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Texas Hill Country · Highway 290
Things to Do in Johnson City, Texas
Johnson City sits at the eastern gate of the Highway 290 wine trail — 48 miles west of Austin, and 30 miles east of Fredericksburg. Here is what to see, where to taste, and how to build the drive into a full day.
See the One-Day Itinerary
Taste
Wineries in Johnson City, TX
Johnson City anchors the east end of the 290 wine trail. Tasting rooms sit in town and along the highway, so you can walk between several without moving the car. Check each winery's site for current hours and reservations — most weekends fill up.
On 290
Siboney Cellars
A Johnson City winery right on Highway 290, and usually the first tasting room travellers hit coming from Austin.
In town
Vinovium
Winery, restaurant, and wine bar in one stop — useful when half your group wants lunch instead of a flight.
Texas fruit
Lost Draw Cellars
Known for wines made from High Plains Texas fruit. A good stop if you want to taste what Texas terroir actually does.
Vineyard
Sandy Road Vineyards
An estate vineyard just outside town, with a quieter tasting room than the highway stops.
Stay over
Carter Creek Winery Resort
Winery, resort, spa, and brewery on one property — the easiest option if you would rather not drive after tasting.
Small batch
Pebble Rock Cellars
A small Johnson City tasting room. Worth a stop when the bigger rooms are shoulder to shoulder.
See
Parks, History & Family Stops
Johnson City is small, but it carries real history — this is where Lyndon B. Johnson grew up. Between the national park and the state park you can fill a morning without spending a dollar.
Free
LBJ National Historical Park
The Johnson City district holds LBJ's Boyhood Home, the Johnson Settlement, and the visitor centre. The LBJ Ranch unit sits 14 miles west near Stonewall — directly on your route to Fredericksburg.
Outdoors
Pedernales Falls State Park
About 9 miles east of town. Stair-stepped limestone falls, swimming holes, and hiking. Day passes sell out on holiday weekends — reserve ahead.
Kids
Hill Country Science Mill
A hands-on STEM museum built inside a restored 1880s grain mill in the middle of town. The reliable answer when you are travelling with children.
Nov – Dec
Christmas Lights Spectacular
The courthouse and Pedernales Electric buildings light up for the holidays. It draws crowds from Austin and San Antonio, so come on a weeknight.
Eat
Where to Eat in Johnson City
Main Street covers most of it — barbecue, burgers, a brewery, and a couple of genuinely good sit-down kitchens.
Pecan Street Brewing
Local brewery and kitchen. The default group stop on Main Street.
Bryan's on 290
A proper sit-down dinner on the highway. Book ahead on weekends.
Pig Pen BBQ
Texas barbecue, done plainly and done well.
Johnson City Coffee
Coffee before the drive west. Opens early.
30 minutes west
Keep Going: Fredericksburg Is Half an Hour Away
Highway 290 runs straight from Johnson City to Fredericksburg — 30 miles, about 35 minutes, and the LBJ Ranch sits at the halfway point. Most visitors treat the two towns as one trip.
At the far end is Hill Country Chocolate. We are a working bean-to-bar chocolate factory in Fredericksburg. Our tastings pair handcrafted chocolate with Texas wine from DKM Cellars, and you watch the factory floor through floor-to-ceiling windows while you taste. It is an indoor, seated, 60–90 minute stop — which is exactly what you want after a morning outside at Pedernales Falls.
Plan it
The One-Day Johnson City to Fredericksburg Route
- 9:00 AM — Coffee on Main StreetStart in Johnson City. Grab coffee and walk the courthouse square before it warms up.
- 9:30 AM — LBJ Boyhood HomeThe national park district in town. Free, and it takes about an hour.
- 11:00 AM — First tasting roomSiboney or Vinovium, right in town. One flight, not three — you have a drive ahead.
- 12:30 PM — LunchPecan Street Brewing or Pig Pen BBQ.
- 2:00 PM — LBJ Ranch, StonewallHalfway to Fredericksburg, directly on 290. A good stretch of the legs.
- 3:30 PM — Chocolate and wine in FredericksburgHill Country Chocolate. Seated, indoors, and paired with Texas wine. Book this one in advance — it is the stop that sells out.
- 6:00 PM — Dinner on Main StreetStay the night in Fredericksburg, or run back east on 290 in about 35 minutes.
Questions
Johnson City, Texas: Common Questions
How far is Johnson City, Texas from Fredericksburg?
About 30 miles, or roughly 35 minutes, straight west on Highway 290. The LBJ Ranch sits about halfway between the two towns.
How far is Johnson City from Austin?
Around 48 miles west of Austin, about 55 minutes on Highway 290. San Antonio is roughly 64 miles south, about an hour and ten minutes.
Is Johnson City worth visiting for wine?
Yes. It anchors the eastern end of the Highway 290 wine trail, and several tasting rooms sit close enough together to visit on foot. Many visitors pair it with Fredericksburg, 30 minutes west, to make a full day.
What is there to do in Johnson City besides wineries?
LBJ National Historical Park, Pedernales Falls State Park about 9 miles east, and the Hill Country Science Mill in town. In November and December the town runs its Christmas Lights Spectacular.
Is there a chocolate shop near Johnson City, Texas?
Hill Country Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate factory in Fredericksburg, 30 minutes west on Highway 290. It offers seated chocolate and wine tasting experiences with a view of the working factory floor.
30 minutes west on 290
Finish the Day With Chocolate and Wine
Handcrafted chocolate paired with Texas wine, in a working factory in Fredericksburg. Reservations go fast on weekends.
Book Your Tasting See All Experiences144 Industrial Loop, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 · 830-992-3277