National park · United States
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Give it half a day: Johnson City district on foot in the morning (free), then drive 14 mi west on US-290 and take the free ranch bus at the LBJ State Park visitor centre before 3:00 — the ranch gate closes at 4:00.Give it half a day: Johnson City district on foot in the morning (free), then drive 14 mi west on US-290 and take the free ranch bus at the LBJ State Park visitor centre before 3:00 AM — the ranch gate closes at 4:00 AM.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
7 km²3 sq mi
approximate
Established
1969
Best months
Mar–May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 7 km²3 sq mi
- Roughly 1,700 acres across two districts in Blanco and Gillespie counties; the figure varies by source (check).
- Established
- 1969
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Two separate districts 14 miles apart along US-290, both free to enter. The Johnson City district holds the boyhood home, the settlement and the visitor centre; the LBJ Ranch district at Stonewall holds the reconstructed birthplace, the Johnson family cemetery and the Texas White House, reached only on a scheduled bus from the state park side of the river. There are no long trails here — this is a walking-and-driving history park in the Hill Country, so plan around the bus times, not around hiking.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1969.
Size and age
7 km²3 sq mi · national park since 1969
Roughly 1,700 acres across two districts in Blanco and Gillespie counties; the figure varies by source (check).
Why go
- The boyhood home and the ranch are the two halves of one story, 14 miles apart, and both are free.
- The ranch bus is the only way in: you ride past working Hereford pasture to the Texas White House and the family cemetery.
- The Johnson Settlement next to the visitor centre keeps a small Longhorn herd, as Johnson required when he gave the land.
- Wildflower fields at the state park entrance in April and May, a nod to Lady Bird Johnson's highway beautification work.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanMild, bare oaks; quiet
- FebCool; some rain
- MarWildflowers start; mild walking
- AprPeak bluebonnets and paintbrush
- MayWarm; still green
- JunHot; 100°F afternoons possible
- JulHottest month; midday sun
- AugHot and dry; bus queues in shade
- SepHeat lingers; fewer crowds
- OctCool mornings; clear
- NovMild; golden grass
- DecCool; holiday closures
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildflowers (bluebonnet, paintbrush, coreopsis)Mar–Jun · Fields at the state park entrance bloom yellow and blue in early summer. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bald eagle wintering along the PedernalesNov–Feb · The only listed threatened species recorded in the park; sightings are uncommon. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Summer nesting birds (painted bunting, scissor-tailed flycatcher, hummingbirds)Apr–Aug | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Winter ducks and waders on the riverDec–Feb | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Snakes and scorpionsApr–Oct · Rare on busy paths; wear closed shoes off the gravel. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Austin
US-290 west about 50 mi to Johnson City; the ranch district is a further 14 mi west at Stonewall.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From San Antonio
US-281 north to US-290, then west through Johnson City; about 60 mi to the visitor centre.
1.5 h
Open the page →
From Fredericksburg
US-290 east about 16 mi to the LBJ State Park entrance at Stonewall.
25 min
From Central Hill Country plan
Where this park fits with Fredericksburg, Pedernales Falls and Enchanted Rock.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson City district | Visitor centre, boyhood home, Johnson Settlement and the park headquarters. | Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; free. |
| LBJ Ranch district | Reconstructed birthplace, Texas White House, family cemetery and working pasture. | Bus only, from the state park visitor centre at Stonewall; free. |
| LBJ State Park and Historic Site | Texas-run land across the river: bus departure point, picnic areas, nature trails and a living-history farm. | State park hours; small day-use fee may apply (check). |
Sketch map
- 1Johnson City visitor centre · Headquarters≈30.241, -98.624Map ↗
- 2LBJ boyhood home · Town≈30.240, -98.622Map ↗
- 3Johnson Settlement · Village≈30.239, -98.626Map ↗
- 4LBJ State Park visitor centre (Stonewall) · Gate≈30.238, -98.625Approximate; bus departure point for the ranch.Map ↗
- 5LBJ Ranch / Texas White House · Town≈30.245, -98.625Approximate; reached by bus only.Map ↗
- 6Johnson family cemetery · Summit≈30.244, -98.626Approximate; on the ranch bus route.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance (both districts) | Free | person | No entrance fee at either district (check current NPS listing). |
| Ranch bus tour from LBJ State Park | Free | person | Free ticket from the state park visitor centre; first come, first served (check). |
| Texas White House interior tour | Free | person | Interior access has been closed for restoration; ask at the desk before you drive out (check). |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | pass | 2026 estimate; not needed here, but useful for nearby federal sites. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Ranch district access permit or guide
Boyhood home interior no permit
Filming or drone use permit or guide
Park rules
- Ranch access
- Private vehicles cannot drive into the LBJ Ranch district; everyone rides the bus from the state park visitor centre.
- Hours
- Both districts close on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; Johnson City runs 9:00–17:00 and the ranch 9:00–17:30 (check).Both districts close on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; Johnson City runs 9:00 AM–5:00 PM and the ranch 9:00 AM–5:30 PM (check).
- Pets
- Not allowed inside the historic buildings or on the ranch bus; keep dogs leashed on the grounds where permitted.
- Drones
- Not allowed over federal park land without prior permission (check).check
- Artifacts and fences
- Leave everything where it is; do not cross pasture fences or approach the cattle.
Where to stay
Near the park
Johnson City motels and inns
Small roadside places on US-281, a few minutes from the visitor centre.
Near the park
Stonewall and Fredericksburg
Guesthouses and B&Bs closer to the ranch district; Fredericksburg has the widest choice, 16 mi east.
Near the park
RV parks near Johnson City
Full hook-up sites and rental cabins on US-281; no camping inside the park itself.
Safety
Summer heat high
Snakes and scorpions low
Thunderstorms and flash flooding medium
Bus timing medium
Accessibility
- The Johnson City visitor centre, boyhood home area and settlement paths are largely level and reachable by car.
- The ranch bus can take a wheelchair; ask staff at the state park visitor centre when you collect your ticket.
- Gravel and grass surfaces at the settlement and river paths are firm but uneven in places.
Visiting lightly
- Both districts are free — spend instead in Johnson City and Stonewall so the small towns keep the park economy.
- Stay on marked paths through the wildflower fields; picked or trampled blooms do not come back the same season.
- Fill a reusable bottle at the visitor centre rather than buying single-use plastic in the heat.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee at either the Johnson City district or the LBJ Ranch district, and the ranch bus from the LBJ State Park visitor centre is free with a ticket from the desk. Check the NPS site before you go, because hours and interior access change.
What are the best hikes in Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park?
There are no long trails. The walkable options are the flat Johnson Settlement loop behind the Johnson City visitor centre (30–60 minutes), the short paths along the Pedernales at the state park, and the nature trails there. The ranch is seen from the bus, not on foot.
When is the best time to visit Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park?
March to May and October to November. Spring brings wildflowers and mild walking weather; autumn is cool and clear. June to September is hot enough that midday outdoor time is uncomfortable, and the ranch bus has little shade.
Do I need a reservation for the ranch tour?
No advance booking is normally needed — collect a free ticket at the LBJ State Park visitor centre near Stonewall and board the next bus. Arrive by early afternoon; the last departure is well before the 17:30 close (check).
Can I drive to the Texas White House?
No. The ranch district is bus-only. Park at the state park visitor centre on US-290 at Stonewall, take the bus, and you will be dropped at the birthplace, the show barn and the cemetery before the Texas White House grounds.
Is the park worth a special trip?
As a stop, yes — half a day on a Hill Country drive between Austin, Fredericksburg and San Antonio. As a destination on its own, only if you are interested in Johnson's presidency; the landscape is pleasant rather than dramatic.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go