--- title: "Fun Things to Do Near Austin TX | River Day Out" description: "Looking for fun things to do near Austin? Tube, kayak, swim, grill and glamp on the spring-fed San Marcos River — an hour south of downtown." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "LodgingBusiness", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "alternateName": [ "Sons Blue River Camp", "Blue River Camp", "Son's Blue River" ], "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com/", "logo": "https://bluerivercamp.com/favicon-192x192.png", "image": "https://bluerivercamp.com/og-image.png", "telephone": "+1-(877) 577-7667", "priceRange": "$$", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "2769 Sherrill Rd", "addressLocality": "Kingsbury", "addressRegion": "TX", "postalCode": "78638", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 29.72751, "longitude": -97.76306 }, "parentOrganization": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Getaways", "url": "https://sonsgetaways.com" }, "sameAs": [ "https://sonsriverranch.com", "https://sonsgetaways.com", "https://www.facebook.com/sonsblueriver", "https://www.instagram.com/sonsblueriver" ], "amenityFeature": [ { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Air-conditioned glamping cabins", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Spring-fed San Marcos River access", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Private riverside cabanas", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "On-site tubing and kayaking", "value": true } ] }, [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Fun Things to Do Near Austin: A Riverside Day Out You'll Remember", "image": "/assets/hero-river-families-Bm4R0fE4.webp", "datePublished": "2026-05-07", "dateModified": "2026-05-07", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com/og-image.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog/fun-things-to-do-near-austin", "description": "A guide to actually fun things to do near Austin — tubing, kayaking, glamping, riverside cabanas, fishing, and more on the San Marcos River.", "keywords": "fun things to do near Austin, things to do near Austin, day trips from Austin, river activities Austin TX" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Fun Things to Do Near Austin", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog/fun-things-to-do-near-austin" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the best day trip from Austin?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A river day at Son's Blue River Camp — about an hour south on the spring-fed San Marcos River — is one of the most popular and easy day trips from Austin." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is there to do besides tubing?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Kayaking, swimming, fishing, riverside cabanas, picnicking, grilling, hammock lounging, stargazing, and overnight glamping or cabin stays." } } ] } ] ] --- [🎉 $29.99 Tubing & Kayaking Today at Son's River Ranch! — BOOK NOW! 🎉 $29.99 Tubing & Kayaking Today at Son's River Ranch! — BOOK NOW! ](https://sonsriverranch.com/book-now) [![Son's Blue River Camp](/assets/logo-transparent-CYNVRjE4.webp)](/) [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:+18775777667)Book Now Book Now ![Fun things to do near Austin TX on the San Marcos River](/assets/hero-river-families-Bm4R0fE4.webp) [Back to Blog](/blog) # Fun Things to Do Near Austin: A Riverside Day Out You'll Remember May 7, 2026 18 min read Austin has tacos, live music, and a thousand bars — but every Austinite eventually wants something simpler: a day out in nature, on actual water, that doesn't require a four-hour drive. The single best answer to "what's something fun to do near Austin?" is a river day at [Son's Blue River Camp](/) on the spring-fed San Marcos River, an hour south of downtown. This post rounds up the actually-fun, kid-friendly, group-friendly, couples-friendly, locals-tested things to do at our property and along the surrounding river corridor. Use it as your shortlist the next time someone in your group says "let's get out of the city." ## 1\. Float the San Marcos River — Unlimited All Day The headline activity. $29.99 per person, unlimited tubing, shuttle included. Float as many laps as you can fit between sunrise and sunset. Full breakdown on [tubing near Austin](/blog/tubing-near-austin). ![Family tubing near Austin having fun](/assets/gallery-family-tubes-fun-C4DimGx8.webp) ## 2\. Kayak the Spring-Fed Water Calm, clear, beginner-friendly paddling. Rent a single or tandem kayak and head upstream. The [kayaking near Austin](/blog/kayaking-near-austin) guide has routes and tips. ## 3\. Reserve a Riverside Cabana $69 for a private shaded cabana on the river beach. Best basecamp for any group bigger than four. See [day rentals](/day-rentals). ## 4\. Grill Riverside Charcoal grills are everywhere. Bring meat, buns, and a cooler — best lunch you'll have outside Austin all year. ![BBQ near the river outside Austin](/assets/gallery-bbq-DptgrAS_.webp)![Firepit fun near Austin](/assets/gallery-firepit-B2K5hpee.webp) ## 5\. Swim in 72°F Water Walk-in beach access. Crystal-clear, never warmer than 72°F, never colder. The exact opposite of a stale chlorine pool. ## Pick Your Way to Play Day visit with a private cabana, or stay over in a riverfront cabin and stretch the fun across the weekend. [Day Pass](/day-rentals)[Book Overnight](/book-now/blue-river-camp-overnight) ## 6\. Fish the River Largemouth and Guadalupe bass, sunfish, and the occasional catfish. Bring a Texas freshwater license. ## 7\. Hammock Under Cypress Trees Bring an ENO. Trees are abundant. Shade is honest. The river hum is free. ![Couple in hammock near Austin](/assets/gallery-couple-hammock-B0tLAIFt.webp) ## 8\. Stargaze Away From Austin's Glow Light pollution drops fast once you're south of San Marcos. Lay back on a riverbank and look up. ## 9\. Stay Overnight in a Cabin or Glamping Tent The day-trip-to-overnight upgrade. [Log cabins](/log-cabins), [glamping cabins](/glamping), and [tent sites](/tent-camping) all available. ## 10\. Day-Trip Stops On the Way Stop in San Marcos for outlet shopping. Hit Buc-ee's in New Braunfels. Grab dinner in Seguin on the way home — Burnt Bean Co. for BBQ is worth the wait. ![Kids playing in the river near Austin](/assets/gallery-kids-playing-river-2GGZojJM.webp)![Friends tubing near Austin](/assets/gallery-friends-tubes-DFUeVXhY.webp) ## A Sample Day Plan 9 AM leave Austin. 10 AM arrive, grab the cabana. 10:30 AM first tubing lap. Noon riverside lunch. 1:30 PM second lap. 3 PM kayak upstream. 5 PM swim and snack. 6:30 PM head back to Austin. The [Austin day trip page](/day-trip-austin) has the printable version. ![River beach for fun day near Austin](/assets/river-beach-property-DimfzXs_.webp) ## Plan Your Day Out The most fun thing to do near Austin is one hour south. Book your spot before the weekend fills up. [Book Day Pass](/day-rentals)[Book Overnight](/book-now/blue-river-camp-overnight) ### Related reading - [Family getaways near Austin](/blog/family-getaways-near-austin) - [Comal vs. San Marcos River tubing](/blog/comal-river-tubing-vs-san-marcos) - [Tubing near Austin](/blog/tubing-near-austin) - [Kayaking near Austin](/blog/kayaking-near-austin) - [Glamping near Austin](/blog/glamping-near-austin) - [Camping near Austin](/blog/camping-near-austin) - [Cabin rentals near Austin](/blog/cabin-rentals-near-austin) - [Riverfront cabin rentals near San Antonio](/blog/riverfront-cabin-rentals-near-san-antonio) ![Son's Blue River Camp](/assets/logo-transparent-CYNVRjE4.webp) 8 acres of family-friendly river paradise on the San Marcos River. Float, grill, relax — then fall asleep to the sound of the river. [](https://facebook.com)[](https://instagram.com) ### Quick Links [Book Now](/book-now)[Stay Overnight](/stay-overnight)[Glamping](/glamping)[Camping](/camping)[Day Rentals](/day-rentals)[Day Passes](/day-passes)[River Day Trip](/day-trip)[Cabins](/cabins)[Cabana Rentals](/cabana-rentals)[Picnic Tables](/picnic-tables)[Reviews](/reviews)[Our Story](/about)[Blog](/blog)[FAQs](/faqs)[Group Retreats](/group-retreats)[Compare Resorts](/compare)[vs Son's River Ranch](/vs-sons-river-ranch)[Inquire](/inquire) ### Near Austin [Log Cabin Rentals](/log-cabins)[River Cabins Near Austin](/river-cabins-austin)[Tubing Near Austin](/tubingaustin)[Kayaking on the San Marcos](/kayaksanmarcos)[Cabin Rentals Guide](/blog/cabin-rentals-near-austin) ### Contact [(877) 577-7667](tel:+18775777667)[info@sonsgetaways.com](mailto:info@sonsgetaways.com) 2769 Sherrill Rd Kingsbury, TX 78638 ### Stay Connected Get exclusive deals and updates delivered to your inbox. Subscribe We respect your inbox. 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