15 Best Places to See Bluebonnets in Texas

Where are the best places to find bluebonnets in Texas? I’ve created a list of 15 of the best places to see bluebonnets in the Lone Star State. The bluebonnet season is short, so you have to know where and when to find the stunning bluebonnet fields. When peak bluebonnet viewing in Texas happens, you get to enjoy the wonders of nature and get your bluebonnet photos before they are gone again for another year. Each year presents a whole new canvas of blooms, but the weather and rainfall determine how the season will progress.

The 2024 bluebonnet season was filled with abundant bluebonnet fields. In 2023 and 2024 Texas bluebonnets showed up early due to warm weather early in the season. Then the 2025 season was not so great for bluebonnets due to lack of rain in the winter months.

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Bluebonnets in Texas in 2026

My prediction for the 2026 bluebonnet season is that we will have a mostly mediocre season in much of central Texas.

Why don’t I expect many bluebonnets in 2026?

As a result of warmer temperatures and severe lack of rain from September through December 2025, along with forecasts for little rain in January and February, the bluebonnets will most likely be lacking in 2026. However, any areas that did receive fall and winter precipitation should consequently have a decent bluebonnet season in 2026.

I think the best places for bluebonnets in 2026 will be closer to Houston in March, around Chappell Hill and Brenham. Also, towards Dallas-Fort Worth, I expect the Ennis bluebonnet fields in late March and throughout April should have a pretty good season.

For the cities of Austin, Fredericksburg, and San Antonio, I don’t expect we’ll see many bluebonnets in 2026.

Now, let’s have a look at the (historically) best bluebonnet spots in Texas.

Where to See Bluebonnets in Texas

Find out where and when to enjoy the stunning bluebonnet fields in Texas, from Fredericksburg to Big Bend. Learn about the blooming season, the official bluebonnet trail, and the bluebonnet festival in Ennis.

Fredericksburg

If you’re looking for a cool day trip or weekend getaway that includes bluebonnets then Fredericksburg is the perfect choice.

Known for wineries, unique boutiques, and 200 acres of wildflower fields, there’s always something fun to do in Fredericksburg.

Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg is a delightful place for all gardeners but really anyone who wants to see beautiful ginormous fields of flowers. They have an excellent gift shop, wine tasting room, and tons of wildflower seeds. And lots of bluebonnets every spring! Especially in 2023 (with a drier than usual winter season) this was the best bet for bluebonnets around Fredericksburg.

Also near Fredericksburg you can hike the amazing Enchanted Rock for one of the most unique hiking experiences in Texas.

LEARN MORE: 15 Best Places to Visit in Texas

Sunset at Texas bluebonnet field near Fredericksburg.

Fredericksburg is the perfect small town Texas location for bluebonnets, hiking, museums, and wine tasting

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is huge and offers a range of hiking trails and scenic drives that will take your breath away.

If you’re planning a road trip to West Texas in March or April, then you’ll have an excellent chance to see Texas bluebonnets in one of the most spectacular places in Texas.

Big Bend is the best place in Texas to see bluebonnets with mountains and wilderness as the background.

Ennis Texas

One of the best places to see bluebonnets in Texas is Ennis, recognized as the home of the Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail (by the Texas legislature in 1997) and the Official Bluebonnet City of Texas.

Every year the Ennis Garden Club sponsors the Bluebonnet Trails (from April 1 – 30) with a bluebonnet map and guide to help you have the best experience.

After you get hungry from driving all around Ennis looking at the pretty bluebonnets be sure to pop into Bluebonnet City Grill for Texas diner style home cooking (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and creative takes like BBQ Mac and Grilled Cheese.

Ennis Bluebonnet Festival takes place the second weekend of April each year.

The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails is a great day trip from Dallas (about 30 minutes) or a long day trip from Austin (about 3 hours) or Houston (about 3 hours 15 minutes) and a perfect excuse to take a day off (or weekend getaway) to enjoy one of the best things to do in Texas.

In Ennis Texas you can drive the Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail

Burnet

Another one of the top bluebonnet spots in Texas is Burnet—known as the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas.

About an hour’s drive northwest of Austin, the town of Burnet hosts a Bluebonnet Festival the second weekend in April with live music, the Bluebonnet Biergarten, parades, and fun events for the whole family.

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area Spicewood

For Texas bluebonnet fields and dirt roads you can’t beat Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area in Spicewood Texas.

And this is the place to go if you want to hike and mountain bike around Central Texas.

With miles of trails and gorgeous bluebonnets along the Colorado River, you’ll find your happy place at Muleshoe Bend, about one hour’s drive from Austin—perfect day trip!

The Texas State Flower is the Texas Bluebonnet – Lupinus texensis

Llano

Another place in Texas hill country for bluebonnets is Llano—west of Buchanan Lake.

There are two excellent Texas state parks between Llano and Burnet: Inks Lake State Park and Longhorn Cavern State Park.

Marble Falls

Take a lovely drive northwest of Austin to the beautiful bluebonnets in Marble Falls.

You should probably have something yummy to eat at the Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls before you go wandering around the bluebonnet fields.

Marble Falls is where you’ll find the old Bluebonnet House (north on Hwy 281 towards Burnet) and a field of bluebonnets. You can search on Google Maps for “bluebonnet house Marble Falls” and get driving directions.

The old bluebonnet house on Hwy 281

Kingsland

Take a drive out to Kingsland (about 1 hour 15 minutes from Austin) to see bluebonnets along the old railway tracks and in the fields.

Kingsland is also a popular vacation spot in Texas because of Lake LBJ (officially Lake Lyndon B Johnson) and the Colorado River.

Brenham

Brenham is an excellent day trip from Austin (about 90 minutes) or Houston (about one hour) anytime. Because Blue Bell ice cream is made there!

But bluebonnet season in Texas makes it an even better reason to go to Brenham. Mid- to late March is typically peak bluebonnet viewing in Brenham.

In Brenham you can spot bluebonnets around town and use the handy wildflower map (posted each year by Visit Brenham) to find out where the latest bluebonnet blooms are located. Look behind the Walmart in Brenham; there’s a field with lots of bluebonnets. I visited on March 12, 2024 and they were not at their peak yet.

In between Brenham and Independence you can visit the Old Baylor Park (11300 Old Baylor College Rd), where there are usually a bunch of bluebonnets and gorgeous oak trees.

READ MORE: 15 Best Small Towns in TEXAS

Large field of bluebonnets with a few trees in the distance.

Visit Brenham Texas for Bluebonnets and Blue Bell Ice Cream (photo taken mid-March 2024)

Chappell Hill

In Washington County on the drive between Brenham and Hempstead (Hwy 290), stop and visit Chappell Hill for one of the best bluebonnet spots in Texas.

And the Chappell Hill Historical Society hosts the “Official State of Texas Bluebonnet Festival” the second weekend in April every year—mark your calendar for next year; you don’t want to miss it!

Chappell Hill is only 55 miles northwest of Houston, so it’s a beautiful drive from H-Town for a small town Texas day trip.

If you want to go home with some flowers of your own, you should stop by The Bluebonnet House and Garden Center in Chappell Hill.

La Grange

The town of La Grange is another stop to make while on a bluebonnet tour of the area.

Situated midway between Austin and Houston, you can take Hwy 71 for great wildflower viewing and gorgeous country landscapes along the way.

A few miles south of La Grange on FM 155 S (about a 15-minute drive), there is a beautiful bluebonnet field at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Holman Texas.

March 2023 – near La Grange you will likely find some big bluebonnet fields

Fayetteville

On Hwy 159 between Fayetteville and Industry, you will not want to miss this Texas bluebonnet experience. Trust me, it’s a unique setting for bluebonnets in Texas.

Why? Because ZEBRAS!!!

Wait?! What?! Zebras in a bluebonnet field? For real?!

Yes, indeed. And they look gorgeous surrounded by a field of the official flower of Texas. Although, in 2024, when I visited in mid-March, the bluebonnets were not as plentiful as in 2023. In 2025 (a poor bluebonnet season) I hardly saw any bluebonnets here. Still, it’s pretty cool to see zebras roaming around in Texas!

Plus they are curious animals that will walk right up to the fence and say hello and flutter their long zebra eyelashes at you.

Yes, there are also some cows in the bluebonnet field, but they are so chill they pretty much ignore everyone and wonder what all the fuss is about.

Zebras grazing in bluebonnet field in Texas.

Only in Texas will you find zebras grazing in a bluebonnet field!

Industry

On Hwy 159 at Immaculate Conception German Catholic Church, there is a huge field of multi-colored wildflowers including lots of Texas bluebonnets.

It is an absolutely gorgeous setting.

And did you know Industry is known as the oldest German settlement in Texas? It was established in 1831; there ya go—another reason to visit this small Texas town.

Put Industry Texas on your bluebonnet list – this photo taken on March 13, 2023

Shiner

While best known for its beer and Spoetzl Brewery, the oldest independent brewery in Texas, Shiner is also a great bluebonnet spot in Texas.

Take a drive along US 90 W to Gonzales and up to Luling on US 183, or head east on US 90 out towards Hallettsville, but also explore some of the side roads in your pursuit of wildflowers.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

In Austin you’ll find lots of small fields of bluebonnets along the urban hiking trails and along the roadways. But the best place to see bluebonnets in Austin is Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

My mom loved gardening, so whenever she visited me in Austin, we took a trip to Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and she loved seeing the bluebonnets.

At the wildflower center you can take a break from the trails and gardens to enjoy lunch at the cafe and shop for souvenirs (and flower seeds) at the gift shop.

Texas bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush flowers.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in South Austin is the best place to see bluebonnets in Austin

5 Facts about Texas Bluebonnets

Bluebonnets are toxic (especially the seeds and pods) to humans and animals. Don’t eat the flowers!
Lupinus texensis is the scientific name for the Texas Bluebonnet.
Texas Bluebonnets belong to the genus Lupinus.
The State Flower of Texas is the Texas Bluebonnet.
Texas Bluebonnets are annual plants—they grow from the seeds germinated in the fall.

Bluebonnets in Texas FAQ

Where are the best places to see bluebonnets in Texas?

The prime bluebonnet viewing areas are in Central and East Texas. But you can also find bluebonnets in West Texas, in and round Big Bend National Park.

When do the bluebonnets bloom in Texas?

The blooming season starts in early spring. The blooms begin first in the southern portion of the state, around late February to early March, and gradually move north as the weather gets warmer and days get longer throughout March and April.

Start watching around late February to early March; you should start to see a few blooms in areas around Houston and south of San Antonio. Peak bluebonnet season is usually from mid-March to mid-April but there are still lots of places to see blooms through the end of April.

When is peak bluebonnet season?

Peak bluebonnet viewing is typically towards the end of March up to the second week of April, depending on the area. The south peaks first, around the end of March, but further north, peak bluebonnet season is in mid-April. Around Brenham they tend to peak around mid- to late March. Because the Dallas area and Ennis are further north, they get a later start, so peak bluebonnets are around mid-April.

Can I pick the bluebonnets?

There’s no official law that says you can’t pick bluebonnets in Texas, but the unofficial rulebook says Don’t Pick the Bluebonnets! Take photos instead of taking the bluebonnets.

Final Thoughts on Texas Bluebonnets

Now you have a list of places for the best bluebonnet fields in Texas, but remember the season starts around early March and finishes towards the end of April, so plan accordingly. While 2026 may not be the best year for bluebonnets, it’s still fun to get out and take a scenic drive in search of the state flower of Texas.

I hope you do get to experience some of these beautiful flowers during Texas bluebonnet season, along with all the other gorgeous wildflowers of Texas.

If you live within the bluebonnet blooming area, springtime is the perfect time to walk around your neighborhood to see what’s blooming. With an abundance of wildflowers in Texas, you will likely find some bluebonnets around town.