One of the best-kept secrets outside of Austin in Bastrop County, where you’ll find an exciting mix of rural and urban centers, rich site of Texas history, and a ton of activities for the outdoor enthusiast! It’s one of the places where you can get the best of both worlds: convenience to Austin City Limits and the crazy entertainment scene, but rest your head under the stars and wake to the rooster’s crow first thing in the morning.
Whether you’re in town to check out the race at Circuit of the Americas or want to explore the “most historical town in Texas,” Bastrop County has a variety of places for you to hang your hat at night during your stay. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing cabin on a ranch, a cozy bed and breakfast, or prefer a national chain hotel, there’s something for everyone in Bastrop.
9E Ranch Cabins Lost Pines
Smithville, Texas
If the idea of hanging out in a rustic cabin, surrounded by antiques, on quiet cattle ranch sounds like your idea of a fantastic vacation, the 9E Ranch Cabins at Lost Pines is the perfect place for you to take that country retreat!
There are 4 cabins on the grounds, and each feature full kitchens and bathrooms with clawfoot tubs! Designed and decked out with antiques, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time! Plus, they serve coffee and muffins in the morning to get you up and ready for your day, wherever that may take you!
Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat to get your thoughts in order and rejuvenate your inspiration or want to have a real home away from home, the 9E Ranch Cabins at Lost Pines is the perfect place to find some comfortable solitude!
The Reserve at Greenleaf
Bastrop, Texas
If rejuvenation is your primary purpose for vacationing, you might find exactly the kind of atmosphere you need to achieve that at The Reserve at Greenleaf. Located in Bastrop, this unique place offers luxury yurts, outfitted with the best accommodations possible.
Each one is decorated differently for slightly differing feels to space. When you book accommodations, be sure to include your reason for visiting. The Reserve provides a customized experience, whether you’re a long-time couple looking to reconnect, newlyweds, or a solo adventurer in search of self-awareness.
Enjoy the nomadic experience with all the amenities you’d expect in a five-star resort, including a hot tub, spa robes, and ensuite coffee bar but surrounded by the undeveloped natural beauty of the Lost Pines region.
Pecan Street Inn
Bastrop, Texas
Nestled under a grove of pecan trees right outside historic Downtown Bastrop, you’ll find the Pecan Street Inn. This bed and breakfast have been named number one for the past 4 years running in all of Bastrop County!
And when you see it, there’s no question why it’s the best. The fully-restored Victorian style home sits at the entrance to the Silk Stalking Row: a tree-canopied street full of Victorian, Antebellum, and Prairie style homes. Many of these homes are on the National Historic Register – including the Pecan Inn itself!
Designed to meet the expectations of the American Victorian period, rooms are decorated with antiques and period-correct decor, including pocket doors, 12’ ceilings, and gorgeous millwork throughout the house. Sit outside on the porch and enjoy a book on the wrap-around porch or dine al fresco on the shared patio with a grill for guests to use. But don’t forget that every morning you awaken to a delicious homecooked breakfast spread that includes Pecan Waffles! Yum! And don’t worry if you have any dietary restrictions – the staff is always willing to oblige anyone’s food allergies or sensitivities!
The Katy House
Smithville, Texas
The Katy House is a fully restored turn-of-the-century home located in Smithville, just 45 minutes outside Austin. Bed and breakfast provide 6 guest rooms, each with a private bath. All the rooms are decorated with antiques from the early 1900s and railroad memorabilia – an homage to the railroad history of Smithville and Bastrop County.
In fact, that’s how the Katy House got its name. The house is named for the old “Katy” railroad line, of the Missouri Kansas & Texas Railroad, which was built in the area between Houston and Galveston. The three rooms within the main home, the Bluebonnet, Katy Limited, and the Texas Special, are named after the passenger trains on the Katy line.
Get that special historical Texas feeling during your vacation, spending your days at the Katy House. With just steps to the entertainment, food, and shopping available in Smithville, it’s the perfect location for your small town vacation getaway! YOu’ll definitely see why it was the location for a variety of big Hollywood movies, including Hope Floats and The Tree of Life.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa
Cedar Creek, Texas
Now, if you really want to relax and rejuvenate in Bastrop County, surrounded by the glorious wilderness but also get your hot stone massage, the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa is the luxurious destination of your dreams!
The Hyatte Regency is gigantic, and located in its own zip code, I think. When you turn onto the driveway, you have 3 more miles to go before you get to the actual hotel. Watch out if you’re driving at night! The dark drive is lined with deer and wild boar, grazing on the size of the road!
But once you arrive at the Hyatt itself, you realize that you never thought it possible that this gigantic resort is sitting here in the middle of nowhere. This hidden oasis has not only an onsite five-star spa but also a golf course and fitness room, as well as banquet and conference center amenities. In fact, you never have to leave the grounds with more than 10 places to eat, including fine dining, and tons of things to do directly onsite.
With 405 acres at their disposal along the Colorado River, guests of the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines can enjoy horseback riding, hiking, and kayaking while exploring the grounds with marked trails. Plus, it’s right next to McKinney Roughs Nature Park for even more hiking options! Add to that the pool, tennis courts, playground, billiards room, shuffleboard set up, and children’s program, and you’ve got everything to make a great vacation right at your fingertips!
AirBnB
Personally, if you can’t get into one of these smaller, quaint bed and breakfasts, or aren’t really looking for the types of experiences that the 9E Ranchor The Reserve have to offer, there are tons of options available on AirBnB. You can find affordable housing, including exciting and unique places, like farm stays and vintage campers! I think one of the best things about traveling to a smaller, lesser-known destination is that the locals are really the ones who make a place shine. And there’s no better place to get to meet the locals, than staying with them!
Commercial Hotel Chains
If bed and breakfasts aren’t really your style, and you’re a little leary on AirBnB, a tried-and-true hotel chain might be the perfect one for you! Fortunately, you get a variety of options in the Bastrop County area!
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Elgin, Texas
Newly renovated with an outdoor pool and fitness center, the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Elgin offers 58 rooms and 15 suites for guests. All rooms are non-smoking, and there is a strict no pet policy. They do, however, provide a free complimentary breakfast buffet in the morning, as well as free wifi, coffee, and tea.
Days Inn by Wyndham
Bastrop, Texas
Directly on Highway 71, the Days Inn by Wyndham has a location that’s right in Bastrop proper, and centrally located to the rest of the county and just 25 minutes from downtown Austin. They also offer free breakfast to guests and have an outdoor pool, as well as parking for RVs. So, if you’re an RVer and need a rest – or are dealing with some plumbing issues and don’t have access to your bathroom – the Days Inn can help you out!
Hampton Inn & Suites
Bastrop, Texas
Another option also in Bastrop is the Hampton Inn & Suites. Located right on Highway 21, it’s easily accessible and in an excellent location for getting around. The Hampton Inn also has an indoor pool, so you don’t have to worry about the weather to go swimming, as well as a fitness center and business center for those last-minute emails.