By Valley View RV Park | Your Central Texas Home Base on I 35
Jarrell, Texas doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Sitting right on I-35 between Austin and Waco, this small Central Texas town is quietly one of the best positioned spots in the state for RV travelers who want to explore without driving hours to do it.
At Valley View RV Park, we hear it from guests constantly: they pull in for a night and end up staying a week. Once you start mapping out what’s within reach, caves, waterfalls, craft breweries, historic villages, lake parks, live music, you’ll understand why.
Here are the 15 best day trips and local attractions you can reach easily from your site at Valley View.
Inner Space Cavern – Georgetown, TX (~20 min)
This is the one that surprises most first timers. Hidden for over 14,000 years and running 4.76 miles directly beneath I 35, Inner Space Cavern is one of the best preserved cave systems in Texas – and it’s practically in your backyard when you’re staying in Jarrell.
The classic Adventure Tour runs about 75 minutes along a mile long paved trail and takes you past ancient stalactites, stalagmites, and Ice Age fossils including mammoth and saber toothed cat remains. If you want to go deeper, the Hidden Passages Tour (ages 7+) adds another 30 minutes, and the Wild Cave Tour is a full 3.5 hour caving experience that requires a reservation.
The cave stays a comfortable 72°F year round – which, on a Central Texas summer afternoon, feels like a superpower.
Good to know: Tickets start around $24.95 for adults. Wear closed toe shoes – the trail can be damp and slippery. Not wheelchair accessible.
4200 S. I-35 Frontage Rd, Georgetown, TX 78626
Blue Hole Park – Georgetown, TX (~20 min)
Georgetown’s Blue Hole is one of those local secrets that every Texan seems to know except visitors. Set along the South Fork of the San Gabriel River and framed by limestone bluffs, it’s a natural swimming lagoon just a few blocks from downtown Georgetown – and admission is completely free.
The water is cool and clear, the bluffs make for dramatic scenery, and there are picnic tables, restrooms, and trail access. Leashed dogs are welcome. It gets busy on summer weekends, so aim for a weekday morning for the best experience.
Good to know: Park opens 5 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. Free parking at 3rd Street and Rock Street. No lifeguards – swim at your own risk, and watch for slippery rocks near the waterfall.
101 S Rock St, Georgetown, TX 78626
Lake Georgetown & Cedar Breaks Park – Georgetown, TX (~25 min)
If Inner Space Cavern is the underground gem and Blue Hole is the downtown gem, Lake Georgetown is the outdoor recreation hub. This 1,200 acre reservoir sits on the North Fork of the San Gabriel River and is surrounded by parks managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Cedar Breaks Park on the south shore is the most popular – it has a sandy swim beach, boat ramps, picnic shelters, and 59 campsite options if you want to explore deeper. The San Gabriel River Trail wraps 26 miles around the entire lake through juniper forest, hardwood bottomlands, and open prairie. Fishing is excellent for smallmouth bass, black bass, white crappie, and channel catfish.
Good to know: Cedar Breaks boat ramp and swim beach are accessible with a day use fee. Reservations through Recreation.gov if you want a campsite.
Cedar Breaks Park, 500 Cedar Breaks Rd, Georgetown, TX 78628
Historic Georgetown Square – Georgetown, TX (~20 min)
Georgetown frequently ranks among the most beautiful town squares in Texas, and it earns it. The Victorian courthouse anchors the square, and the surrounding blocks are packed with locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and galleries.
Walk the square on a Saturday and you’ll likely hit the Georgetown Farmers Market. Grab brunch at a spot like Juniper Cocktails & Kitchen or Blue Corn Harvest Bar & Grill, browse the shops, and soak up the atmosphere of one of Central Texas’s most charming small cities.
Good to know: Georgetown is also home to Southwestern University and a lively event calendar – check their events calendar before you go to catch something live.
Georgetown Square, 114 W 7th St, Georgetown, TX 78626
Village of Salado – Salado, TX (~25 min)
Salado is the kind of Texas town that looks like it was built for an afternoon’s wandering – and that’s exactly what it’s for. Just 10 miles north of Jarrell on I 35, the Village of Salado is a compact, walkable collection of galleries, antique shops, wineries, and breweries strung along Main Street and creekside.
It’s been a stopover since the 1800s when the Chisholm Trail passed through, and that history shows in the limestone buildings, the old Stagecoach Inn (open since 1861), and the Salado Museum.
Start at one end, walk the other, and plan for at least half a day. There’s genuinely too much to do in one pass.
Village of Salado, Main St, Salado, TX 76571
Barrow Brewing Company – Salado, TX (~25 min)
Inside a converted old growth granary on Royal Street in Salado, Barrow Brewing has been crafting some of Central Texas’s most interesting beers since 2016. The building backs up to Salado Creek, making the outdoor beer garden one of the best spots to sit with a pint in the entire region.
The taproom is open Wednesday through Sunday, resident food trucks (Sacred Sandwich and Happy Pizza Company) are on site most days, and they host live music on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. They also run seasonal events – 5Ks, yoga mornings, farmers markets – so check their calendar before you visit.
Good to know: Family and pet friendly. Dog friendly beer garden. Check their event schedule at barrowbrewing.com.
108 Royal St, Salado, TX 76571
Salado Glassworks – Salado, TX (~25 min)
If you’ve never watched a glassblower work, Salado Glassworks is the place to fix that. Artist Gail Allard has been shaping molten glass into sculptures, drinkware, and lighting installations at this studio for over 20 years, and there’s always a seat by the fire for visitors to watch.
The gallery sells hand blown glass pieces ranging from gifts and ornaments to large art installations. They also run “Blow Your Own” events where you can get hands on with the process – book in advance as these sell out. A genuinely unique experience for the whole family, including kids.
467 Royal St, Salado, TX 76571
Axis Winery & Salado Winery – Salado, TX (~25 min)
Salado has a wine problem – in the best way. The village hosts multiple tasting rooms within easy walking distance of each other, so you can make an afternoon of it.
Axis Winery focuses on balanced, easy drinking wines and frequently hosts live music on weekend evenings. Their Texas Wine and Rogue Art Fest in March is one of the bigger events in the area. Salado Winery is the self described “Texiest” winery in the state, producing everything from Texas Cabernet to sweet fruit wines using local Bell County grapes. For something between wine and a full bar, Chupacabra Craft Beer & Salado Lone Star Winery stocks 60+ Texas craft beers and 250+ wines in a kid and pet friendly space.
Axis Winery: 1420 N Robertson Rd, Salado, TX 76571 📍 Salado Winery: 841 N Main St, Salado, TX 76571
Chalk Ridge Falls Park – Belton, TX (~35 min)
One of the most underrated stops on the entire I-35 corridor. Chalk Ridge Falls Park sits near the Stillhouse Hollow Lake Dam in Belton and features 2.5 miles of hiking trails along the Lampasas River, a suspension bridge, and a beautiful cascading waterfall flowing over Austin chalk limestone formations.
The trail is mostly flat and shaded, making it accessible for families with kids. There’s a small swimming area near the falls, and bird watching along the river is excellent. Best of all – admission is completely free, parking is free, and leashed dogs are welcome.
Good to know: Open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or sunset). Day use only – no overnight camping. The park occasionally closes for dam inspections, so call ahead: (254) 939 2461.
5600 FM 1670, Belton, TX 76513
Stillhouse Hollow Lake – Belton, TX (~35 min)
While you’re in Belton for Chalk Ridge Falls, Stillhouse Hollow Lake is right next door and well worth a stop. This 6,400 acre reservoir run by the Army Corps of Engineers offers boating, fishing, swimming, and some of Central Texas’s nicest lakeside campgrounds.
Dana Peak Park on the west shore has a swim beach, a boat ramp, and one of the most scenic picnic areas in the region. For fishing, Stillhouse is known for striped bass, white bass, largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. If you have kayaks or paddleboards on your rig, this is your spot.
Dana Peak Park: 3736 FM 2410, Harker Heights, TX 76548
Georgetown Paddling – Lake Georgetown (~25 min)
If you’d rather be on the water than beside it, Georgetown Paddle Company rents stand up paddleboards and kayaks on Lake Georgetown. No gear to haul – just show up, get on the water, and explore the lake’s coves and inlets at your own pace.
The lake’s 26 mile trail system wraps around the shore, so you can pair a morning paddle with an afternoon hike along the same water. It’s a full outdoor day for a very reasonable cost, with the option to rent by the hour or half day.
Lake Georgetown – check Georgetown Paddle Company’s website for current launch locations and hours.
The Granary & Local Food Scene – Jarrell, TX (on site)
You don’t always need to drive. Jarrell itself has a handful of worthwhile spots right in town. The Granary is a food truck park that also houses a permanent John Miller BBQ location – classic Central Texas smoked brisket, ribs, and sides without the Austin prices or waits.
Love at First Bite is a local institution for homestyle comfort food, and Corner Cafe off I-35 is a hidden gem that regulars swear by for a no fuss breakfast or lunch before heading out for a day trip. Small towns, real food, no reservations required.
All within 5 minutes of Valley View RV Park
Salado Sculpture Garden & Arts Trail – Salado, TX (~25 min)
Salado’s arts scene goes beyond galleries and glassblowing. The Salado Sculpture Garden, developed by the Public Arts League of Salado and Keep Salado Beautiful, winds through native plantings with metal sculptures and contemplative seating areas scattered throughout. It’s free, peaceful, and a completely different pace from the main strip.
Pair it with a walk through the Salado College Park, a historic site where a co educational university once stood in the 1860s, and you’ve got a half day of outdoor culture that costs nothing.
Salado Village Green, Main St, Salado, TX 76571
Twin Springs Nature Preserve – Near Jarrell (~15 min)
For a quick morning walk before a longer day out, Twin Springs Nature Preserve is a local gem just a short drive from Valley View. Native Texas landscape, birding opportunities, and quiet trails through the Hill Country edge make it the kind of place that resets you before a full day of sightseeing.
It won’t take your whole day, but paired with a coffee from the Starbucks in Jarrell or breakfast at Love at First Bite, it’s a great way to ease into a morning before hitting one of the bigger destinations on this list.
Near Jarrell, TX – search Twin Springs Nature Preserve on Google Maps for the current access point.
Downtown Austin Day Trip – Austin, TX (~45 min)
Valley View’s biggest card is this: Austin is 45 minutes south. South Congress Avenue, Sixth Street, the Barton Springs Pool, Rainey Street, the Texas State Capitol, Zilker Park, South Lamar – all of it is within reach for a full day trip without paying $100+/night Austin RV park prices.
Book a full hookup site at Valley View, drive down in the morning, spend the day in one of America’s most visited cities, and be back at your site before dark. That’s the move that full timers and road trippers on I-35 have been quietly taking advantage of for years.
Good to know: I-35 into Austin gets congested during morning (7–9 a.m.) and afternoon (4–7 p.m.) rush hours. Aim for a 9:30 a.m. arrival or later. Parking in central Austin can be pricey – Zilker Park and South Congress have paid lots; the Domain area north of the city is easier to navigate by rig if needed.
Valley View RV Park – Book Your Stay
Make Valley View Your Central Texas Base Camp
Whether you’re here for a night or staying for a month, Valley View RV Park puts you at the center of everything on this list. Full hookups with 20/30/50 amp, 74 foot pull through pads, two dog parks, a dog wash station, and 24 hour laundry and shower facilities mean you can explore all day and come back to a comfortable, fully connected site every evening.
We’re right on I-35 in Jarrell – Austin is 45 minutes south, Waco is an hour north, Georgetown is 20 minutes, Salado is 25 minutes. Everything on this list is a day trip, not a commitment.
Ready to plan your stay? Call us at (512) 887 9168 or contact us here for current availability and monthly rates.
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Valley View RV Park LLC – 13483 N I 35, Jarrell, Texas 76537 – (512) 887 9168 – vvrvparktx@gmail.com