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Two Rivers, German Roots & Gruene Hall

New Braunfels, Texas

Things to Do · Events · Local Guide
New Braunfels · Gruene · Garden Ridge
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About New Braunfels

New Braunfels — a German River Town

New Braunfels was founded on Good Friday, 1845 by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels as a waystation for German immigrants, and grew into the fourth-largest town in Texas within five years. Today it is the Comal County seat and one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, built around two spring-fed rivers — the Comal (often called the shortest navigable river in Texas, 72°F year-round) and the Guadalupe. The German heritage still shapes the food, the festivals like Wurstfest, and the way the town sees itself — even as I-35 growth reshapes it.

Founded
1845Good Friday; Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
Known for
The riversComal, Guadalupe, German heritage
Location
Comal County seaton I-35, Austin↔San Antonio
Population
~125,0002024 est; 90,000 in 2020
Nearby
Gruene & Garden RidgeGruene Hall · Natural Bridge Caverns
From Austin
~45 miles S~45 min via I-35 (more on summer weekends)
Read more about New BraunfelsShow less
About Us

Built by a locally operated Hill Country travel company.

new-braunfels.ai is built by Spencer and Jess Forrest, owners of Backroads Hill Country — a locally operated Texas Hill Country travel company that has represented Hill Country vacation rentals since 2001, with thousands of guest stays coordinated across the region.

Most travel platforms flatten a place like New Braunfels into generic top-10 lists. This is built the other way around — local knowledge first, from people who actually live and work in the Hill Country.

Spencer & Jess Forrest Backroads Hill Country
The Network

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The Digital Front Door to the Texas Hill Country. An AI-powered discovery network connecting towns, rivers, parks, events, and the places worth knowing across the region.

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Local Knowledge

Frequently asked about New Braunfels

New Braunfels is a German river town between Austin and San Antonio, built around two spring-fed rivers — the Comal and the Guadalupe. It's known for tubing, Landa Park, Schlitterbahn, German food and Wurstfest, and Gruene Hall just north of downtown. Founded on Good Friday 1845 by German immigrants, it's now one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas.
Depends on the day you want. The Comal is spring-fed, 72°F year-round, and short — the horseshoe loop is about two hours with no shuttle, and it's the party float, can-to-can on summer Saturdays. The Guadalupe is longer, faster, has a few rapids, and needs an outfitter shuttle — put in at Gruene. For quiet on the Comal, go on a weekday or do the full float down to the confluence instead of the horseshoe.
It depends on what Canyon Lake is releasing and recent rain. Check the USGS gauge at Sattler (08167800) before you commit — the Guadalupe rises fast on upstream rain, and when it's high the outfitters close and don't refund. When it's very low, you'll be dragging your tube over rock. The Comal, being spring-fed, is far more constant.
Summer Saturdays are packed — the Comal horseshoe is can-to-can at the tube chute, and I-35 through town backs up for an extra 30 to 60 minutes. Go on a weekday if you can, or get on the water early. Note the river rules: no glass on either river, and the Comal bans disposable and styrofoam containers (reusable coolers only).
Krause's Cafe & Biergarten for schnitzel, bratwurst, and a wall of beers on tap (Tuesdays are the deal). Alpine Haus is smaller and less crowded. And Wurstfest in early November is the ten-day German heritage festival at Landa Park. Downtown Seguin Avenue has more.
Gruene is a historic district within New Braunfels, about three miles north on the Guadalupe. Gruene Hall (1878) is the oldest dance hall in Texas and still books live music seven nights a week; the Gristmill restaurant sits in the old cotton-gin ruins over the river; and Gruene Road is the main Guadalupe tubing put-in. It has its own page here.
Natural Bridge Caverns — the largest commercial cavern in Texas — and the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, a drive-through safari right next door. About 12 minutes south of New Braunfels, and a good option for a rainy day, a hot day, or when you've already floated out. It has its own page here.
Backroads Hill Country represents vacation rentals across the Hill Country and is expanding into New Braunfels. River-access rentals are the premium option for groups — and which river you want matters, since staying near Landa Park puts you on the Comal and staying on Gruene Road puts you on the Guadalupe.