The Best Cabins and Lodges to Book in Texas

About 10mi (16km) beyond the city of Brenham (halfway between Houston and Austin), you’ll find the rustic-chic Scenic Hill Retreat. Forget cookie-cutter, prefab cabins: the property has a selection of log cabins and a sprawling farmhouse to choose between. The former (mostly) feature their own hot tubs, porches with swings, barbecues and king beds. It’s a good spot for a digital detox: the retreat makes a point of not offering wifi or cable TV. There are walking trails on site – and if you’re looking to move around, you can head out to explore nearby wineries as well as the artsy town of Round Top.

Drive 100mi (160km) west from San Antonio and you’ll hit the small town of Leakey, on the crystal-clear spring-fed Frio River. There, you can stay at the positively tranquil Springs Lodging, with a collection of cabins and its own swimming hole on the river. It’s a great bet for groups: most of its cabins sleep up to six guests (one is geared towards couples), and some houses have room for up to 18. You can chill out by the fire pit with a s’mores kit, or by the on-site pool; or head out to Garner State Park, where you can float on the river in an inner tube, or go hiking among the canyons and fall foliage at Lost Maples State Park.

Slightly north of the city of Tyler – and about 100mi (160km) east of Dallas – is this collection of quiet and cozy cabins. The air-conditioned wood cabins, each with its own patio, hide among the trees, and the property delivers wifi, barbecues and bike rentals. Just 2mi (3km) down the road is Tyler State Park, where you can hike around a pine-edged lake; the area is also known for rose-growing, so make sure you factor in a trip to the Tyler Rose Garden.

Calling all thrill-seekers: this lodge is adjacent to the Spider Mountain downhill mountain-bike park, a little over an hour’s drive from Austin. But it’s not only for those looking to power uphill – positioned right on serene Buchanan Lake, it’s also a formidable spot for those looking to swim, fish or boat (or to visit the rock formations at nearby Longhorn Cavern State Park). Thunderbird Lodge has a collection of stone and wood cabins and cottages, each with barbecue facilities and picnic tables; larger properties can accommodate up to 20 guests – a great place for a party.

Get a slice of Texan-cowboy lifestyle at this working ranch, one hour northwest of Houston, near the small city of Navasota. The comfortable and clean cabins come with wifi and TVs, and have multiple bedrooms, making 7D a great choice for families and larger groups (the largest house sleeps a generous 21 people). The ranch is good for those seeking an active holiday – the activities offered include hog hunts, handgun training and horseback riding (all for an extra fee).

Less than an hour’s drive northwest of San Antonio, family-run Al’s Hideaway offers 12 cabins that are a great fit for couples and small families; there are also two tipis for rent, as well as RV and camping spaces. With a 20-acre (8ha) property away from major roads, it’s a tranquil spot among the undulating landscape of Texas Hill Country. There are walking trails, plus it’s a short drive to the shores of Medina Lake (well known for its catfish), and state parks with plenty more hiking options; to eat and drink, head to the small city of Bandera for barbecue and a creative craft brewery. Check out, too, the wineries dotted around the area.

Silver Spur is a bed and breakfast-turned-resort, an hour’s drive east of Dallas, alongside the small city of Canton. The lodgings range from tiny houses (which the resort also constructs to sell) for couples, cosy TV-free cabins for families and a spacious ranch house for groups. The resort puts an emphasis on ditching the electronics in favor of quality vacation time – to help with that, there’s lots of activities, from an escape room to a pool, pedal boats, and catch-and-release fishing ponds, as well as an in-house barbecue joint.