Texas is rife with small towns that make idyllic day trip destinations, and Johnson City is among the most underrated of them all. Home to the 36th president of the United States, great restaurants, and awe-inspiring natural wonders, this tiny blip on the map is so worth visiting.
Johnson City is home to fewer than 2,000 people, but the small Hill Country town has earned a rightful spot in the history books.
TripAdvisor/AuntieM64 This little blip on the map bore the 36th president of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, and this tree-lined road leads to his boyhood home.
The Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, located in nearby Stonewall, features nature trails, historic cabins, the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, and a Visitors Center showcasing memorabilia from President Johnson’s time in office.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Illustrating the heavy influence German immigration had on the Texas Hill Country, this park is a truly fascinating place to visit. It also boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool that opens every summer! Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, 199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX 78671, USA
Across the Pedernales River, you’ll find Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park, which the iconic LBJ Ranch is part of.
TripAdvisor/Jason W You’ll see the President’s boyhood home, the one-room schoolhouse he attended in 1912, and several other noteworthy buildings. Tours of the ranch begin at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, 1048 Park Road #49, Stonewall, TX 78671, USA
Johnson continued to live on the ranch throughout his adult life and political career, and the home he shared with his wife, Lady Bird, became known as the “Texas White House.”
NPS/Cynthia Dorminey Visitors can enter the home and take a peek into the past, touring LBJ’s office and learning all about what made him such a great leader.
You’ll also see the Johnson family cemetery, where the President and his wife are buried.
TripAdvisor/Charlie G A free, self-guided driving tour takes you on a winding journey through the ranch, and everyone receives a map indicating all the stops along the way.
Pedernales Falls State Park is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, too, so it only makes sense to visit the world-famous natural wonder while you’re in town.
CrackerClips / iStock via Getty Images Plus Spanning over 5,000 acres, the park features giant limestone slabs, tons of hiking trails, and a pristine swimming area. It’s like taking a trip back to prehistoric times! Click here for the park’s website, and here for Facebook. Pedernales Falls State Park Nature Trail, Texas 78663, USA
All that exploring sure works up an appetite, so head on over to Pecan Street Brewing for some delicious pub grub.
TripAdvisor/RandS_TX This bustling spot is known for its live music, patio seating, no-frills American fare, and rotating on-tap beer selection. Click here for the restaurant’s website, and here for Facebook. Pecan Street Brewing, Avenue, 106 E Pecan Dr, Johnson City, TX 78636, USA
While Johnson City is worth visiting year-round, if we had to pick a favorite season, it would definitely be Christmastime.
Flickr/Jack The courthouse and surrounding town square come alive in a dazzling display of over 100,000 lights, and it’s a magical sight to see.
Click here to learn about the state park, and here for the national historical park. Here, you’ll find the Facebook page to the state park, and you can click here for the National Park’s page. Tours of the ranch are offered seven days a week, and permits are issued between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
TripAdvisor/AuntieM64
This little blip on the map bore the 36th president of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, and this tree-lined road leads to his boyhood home.
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Illustrating the heavy influence German immigration had on the Texas Hill Country, this park is a truly fascinating place to visit. It also boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool that opens every summer!
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, 199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX 78671, USA
TripAdvisor/Jason W
You’ll see the President’s boyhood home, the one-room schoolhouse he attended in 1912, and several other noteworthy buildings. Tours of the ranch begin at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, 1048 Park Road #49, Stonewall, TX 78671, USA
NPS/Cynthia Dorminey
Visitors can enter the home and take a peek into the past, touring LBJ’s office and learning all about what made him such a great leader.
TripAdvisor/Charlie G
A free, self-guided driving tour takes you on a winding journey through the ranch, and everyone receives a map indicating all the stops along the way.
CrackerClips / iStock via Getty Images Plus
Spanning over 5,000 acres, the park features giant limestone slabs, tons of hiking trails, and a pristine swimming area. It’s like taking a trip back to prehistoric times! Click here for the park’s website, and here for Facebook.
Pedernales Falls State Park Nature Trail, Texas 78663, USA
TripAdvisor/RandS_TX
This bustling spot is known for its live music, patio seating, no-frills American fare, and rotating on-tap beer selection. Click here for the restaurant’s website, and here for Facebook.
Pecan Street Brewing, Avenue, 106 E Pecan Dr, Johnson City, TX 78636, USA
Flickr/Jack
The courthouse and surrounding town square come alive in a dazzling display of over 100,000 lights, and it’s a magical sight to see.
Have you ever been to Johnson City? If so, did you visit either the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park or National Historical Park? What about Pedernales Falls or Pecan Street Brewing? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below, and check out our previous article for more small towns in Texas worth taking a detour to.
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Address: Johnson City, TX 78636, USAAddress: Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, 1048 Park Road #49, Stonewall, TX 78671, USAAddress: Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, 199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX 78671, USAAddress: Pecan Street Brewing, Avenue, 106 E Pecan Dr, Johnson City, TX 78636, USAAddress: Pedernales Falls State Park, 2585 Park Rd 6026, Johnson City, TX 78636, USA
