Major city · United States
New BraunfelsNew Braunfels, Texas
Give New Braunfels 2 nights in summer for tubing and Schlitterbahn, or 1 night off-season for Gruene and downtown. A car is required.
New Braunfels is a small Texas Hill Country town on I-35 between Austin and San Antonio, built on two rivers and a German settler heritage. Almost everything visitors come for is water: floating the Comal in an inner tube, the Schlitterbahn waterpark, and the Gruene historic district on the Guadalupe. Summer weekends are the whole point and also the whole problem — traffic, full hotels and river rules. Off-season it is a quiet one-night stop between the two big cities.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Sep for river and waterpark; Apr and Oct–Nov for Gruene, Wurstfest and lower prices
- avoid Jul–Aug weekend afternoons (heat, traffic, packed rivers); check river flow after drought
- Airports
- SAT · AUS
- Nights
- 2
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for New Braunfels911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about New Braunfels, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyNew Braunfels is a low-crime resort town; the real risks are summer heat, fast-moving river water and alcohol on the river.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSAT San Antonio International (About 30 mi / 45 min south on I-35; the closer of the two main airports).
- Getting aroundA car is the only practical way to move around; I-35 runs through town and SH-46 crosses it.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee and a pastry downtown$5–9
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, one main$18–35
- BeerDraught beer at a Gruene or downtown bar$6–9
- Museum or sight ticketWurstfest admissioncheck — cash and card at the gateabout $8–15
- Budget bedHostel or motel bed, a night, per personUS$45
- Mid-range bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
- High-end bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$280
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SAT San Antonio International (About 30 mi / 45 min south on I-35; the closer of the two main airports) · AUS Austin-Bergstrom International (About 45 mi / 1 h north on I-35; more flights, longer drive)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Feb
not flagged
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Mar
not flagged
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
May
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Care
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Aug
Care
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Sep
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Nov
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Dec
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Mixed: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest May (8 rain days), driest Jul (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
New Braunfels: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
7 rd
Feb
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
7 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
7 rd
Apr
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6 rd
Jul
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
5 rd
Aug
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
5 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
7 rd
Oct
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6 rd
Nov
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
6 rd
Dec
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the only practical way to move around; I-35 runs through town and SH-46 crosses it. Downtown and Gruene are each walkable once you park. Tube rental shops run shuttles back from the river take-out. Summer weekend traffic on I-35 and around Schlitterbahn is heavy — go early.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Gruene Historic District
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive 10–15 min west on Hwy 306 then Hunter Rd
Gruene Hall, the General Store and the Gristmill; go early on weekends to park.
San Marcos
goDoor to door: About 25 min
I-35 north about 18 mi
Outlet malls and the San Marcos River; easy half-day.
San Antonio
goDoor to door: About 45 min
I-35 south about 30 mi
The Alamo and the River Walk; a full day, or sleep there instead.
Austin
goDoor to door: About 1 h
I-35 north about 45 mi
Music, food and the Capitol; better as its own base than a day trip.
Natural Bridge Caverns
cautionDoor to door: About 35 min
Drive west on SH-46 then Natural Bridge Cavern Rd
Guided cave tours only, timed tickets; check tour times and prices.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / San Antonio Street
Walkable to Naegelin's, the Faust Hotel and the Comal tube chutes; best for one night without a car in the evening.
Gruene
Historic district with Gruene Hall and the Gristmill; quiet at night, 10–15 min drive from downtown.
I-35 corridor
Chain hotels and free parking at exits 187–191; cheapest beds, but you drive everywhere.
River Road / Guadalupe
Cabins and RV resorts on the river; best for tubing groups, book months ahead for summer weekends.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $120–200 excl. bed
- High
- $220+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chain-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$150 | US$300 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$150 | US$600 |
| Schlitterbahn one-day ticket2 × US$60 · check — price varies by date | US$120 |
| Tube rental with shuttle, one day2 × US$25 · check | US$50 |
| Parking near the river or Schlitterbahn1 × US$10 · check | US$10 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$111 |
| Trip total≈ US$305 per person per day, bed included | US$1,221 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee and a pastry downtown | $5–9 |
| BBQ plate or burger | $14–22 |
| Sit-down dinner, one main | $18–35 |
| Draught beer at a Gruene or downtown bar | $6–9 |
| Tube rental plus shuttlecheck — varies by operator and season | $20–30 |
| Schlitterbahn one-day ticketcheck — date-based pricing | $50–70 |
| Wurstfest admissioncheck — cash and card at the gate | about $8–15 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- River rules are enforced: no disposable containers, glass, styrofoam or coolers over 16 quarts on the Comal inside city limits.
- Beer on the river is allowed, but open containers in city parks are not.
- Summer weekend hotels and river cabins sell out weeks ahead; book early or sleep in San Marcos or Seguin.
- Tubing depends on water level — rentals close or shorten runs in drought or after heavy rain.
- Schlitterbahn ticket prices and dates change by season: check the official site before you go.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
New BraunfelsNew Braunfels, Texas
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Zu dieser Adresse, bitteTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies here; consulates are in Houston, Dallas and Austin. US visitors: 911 for anything urgent.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- SAT airport → New Braunfels: about 45 min by car or rideshare
- AUS airport → New Braunfels: about 1 h by car or rideshare
- Downtown parking: $5–10 depending on lot
Say or show
- Danke — Thank you
- Hallo — Hello
- Ein Bier, bitte — One beer, please
- Wo ist der Einstieg? — Where is the river put-in?
- Was kostet das? — How much is it?
- Prost — Cheers
German phrases are heritage flavour, not required — everyone speaks English.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for New Braunfels. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep for river and waterpark; Apr and Oct–Nov for Gruene, Wurstfest and lower prices · avoid Jul–Aug weekend afternoons (heat, traffic, packed rivers); check river flow after drought · month by month →
- 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SAT and AUS: last shuttle times, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with anchors: downtown, Gruene, Landa Park and the Comal, the I-35 hotel strip.
- River-day fixture: tube rental, shuttle, entry and parking prices checked for the current season.
- Summer-weekend and drought fixtures so the page can flag closed runs and sold-out beds.
Sources
- officialCity of New Braunfels
- officialSchlitterbahn New Braunfels
- officialWurstfest
- officialGruene Hall
- officialNatural Bridge Caverns
- secondaryWikivoyage: New Braunfels, revision 5141111 (CC BY-SA 4.0)