Best Things to Do Near Lake Travis from Jonestown, TX

Jonestown sits on the north shore of Lake Travis, roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Austin. It’s not a tourist town in any typical sense (no downtown strip, no resort hotels), but that’s exactly why people who find it keep coming back. The lake is the amenity. Everything else is a bonus.

Here’s what’s actually worth doing when you’re staying near Lake Travis.

On the Water

Get Out on the Lake

Lake Travis is about 65 miles long with roughly 270 miles of shoreline. It’s a proper lake, not a pond you circle in an afternoon. The lower lake near Mansfield Dam is popular with wake boats and tubers.

From Jonestown and The Hollows area, you’re in the mid-lake zone: good swimming coves, enough boat traffic to feel lively on summer weekends without being gridlocked.

Boat rentals: Several operators in the area rent pontoons, ski boats, and wake boats by the half or full day. Some deliver. Your property manager (us) can recommend current operators, since availability and pricing change seasonally.

Boats and jet skis: Northshore Marina at The Hollows, (512) 267-6222, has slips and fuel but does not rent boats. Its sister marina, VIP Marina Lake Travis in Leander, (512) 331-5375, rents tritoons, jet skis and party barges. Call ahead for current availability.

Sandy Creek Park (Travis County)

About 25 to 30 minutes from The Hollows, on Lime Creek Road near Leander. Sandy Creek is a Travis County park with a boat ramp and lakeside picnic spots on the north shore. It can get crowded on summer weekends.

Entry fee: Travis County charges an entry fee at this park. Check current fees and accepted payment on the Travis County Parks website before you go.

Hippie Hollow

Austin’s famous clothing-optional public park (adults only) on the south shore of Lake Travis, about 40 minutes from The Hollows. It’s a Travis County park with an entry fee and a genuine Austin institution. It’s also popular, so arrive early on summer weekends.

Pedernales Falls State Park

About an hour and a half from The Hollows, east of Johnson City. This is one of the best swimming holes in the area when conditions are right. The Pedernales River cuts through limestone formations and pools into clear, cold water. The falls themselves are dramatic after any significant rain.

Check the TPWD website for swimming conditions before you go: flash flooding can close the swimming area on short notice.

Hill Country Day Trips

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

About two hours or more west of The Hollows. The massive pink granite dome rises about 425 feet above its base. The summit trail is steep in places, and the views justify every step.

Texas Parks and Wildlife strongly recommends reserving a day pass before you go: the park often reaches capacity, and passes can be booked up to 30 days ahead. Book early for weekends and holidays.

Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch

About an hour and a quarter from The Hollows. Lyndon Johnson’s boyhood home and the LBJ Ranch are both part of the LBJ National Historical Park and worth the detour for anyone interested in Texas political history. There is no fee to visit the park; the ranch driving tour uses a free permit from the visitor center. (Tours inside the Texas White House have been suspended during restoration, so check the NPS site before you go.)

Johnson City itself is modest: small antique shops, a couple of good restaurants, and a Blanco County courthouse square that looks exactly like you’d expect.

Fredericksburg

About two hours from The Hollows. Texas’s German Hill Country town, wine tasting, wildflowers, decent food, and Main Street shopping. On summer weekends it’s genuinely crowded; go on a weekday if you can. The National Museum of the Pacific War (Admiral Nimitz Museum) is one of the best military museums in Texas and worth the detour.

The wine country along US-290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg is packed with tasting rooms and makes an easy add-on to the day.

Marble Falls

About 45 minutes west via 1431. Small Hill Country town on Lake Marble Falls, another of the Highland Lakes. The main draw for many visitors is the Blue Bonnet Cafe, a Texas diner institution since 1929 known for its pies. It gets busy, so get there early.

Food and Drink Near Jonestown

Close By

Wild Hare at The Hollows Beach Club: the on-site restaurant and bar, open in summer plus select off-season days, and open to our rental guests.

Jonestown and Lago Vista: About 10 minutes from The Hollows, with local restaurants and Brookshire Brothers (Lago Vista) for groceries.

Worth the Drive

The Oasis on Lake Travis (Comanche Trail): the famous multilevel deck restaurant above the lake, on the south shore. Go for drinks at sunset; the view from the upper deck is one of the best in the Austin area.

Salt Lick BBQ (Driftwood): about an hour and a quarter from The Hollows. The classic Hill Country barbecue experience: open pits, family-style plates, BYOB. Lines form fast on weekends, and bringing cash is wise.

Cedar Park (along FM 1431 and US-183): about 25 minutes. If you want a wide range of restaurants, Cedar Park has it, plus H-E-B for a grocery run on the way in.

Sunset and Photography Spots

Oasis Overlook

The most famous lake view in the Austin area. Go at golden hour.

Mansfield Dam Park

A Travis County park (entry fee, check current payment options) about 40 minutes from The Hollows. The dam itself is an engineering landmark, and the views up-lake are excellent at sunset.

Your Rental’s Deck

Don’t underestimate this. Several of our Jonestown and Hollows properties have elevated decks with unobstructed lake views. If your property has it, sunset from your own back deck with a cold drink is hard to beat.

Tips for Planning

Weather: Lake Travis summer heat is real, with highs in the upper 90s common from late June through August. The lake is the escape. Plan outdoor activities for mornings, lake time for midday, and evenings for exploring.

Water levels: Lake Travis is a flood control reservoir, so water levels fluctuate. The lake is considered full at 681 feet, and LCRA posts the current level at lcra.org. When the lake is well below full, some ramps, marinas and coves get shallow. Check before you book if water depth matters to your plans.

Austin access: If you want Austin proper (music, food, nightlife), it’s 45 to 60 minutes from The Hollows (depending on traffic on 183 and 1431). An evening trip is doable; staying sober for the drive home requires planning. This is a destination to lean into the lake, not a suburban Austin hotel alternative.

Need help planning? We know the area well: the properties, the lake, the seasonal rhythms. Reach out before you book and we’ll point you in the right direction.