Where to See Bluebonnets in Texas this Spring

Looking for the best places to see the bluebonnets in Texas?

Find the best places to see the Texas state flower in full bloom in the Lone Star State in this post.

Happy Spring y’all! 

Come March and the Texas countryside is teeming with gorgeous bluebonnets.

Visitors can find the Texas bluebonnet flowers blooming by the roadside, along the medians of the freeways, in the fields, on rolling hills, and in vacant corners around churches and grocery stores! 

As a Texan, spring is my favorite season.

Every year we love driving around the state to discover amazing Texas wildflower fields.

Also Read: 20+ Best Spots to Watch 2024 Solar Eclipse in Texas

Update for 2023 Bluebonnet Season

Texas Bluebonnet Season 2023 Looking forward to the first bluebonnets? It’s soon going to be the start of March and the season is just around the corner! Did you know, the gorgeous wildflowers are already popping in and around Texas?! Early March 2023 expectations The plants are looking good in Central Texas but still pretty green. Best bet to see color now: Big Bend, along the Gulf coast in places such as Port A, Rockport, and Goliad, and a smattering of color along I-10 in Houston. Mid March 2023 expectations The week is expected to start with the earliest flowers popping in and around Houston and along Highway 290. The peak is still 3 to 5 weeks away. Keep checking back for more information!

The bluebonnet season is also the best time to travel around Texas.

Bluebonnet festivals, arts and craft fairs, and spring events take place all over the state during spring.

Families love to take road trips and go scout for the bluebonnets and other wildflowers throughout the Texas bluebonnet season. 

Related Texas Spring Travel Guides:
Best Spring Break Destinations in Texas
23 Incredible Things to do in South Padre Island, Texas

Are you also planning to drive down the Texas countryside to see the bluebonnets and other wildflowers this spring?

Read on to check out our recommendations for seeing the best bluebonnet fields in Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country including Ennis, Brenham, and more this year. 

Texas Bluebonnet – The Official State Flower

Did you know that the bluebonnet has been the state flower of Texas since 1901?

The Texas Legislature adopted the bluebonnet and even specified which species will be considered as the official state flower.

Best Time to see bluebonnets in Texas in full bloom

People often ask, when is the Texas bluebonnet season?

The bluebonnet season slightly varies every year.

The bluebonnets are picky bloomers.

These annual plants need a peculiar combination of rainfall, sunshine, and temperature to bloom.

They are particularly difficult to grow in gardens – which is what makes me love how profusely they grow in the wild!

Also Read: 13 Best Places to see Sunflowers in Texas

That is also the reason, no two bluebonnet seasons are alike in Texas.

In some seasons you may see whole areas carpeted with the beauties while another year, you might find a sparse smattering in most places. 

No one can exactly predict how a season will be as even a last-minute frost or storm can have an adverse effect. 

Also Read: Best Weekend Getaways in Texas

So when is the best time to see these beauties?

Generally, they start blooming in the last week of March and peak by the first or second week of April.

Temperatures can either rush everything forward by a week or two or roll things back. 

But generally, if you plan a trip to Texas in the last weekend of March / or the first week of April, then you should be able to see at least a few bluebonnets as well as many other wildflowers. 

The wildflower season generally continues well into summer, so you should definitely be able to see other flowers even if you visit past bluebonnet peak season.

Bluebonnet Viewing Best Practices

Texans love bluebonnets and we show our love in fierce ways. 

That means sitting on the flowers – even for taking photos,

…letting pets or kids run through a bluebonnet field, plucking a bluebonnet,

…posing with the plucked bluebonnets, trespassing on private properties to take photos,

…and such other behavior will earn you angry glares and disapproving glances. 

If you want to take a photo of kids amongst the flowers – and this is a typical Texan thing – find a bare patch amongst a flower field where the kids can pose and stoop down low to take the photo. 

Fun fact: It is not actually illegal to pick bluebonnets in Texas! There is no state law that prohibits it.

Take photos from the roadside whenever possible and leave the field as it was for other viewers.

And always, leave no trace!

Remember that there can be snakes in the flower fields, so always watch your steps! 

Practice the above things and you are sure to have a great time seeing bluebonnets in Texas. 

Resources to keep up to date with bloom dates

While planning our annual bluebonnets scouting trips, we generally check the local tourism board websites.

They often have updates regarding the bloom status on their websites. 

The small towns of Texas also plan their bluebonnet festivals and spring events around peak dates, so that is useful while planning your trip to see the bluebonnets bloom in Texas. 

And off course, we will keep updating this post as the flowers appear!

Last but not the least, we are a member of many Facebook groups and pages, which have in-depth information about the current year’s bloom status as well as gorgeous photos. 

Three of my favorite resources are Texas Bluebonnets and Wildflowers, Texas Wildflowers, and Texas Wildflower Report.

Fun fact: While the traditional blue bluebonnet was chosen as the state flower in 1901, the law was amended to include all species of bluebonnets as the state flower in 1971.

You can spot pink bluebonnets, white bluebonnets, and even blue bluebonnets with white on top!

18 Best Places to see the Bluebonnets in Texas

Bluebonnets in the spring is one of the best things about Texas!

Keep in mind that the bluebonnets bloom early on in the southern part of the state including the Rio Grande Valley and Big Bend and later in central Texas, especially the famous Texas Hill Country. 

Also Read: Ultimate Texas Hill Country bucket list

So if you want to see the flowers bloom in the Chisos Range of Big Bend National Park, you need to plan a hiking/camping trip closer to February while to see the famous driving trails in Ennis, you need to wait till April. 

And now here are our favorite places to see the bluebonnets in Texas. 

Brenham

Brenham is at the heart of east-central Texas’s bluebonnet region. Brenham is not really Texas Hill Country, but its flower fields rival those of central Texas. 

In downtown Brenham, you will see bluebonnets planted in front of houses and bluebonnet murals on the walls of historic downtown while art galleries have beautiful bluebonnet paintings. 

But to see the real bluebonnets, drive around the farm to market roads surrounding the city of Brenham.

There’s no map – just aimless driving while you admire the Texan countryside, jersey cows, and mustangs in the flower fields. My kind of day! 

If you are short on time or prefer precise directions, stop by the Brenham Visitor Center.

They can give you maps of driving trails and share areas where the flowers are particularly vibrant that year. 

And oh while you are in Brenham, don’t forget to see the street art and historic buildings in Downtown.

Washington County

Along with Brenham, the entire Washington County deserves a special mention when it comes to viewing wildflowers in spring. 

The roads surrounding Brenham, Independence, and Chapel Hill have ranches that are bursting with wildflowers in spring.

The Texas Independence Trail connects most of these Texan towns and is a great scenic drive for wildflower viewing. 

Two other favorite places to see the wildflowers and blossoms well into summer in Washington County include the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence…

….and the Chappell Hill Lavender Farm, where you can cut your own lavender blossoms in the summer. 

But there is so much more to do in Washington county than wildflowers. 

Washington County is the birthplace of Texas.

It was here that the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed and the Republic of Texas came into being.

You can still see the Independence Hall as Washington-on-Brazos State Historic Site. 

Besides the park, the towns of Independence, Washington, and Chappell Hill also have many historic sites and are a great Texan weekend getaway.

Ennis

Ennis is located about 45 mins drive southeast of Dallas and is famous for over 40 miles of mapped bluebonnet trails.

It is one of the best Dallas day trips during bluebonnet season.

In fact, Ennis is the official bluebonnet city of Texas and is, undoubtedly, the best place to see bluebonnets in Texas. 

Since Ennis is further north of Brenham, the flowers pop around early April and peak around mid April.

Visiting during the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival is the best way to see the flowers plus enjoy the local flavor. 

The highlight of this small town is the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails.

The city has several miles of driving trails that allow you to see the flowers from the comfort of your car.

You can either get the trails driving maps at the Visitor Center or download a smartphone app for the same – iPhone or Android.

The Trail Map app is very convenient – it shows you where the best flower fields are located and shows you how to drive there. 

The Ennis Garden Club also provides a 2 hour guided tour for an additional cost.

After checking out the bluebonnets, do not forget to stop in Ennis.

While Brenham and Fredericksburg were settled by German immigrants in Texas, Ennis has Czech heritage. This is the best place to eat kolaches. 

During the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival, you will see arts and craft booths in the city, live music performances, and can participate in wine tastings. 

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is located in the Texas Hill Country and is popular for its mild climate, wineries, and bluebonnet fields. 

The city has German heritage and its Main Street is beautiful with attractions such as the Pioneer Museum and Marktplatz.

There are over 40 wineries surrounding Fredericksburg, so we recommend this more of a weekend getaway than a day trip. 

On a scenic drive around Fredericksburg, you can see blue masses of bluebonnets, large swathes of bright red Indian paintbrushes, and yellow poppies.

Two of our favorite places to see the wildflowers near Fredericksburg include the Willow City Loop and Wildseed Farms. 

Willow City Loop

Willow City Loop is a gravel, unpaved road that offers the very best of the hill country.

It is 13-mile long and in spring, it is surrounded by blue, yellow, red, and pink wildflowers.

This is where you get the iconic Texan picture of cowboy boots hung on a fence with bluebonnets in the background. 

Wildseed Farms, Fredericksburg

At Wildseed Farms, you can find well-maintained wildflower fields.

This is the USA’s largest wildflower farm and has rows and rows of bluebonnets, poppies, lantanas, and more.

They even have a beer garden and tasting room.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Enchanted Rock is one of the best places in Texas to go hiking among the bluebonnets in blooming season.

Along with the flowers, you can also spot native Texas plants, snap photos of other wildflowers such as Mexican hats and Indian paintbrush, as well as spot wildlife.

Llano

Llano, located a little distance away from Fredericksburg, is known as the bluebonnet capital of Texas.

Start your bluebonnet drive here and begin with the famous Coopers Bbq in Llano.

Then follow the Highland Lakes Bluebonnet Trail down to Burnet. 

Along the way, you will see gorgeous Texas wildflowers dotting the routes.

Burnet

Burnet, located in the Texas Hill Country, is the other bluebonnet capital of Texas.

The city holds an annual bluebonnet festival in the second week of April.

While there are few fields in the city, the real fun lies outside on the bluebonnet driving trails. 

Highland Lakes Bluebonnet Trail

Llano and Burnet are connected by the Highland Lakes Bluebonnet Trail. We recommend taking a day or two to drive this beautiful trail in the spring.

The route passes through Fredericksburg and Marble Falls.

The Visitor Center bureaus in any of the cities can give you a map of the Highland Lakes Bluebonnet Trail.

As the road nears Enchanted Rock and Fredericksburg, the rolling hills are replaced by craggy rock formations. 

The blooming wildflowers make a striking contrast in the backdrop of the rocky outcroppings and provide some stunning photos. 

Related: 5 Secret Camping Spots near Austin to see Total Solar Eclipse 2024

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area located on the banks of Lake Travis in Burnet County is famous for its spectacular bluebonnet fields spanning the shores.

The blooms here can vary year by year – sometimes the fields are underwater due to heavy rains and visitors cannot see any flowers.

However, if the conditions are right – the bluebonnet fields here are spectacular and extend as far as the eye can see!

This outdoor paradise is also an excellent place to go for hiking, mountain biking, family picnics, camping, and spending a fun day out in the Texas Hill Country. 

Turkey Bend Recreation Area

Turkey Bend Recreation Area is located on the Northern shore of Lake Travis, almost opposite to Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area.

This area is also famous for its gorgeous Bluebonnet displays along the Lakeshore when the conditions are ideal for the flowers to bloom.

At Turkey Bend, you can have a picnic among the bluebonnets or mountain bike through the fields or camp and enjoy the fragrance of the bluebonnets at night.

Go kayaking on the lake to enjoy the views of the flower fields from the water.

Kingsland

Located on the banks of the Colorado River, Kingsland is a hidden gem when it comes to scouting for bluebonnets.

The town’s slogan is “Where the rivers flow and bluebonnets grow”.

That means, come spring and you are sure to find abundant bluebonnets in Kingsland.

The best place in the town to take photographs is however on the abandoned railway track.

The flowers look gorgeous growing amongst the glistening tracks.

However, the tracks are on private property and you need permission to access them. 

Big Bend

Big Bend National Park and the Chisos Mountains are a great place to see the famous Texas bluebonnets early on. 

The park often has a super bloom.

Seeing Big Bend during springtime is beautiful for many reasons. 

First, where else in Texas can you see the sea of blue flowers in the backdrop of bare mountains! 

Second, Big Bend is quite remote and you can have the flowers all to yourself in the national park. 

Third, the Big Bend bluebonnet is a different type of bluebonnet – called the Chisos bluebonnets – and it can grow as tall as 3 to 4 feet!

San Antonio

The area around San Antonio is a great place to see the spring wildflowers and bluebonnets in South Texas.

We love driving along the country roads southwest of San Antonio for beautiful flower fields. 

Consider driving around the area between I-37 and I-35 around the towns of Pleasanton, Poteet, Devine, Somerset and other nearby areas to see the flowers. 

We have seen some of the best bluebonnet fields in Texas in Poteet.

Just drive around the outskirts of the city on farm to market roads and you are sure to see some Texas wildflowers.

Poteet also hosts an Annual Strawberry Festival in April which is fun to visit. 

Another good location is in the countryside around New Braunfels. There are also many areas that are bursting with flowers within the city limits and in the Gruene historic district. 

One of our favorites is Eisenhower Park, which has many flower patches. Another is the Rolling Oaks Mall which is a popular bluebonnets portrait spot.

Marble Falls and Burnet

Marble Falls and the nearby town of Burnet is a great place to see the blooming bluebonnets.

Burnett has its bluebonnet festival while Marble Falls has a Blue bonnet Cafe and a Bluebonnet House! 

The Bluebonnet House is one of the most photographed houses in Texas – you can photograph the historic house surrounded by a large flower field. 

The deteriorating 19th century house makes for great bluebonnet photos in the countryside. The exact address of the house is 4554 N. US Highway 281.

The Bluebonnet Cafe was opened in 1929 and is the perfect place to have lunch and shop for some souvenirs.

The café is located on Hwy 281 near Lake Marble Falls.

Along the lakeside/riverside is also a great place to photograph the flowers. 

Marble Falls is smack dab in the middle of the Texas Hill Country.

It has the best bluebonnets in Texas: these Hill Country beauties are larger than the southern bluebonnets and white tipped. They look beautiful in photos. 

Both these small towns make an excellent day trip destination from Austin, Texas.

Austin

Texas’s capital city also has several excellent bluebonnet locations.

One of the favorites is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in South Austin.

This botanic garden is managed by the University of Texas at Austin and is home to 284 acres of beautiful landscapes as well as wildflowers.

The Lady Bird Center Wildflower Center garden looks stunning during spring.

Houston

While Houston is east of the bluebonnet fields of central Texas, the wildflowers do grow here in large patches.

However, do not expect many large fields and dense flowers. 

The bluebonnet fields in Houston, Texas are more like small patches in the city’s parks.

Some of the best areas are in Terry Hershey Park, and also in the communities of Katy, Tomball, and Sugar Land. 

Mercer Arboretum in Houston is gorgeous in spring and great for taking photos of kids as well as family photos.

Another great place near Houston is the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site off I-10 from Houston to San Antonio.

We hope you liked our ultimate guide to viewing the best bluebonnets in Texas.

Do you know any particular field or spot that keeps coming back year after year? Let us know in the comments. 

Do you have gorgeous photos of the Texan countryside in bloom? We would love to see them!

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