While Central Texas’ major metropolitan centers can be found in Austin and San Antonio, the region contains a number of small cities that strike a beautiful balance between urban amenities and country appeal. One of the largest and most widely-visited of these towns is New Braunfels, a city best-known for its vibrant barbecue scene and regionally-famous Schlitterbahn Waterpark.

Where Is New Braunfels?  

New Braunfels on map

With 60,000 residents, New Braunfels serves as the seat of Comal County, and the city is located in the prairie region known as the Texas Hill Country. About 50 miles south of Austin and 30 miles north of San Antonio, New Braunfels has both cities to thank for its flourishing tourism industry. Commuters from Austin can expect a 50-60 minute drive, while those coming from San Antonio will be on the road for 30-40 minutes.

Is New Braunfels Family-Friendly?

The shore of Canyon Lake, Texas just outside of New Braunfels in the Hill Country

New Braunfels’ close proximity to the cultural centers of Austin and San Antonio, its access to wide open spaces and outdoor recreation, and its highly-rated public school system, makes this city a great choice for families. 

New Braunfels students are served by two public-school districts: the Comal ISD and the New Braunfels ISD. Both districts feature graduation rates above Texas state averages, with 96 percent of New Braunfels ISD students and 97 percent of Comal ISD students graduating high school in four years. 

Families with a penchant for outdoor activities will find plenty to love about New Braunfels. The city includes two excellent parks for summer fun: Landa Park and Fischer Park. Landa, the smaller of the two, contains a wading pool, a fishing pier overlooking the Comal River, plenty of grills for impromptu barbecues, a horseshoe pit, and “beach” volleyball courts on sandy patches of terrain. Fischer, New Braunfels’ largest park, strongly emphasizes educational programming, as evidenced by its Nature Education Center, archaeology digs, monarch butterfly observation station, and event calendar with summer programs like kayaking lessons, nature camps, and nighttime excursions on the hiking trails. 

New Braunfels’ most popular family-friendly attraction can be found at Schlitterbahn, an enormous water park with water slides, water coasters, splash pools, river tubing, and picnic facilities. Schlitterbahn utilizes only fresh water from the spring-fed Comal River, allowing the park to keep its water temperature a consistent 72 degrees. 

What Restaurants, Shops, and Entertainment Can I Find In New Braunfels?

Photo courtesy of Cooper’s Old-Time Pit Barbecue

Austin’s barbecue reputation ranks among the very best in the nation, but New Braunfels’ sheer quantity and quality of smokehouses poses a definite challenge to Austin’s prestige-BBQ mantle. Perhaps the most famous barbecue in New Braunfels comes from Cooper’s Old-Time Pit Barbecue, a classic hub for grilled meats complete with mesquite coals, massive pits, and melt-in-your-mouth brisket, all located in New Braunfels’ German-influenced Gruene Historic District. Speaking of German influence, New Braunfels specializes in Teutonic sausages done with Texan-BBQ flair, and some of the town’s finest examples can be found at Schwab’s Sausage House and Barbecue. They’ve got plenty of brisket and ribs, but the Schwab’s specialty is BBQ sausage, including classic German varieties like knockwurst and bratwurst.

If you’re in the mood for some charming local shops and entertainment venues in a historic setting, the Gruene Historic District will take care of you there, too. The Gruene General Store remains virtually unchanged since its founding in 1925, and it’s a great place for souvenirs, postcards, and homemade fudge and honey butter. Antique aficionados will adore the Gruene Antique Company, a massive 6,500 square-foot emporium with furniture, decor items, and truly-Texan tchotchkes dating back over 100 years.

If a busy day of shopping makes you want to slip on some dancing shoes, head over to Gruene Hall, Texas’ oldest continuously-operating dance hall founded in 1878. Two-steppers regularly flood the dance floor while local blues and country musicians take the stage, including celebrity guests like Leann Rimes, Loretta Lynn, The Charlie Daniels Band, and Willie Nelson.

How Much Does It Cost To Buy A House In New Braunfels?

Single-family brick home in Texas suburb

While home prices in New Braunfels are undoubtedly on the rise, buyers can expect to pay less in this small Hill Country city than they would in Austin proper. The median sales price for a house in New Braunfels stands at about $290,000, while an equivalent home in Austin has a median value of $465,000.