Austin Hill Country: Salt Lick BBQ & Winery Shuttle Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (1,014 reviews) 94% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/20

Duration4h 30m

GroupUp to 11

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Texas BBQ, Hill Country vineyards and laughter on the road

You’ll taste legendary Texas BBQ at Salt Lick, sip local wines among rolling Hill Country vineyards, and share stories with fellow travelers on an easy shuttle day trip from Austin. Includes comfortable transport with a local guide—just bring your appetite (and maybe stretchy pants).

4h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Hill Country BBQ and Wine Tasting

Depart Austin Visitor Center at 10:30AM
Travel to Driftwood area
Visit Salt Lick for Texas BBQ
Taste wines at first Hill Country winery
Enjoy wines at second Hill Country winery

The Experience

The first thing I noticed when we pulled up to Salt Lick BBQ was the smell — smoky, sweet, almost sticky in the morning air. Our guide, Marcus, had been telling us stories about Driftwood’s quirks on the drive out from Austin (he swears he once saw a goat ride in the passenger seat of a pickup), and by the time we stepped off the Sprinter van, everyone was hungry and half-laughing. The place was already buzzing — families, couples, people with big trays of brisket. I tried to order like a local but fumbled my way through “burnt ends” (Marcus grinned and helped me out). Eating outside under those oak trees with sauce dripping down my wrist felt… well, honestly Texan. I didn’t expect to feel so at home.

After lunch, we loaded back into the van — windows down, sun warming my arm — and headed toward the first winery. The Hill Country looked washed in gold; it’s hard to describe unless you’ve seen it yourself. At the winery, our server poured something floral that tasted like summer grass and apples. We wandered past rows of vines while someone played guitar near the patio. I kept thinking how different this felt from city wine bars: more relaxed, less fussed-over. The second stop was quieter; we sat on a porch swing sipping reds while a breeze carried hints of cedar and barbecue smoke from somewhere down the road. I’m still not sure if it was actually barbecue or just my brain playing tricks because I wanted more ribs.

I liked that everything was easy — no worrying about driving or directions (I get lost even with Google Maps). You pay for your tastings and food as you go, which somehow made it feel more casual than other tours I’ve done. There were solo travelers chatting with couples; nobody seemed rushed or out of place. By late afternoon, we were all swapping photos and tips for Austin taco joints before Marcus dropped us back at the Visitor Center. Funny how quickly strangers can feel like friends after a few glasses of wine and shared plates of brisket.

What’s included

Your day includes roundtrip transport in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter van departing from central Austin, plus a friendly local driver-guide who keeps things light along the way. All food and drink purchases are made directly at Salt Lick BBQ and both wineries—so you can choose what you like without any set menu or hidden costs.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Austin Detours LLC