Bastrop

Bastrop is the county seat of Bastrop County, Texas, and is located about 30 mi (48 km) east of Austin. Bastrop was settled by Europeans in 1804 and incorporated on December 18, 1837, with a 2020 population of 9688. It is known for its isolated belt of loblolly pines (the "Lost Pines") that exist miles to the west of the Piney Woods of East Texas and Louisiana; see Bastrop State Park below.

Understand
  • Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, 927 Main Street, +1 512 303-0558. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Visit the Chamber and pick up a free visitor's guide. If the chamber is closed, guides may be found in the box by the front door.
  • The Bastrop Advertiser is the oldest semi-weekly newspaper in the state of Texas. It publishes twice a week and can be purchased at most area convenience stores for $0.50.
  • Bastrop does not have a smoking ordinance so patrons may smoke inside restaurants, unless it is forbidden by the restaurant.

Get in

By plane

Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS IATA) is 30 miles (48 km) west of the city center. The most practical means of travel from the airport is by rental car but taxis are available. A one-way trip by taxi is about $40 (credit cards accepted).

By bus

By car

The main highway through Bastrop is Texas State Highway 71 which can be picked up off Interstate Highway 35 in Austin or off Interstate Highway 10 about 75 miles west of Houston.

Get around

Loop 150 off 71 takes you through the heart of historical downtown Bastrop. Once downtown, parking is plentiful and free. Bastrop is small enough that it is practical to park and walk to boutique shops, restaurants, the new river walk and the many historic houses located in the city.

See

Do

Indoors
  • Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, ☏ +1 512 321-6283. Professional theater productions in a historic building built in 1889. 
  • Bastrop Skate Palace, 488 Hwy. 95 N, ☏ +1 512 303-0320. Sessions Sa-Su 1PM-4PM. Large indoor roller skating rink. 
  • Film Alley Bastrop, 1600 Chestnut St, ☏ +1 512-321-0123. Multi-screen movie theater with stadium seating, bowling (bumpers available), indoor miniature golf and arcade 

Outdoors
  • Bastrop State Park, Texas State Hwy. 21 (about 1 mile east), ☏ +1 512 321-2101. Su-Sa 8AM-5PM (to 7PM in summer). Located among the "Lost Pines of Texas," this 3,500-acre park has a swimming pool (summer only-fee), golf course known as the Lost Pines Golf Course (fee), a 10-acre lake, hiking trails, picnic tables, tent and RV campsites (fee), and 13 cabins (fee). The "Lost Pines" are a pocket of loblolly pines far removed due to ecological forces from their dominant habitat in the Piney Woods to the east and threatened by further ecological change. $4 per day, per person 13 and older. 
  • Fisherman's Park (City) and the Colorado River walk. Playground, Boat ramp 
  • Lake Bastrop, ☏ +1 512-498-1922. This 906-acre lake offers recreational facilities in two parks, one on the north shore and one on the south shore, for boating (fee), fishing, swimming, water-skiing, picnicking, and camping (fee). 
  • McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Texas State Highway 71 (8.4 miles west of Bastrop), ☏ +1 512 303-5073. M-Sa 8AM-5PM; Su noon-5PM. Closed on major holidays. Great hiking in arroyos and canyon-like country along the Colorado River. $3 for adults, $1 seniors, no charge for children 13 and under. 
  • Pine Forest Golf Club, ☏ +1 512-321-1181. 
  • ColoVista Golf Club, 100 Country Club Dr, ☏ +1 512-887-6189. 

Buy
  • The Sugar Shack, 114 Loop 150 W, ☏ +1 512 321-3777. As the name implies, all kinds of sweet treats to be had. 
  • Berdoll Pecan Farm, 2626 State Highway 71 W. Cedar Creek. Tasty treats and gifts. 

Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Drink

Sleep

RV parks

Go next

Bastrop is 30 minutes (off rush hour) from Austin. The drive in to Austin on Hwy 71 is lined with antiques, gift shops, a flea market, a fossil and bonsai store, and many more central Texas cultural venues. Or you can go to Smithville to shop antiques and country kitsch. Or go to San Marcos for the outlet malls.

Routes through Bastrop
Ends at ← San Marcos ←  W  E  → Jct N S → Bryan-College Station
Brady ← Austin ←  W  E  → La Grange → Jct W E


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