/assets/logo-cpd7QRHR.png)Texas River Paradise ](/) [Stay Overnight](/stay-overnight) [Day Rentals](/day-rentals) [Tubing & Kayaking](/day-rentals#tubing-kayaking) [Property Map](/property-map) [Plan Your Visit](/plan-your-visit) [About](/about) [Specials](/specials) [Contact](/contact)[877-577-7667](tel:877-577-7667)Book Now Book Now ![Day trip from Austin with kids on the San Marcos River](/assets/gallery-family-tubes-fun-YJ0ULMGA.webp) [Back to Blog](/blog)Family Fun # Day Trips From Austin With Kids: 5 River & Outdoor Adventures Out by 9am, home by dinner — and the kids will sleep the whole drive back. May 11, 2026 7 min read Austin, TX Not every weekend needs an overnight. Some of the best **day trips from Austin with kids** are quick, water-based, and easy enough that you'll actually do them more than once. Here are five we recommend. ## 1\. River day at Son's River Ranch (45 min south) Reserve a [riverside cabana](/cabanas) as your home base, grab an [Ultimate River Fun Wristband](/san-marcos-river-tubing), and let the kids burn off energy in clear 72° spring water. Picnic tables, BBQ pits and a shuttle handle the logistics. ![Kids playing in the river on a day trip from Austin](/assets/gallery-kids-playing-river-CAFSmIF2.webp) ## 2\. Hamilton Pool Preserve (45 min west) Iconic limestone grotto. Reservation-only and books out fast. Great for photos, less great for a long swimming day with little kids. ## 3\. Krause Springs (45 min west) Private spring with a rope swing. Cash-only, gets crowded. Fun once. ## 4\. McKinney Falls State Park (15 min) Closest "real outdoor" option. Onion Creek can be low in summer — call ahead. ## 5\. Inner Space Cavern + Lake Georgetown (35 min north) Caves in the morning, lake in the afternoon. Good rainy-day Plan B. ![Family picnic on a day trip from Austin](/assets/gallery-family-picnic-IQdbWKE4.webp) ## Our pick: cabana day at Son's River Ranch It's the only option where you park once, the kids have unlimited water access all day, and you can grill lunch instead of leaving for food. See [cabana rentals near Austin](/blog/cabana-rentals-near-austin) for what's included. ### Book your river day Cabanas and wristbands sell out on summer weekends — grab yours. [Book Now](/book-now/day) ## Related reads - [Family weekend getaways near Austin](/blog/weekend-getaways-near-austin-families) - [2-day family itinerary](/blog/fun-family-getaway-near-austin) - [Cabana rentals near Austin](/blog/cabana-rentals-near-austin) SRR ### Son's River Ranch Paradise in Texas 168 acres of family-friendly river paradise on the San Marcos River. Float, grill, relax — then fall asleep to the sound of the river. [](https://www.facebook.com/sonsriverranch)[](https://www.instagram.com/sonsriverranch) #### Quick Links [Book Now](/book-now)[Book Your Stay](/book-now)[Safari Cabins](/safari-cabins)[Glamping](/glamping-cabins)[Cabanas](/cabanas)[Tubing & Kayaking](/tubing-kayaking)[San Marcos River Tubing](/san-marcos-river-tubing)[Spring Break](/springbreak)[Blog](/blog)[FAQs](/faqs)[Inquire](/inquire)[Contact](/contact)[Weather & River Conditions](/weather) #### Plan Your Trip [Group Getaways](/group-getaways)[Private River Shuttle](/river-shuttle)[Year-Round Glamping](/year-round-glamping)[Stay + Tube Bundle](/tube-rental-vs-lodging-bundle)[Plan Your Visit](/plan-your-visit)[Property Map](/property-map) #### Contact [877-577-7667](tel:877-577-7667)[info@sonsgetaways.com](mailto:info@sonsgetaways.com) 1400 Sherrill Rd Kingsbury, TX 78638 #### Stay Connected Get exclusive deals and updates delivered to your inbox. 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