so i accidentally ended up in georgetown texas and honestly? not mad about it

okay so here's the thing - i didn't PLAN to be in georgetown texas. at all. my buddy bailed on our austin road trip last minute and i had already booked the hostel so i figured "screw it, i'll just drive around and see what happens." that's literally how i ended up in a town i'd never heard of three hours before sunset, and honestly? one of the better accidents i've had on the road.

Quick Answers

Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: yeah, if you're into weird small town texas vibes without the tourist trap nonsense. it's quiet, it's cheap, and there's actually stuff to do if you don't need a club on every corner. i'd recommend it to anyone passing through austin who wants a break from the chaos.

Q: Is it expensive?
A: laughably cheap compared to austin. i spent maybe 45 bucks total for dinner, gas, and a coffee. the hostel was 28 a night which is basically robbery in texas these days.

Q: Who would hate it here?
A: if you need nightlife or you're the type who needs to be entertained constantly, you're gonna be bored out of your mind. also if you hate humidity because lordy it's sticky here.

Q: Best time to visit?
A: honestly fall seems chill but i was there in what i think was late spring? the weather was warm but not brutal, i'd imagine summer gets rough with that 82% humidity situation.

Q: Is it safe?
A: felt totally fine walking around at night alone. very suburban, very quiet, the kind of place where people leave their doors unlocked probably.

so the weather thing - i looked it up and it was like 23 degrees celsius which sounds nice until you realize the humidity was at 82% and i was SWEATING within five minutes of being outside. a local at the coffee shop (shoutout to the barista who gave me free refills because i looked "miserable") told me that basically may through september is just gonna be sticky as hell and to "bring water or you'll pass out." great advice honestly.

i didn't know anything about this place before i got here and that's kind of the vibe i like - showing up blind and figuring it out. the population is like 47,000 people which is small but not tiny, enough to have actual restaurants and shops but not so much that it's overwhelming. austin is only like 30 minutes north which is perfect because i could dip out if i wanted but honestly i didn't need to.

*here's what i actually did with my time:

- walked around the downtown square which is cute but definitely not the main event
- found this incredible taco truck near the highway that nobody online seems to talk about (i'm not sharing the name because i want it to stay secret, sorry)
- sat in a park for like two hours reading because i was too hot to do anything else
- went to a thrift store and found a vintage wrangler jacket for 12 bucks so that was a win
- drove to the reservoir thing nearby which was honestly underwhelming but the drive was pretty

i'm not gonna pretend this is a destination town but that's kind of the appeal? it's a place you end up on the way to somewhere else and then you're like "oh wait, this is nice actually."

on the money situation: i kept track because i'm broke as hell and need to know where every dollar goes. gas was 3.12 a gallon which is wild compared to where i'm from. the hostel was 28 bucks a night which is CHEAP and honestly nicer than some places i've paid double for. dinner was maybe 15 dollars at this mexican place that was absolutely incredible and i need to go back. coffee was 4 bucks which is basically free in 2024.

someone told me at the hostel that georgetown is like "what austin was before everyone figured out about it" and i can kind of see that? it's got that weird creative energy but it's still cheap enough that actual people live here instead of just tech guys.

the tourist situation is basically nonexistent which i loved. i didn't see a single other obvious tourist the whole time i was there. it's not a place people GO to, it's a place people PASS through, and that means the restaurants and shops are actually for locals which usually means better food and better prices.

things nobody told me but i figured out:

the downtown area closes early - like 6pm early on weekdays - so don't show up at 8pm expecting options. the reservoir is popular with locals but it's more of a fishing spot than a swimming spot so adjust expectations. there's a really good bookstore on the main street that i spent way too much money at.

i heard from a guy at the gas station that the town is basically doubling in size because of people getting priced out of austin, which tracks. there's new construction everywhere and the housing prices are apparently insane now, but the actual town center still feels like it hasn't changed much.

some practical thoughts for if you're considering this:

if you're driving from austin, take the 130 toll road because the free route adds like 20 minutes and honestly the toll isn't that bad. there's free parking everywhere which is insane coming from a city where parking costs more than gas. the wifi at the hostel was surprisingly good which matters to me because i was working remotely while i was there.

the humidity really is the thing nobody prepares you for though. 82% is no joke - i felt like i was breathing through a wet towel the entire time. i'd recommend planning outdoor stuff for early morning or late evening and just accepting that you'll be a little gross during the middle of the day.

would i come back?

yeah actually. it's a good stopping point if you're doing a texas road trip and it has enough character to not feel like just another suburb. the food was better than expected, the prices are great, and there's something nice about a place where nobody expects you.

i don't know, maybe it's not for everyone. but i like places that don't try too hard and georgetown definitely doesn't try too hard. it's just there, being a small texas town, not asking for your attention but worth giving it anyway.

links because i know people want them:

- check the hostel on hostelworld or booking, i used booking and it was fine
- the square has a yelp page with all the restaurants listed, most are pretty accurate
- there's a reddit thread about austin day trips that mentions georgetown sometimes, helpful for timing
- tripadvisor has a few things listed but honestly yelp is more useful for this size town
- the reservoir is on all the fishing apps if that's your thing
- the thrift store i liked is called something like "second chances" but i'd just walk around the square and you'll find it

that's it, that's the post. not my most coherent but i think that's the point. sometimes you just go somewhere and it's fine and you don't need to make it into a whole thing.

final thoughts:*

the weather was warm, the people were nice, the tacos were cheap, and i didn't get murdered. that's basically a perfect trip in my book. would recommend to anyone who doesn't need their hand held through every experience.

go to austin if you want the whole experience. stop here on the way and grab a taco and keep it moving. that's the move.

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tags: travel, georgetown texas, budget, austin, texas road trip, hostel, messy, human, vibe, authentic