7 of the Hill Country's Most Unique Places to Stay

Pop open a beer and kick back on a deck just over the gorgeous Guadalupe River, all just steps away from your own private getaway. Overlooking the Kerrville River Trail and Louise Hays Park, River House Kerrville offers a prime location along with its quaint accommodations. The Main House, with its two bedrooms, boasts amazing river views and a spacious outdoor patio, while The Loft’s balcony is a romantic spot to greet the sunrise. Choose The Studio instead and you can relax on the tree-shaded deck complete with a grill when you aren’t making meals in the kitchenette or enjoying the walk-in shower.

As cozy as River House Kerrville’s units are, you’ll want to wander out eventually. When you do, you can savor a slower pace of life by playing cornhole, hand-feeding ducks, and borrowing a bicycle, fishing pole, or inner tube and relishing a day on the river. River House Kerrville is just a few blocks away from the downtown area as well, meaning you won’t be far from some of the destination’s best places to dine and shop.

Limestone rock walls, an exposed iron staircase, and all the rustic charm you could ever ask for. Built in 1892, the Filling Station Bungalow has been a fish hatchery, general store, and gas station. Relax in this two-bedroom, 1.5-bath home full of touches that set it apart, starting with the “O.C.Childs Grocery” shadow printed over the front door from the 1930’s to its stained-glass windows and its updated bathrooms and kitchen. The bungalow has all the space you need to comfortably stretch out, and the washer and dryer make it ideal for longer stays.

When you’re not tipping back a glass of wine or unwinding in the living room, watch the world pass you by on the front porch or the deck in the backyard. Although it would be easy to spend your entire trip in the home, you’d miss out on its great location in Kerrville. Start here and you’re just steps away from the Kerrville River Trail and the Guadalupe River, and just over a mile from the shops and eateries of downtown Kerrville. For a stay unlike any other, spend a few days at the Filling Station Bungalow.

Pick a spot under the shade of a bald cypress tree and dip your toes into the crystal-clear Guadalupe River, all just a stone’s throw away from your home away from home. This is only part of the draw of River Trail Cottages, which offers an impressive range of accommodations. The cottages started in 1928 as the Kerrville Motor Courts, and it still retains much of its old-fashioned appeal. Immerse yourself in the past by choosing the one-king or two-queen-bed Motor Court rooms that feature flat-screen TVs, small refrigerators, front porches, and individual carports. Meanwhile, the River View Cottages have private decks that afford refreshing river views, and the Hicks RV and M System RVs will remind you of the golden age of American road tripping.

Sure, you could relax just about anywhere. But then you wouldn’t be luxuriating in the combination of historic charm and modern luxuries at any of Dwell Well’s three rental homes. The green-painted walls and pink front door of the 1940’s Tivy Cottage welcome you to your Kerrville getaway, and the hardwood floors and ceilings and eclectic décor give the two-bed, two-bath home a bohemian vibe. Cook up a storm in the kitchen, then take in the sunset in your backyard complete with an outdoor game area, firepit, and a seven-person hot tub.

Traveling with your pup? The Miller’s Cottage is a two-bed, one-bath Sears kit home built in 1927 with an abundance of personality, as well as a cozy dog bed and a fenced-in backyard. Delight in a soak in the original clawfoot bathtub or take it easy in the outdoor hot tub. Like The Miller’s Cottage, The Garrett House is another 1920’s-era Sears kit home. Full of bright colors illuminated by large windows and antique furnishings matched with contemporary design touches, the home is an idyllic spot for romantic retreats and weekends sipping wine. Wander into the backyard and you’ll encounter a hot tub and a fire pit, as well as a sparkling swimming pool that serves up a stellar way to beat the Texas summer heat.

No matter which property you choose, you’ll be within walking distance of Kerrville’s bars, breweries, restaurants, and shops.

Looking for a perfectly Instagrammable spot for your next getaway? Kick back in The Starkey House, a three-bedroom bungalow located just steps from the Guadalupe River, the Kerrville River Trail, the Riverside Nature Center, and within walking distance of the downtown area. Make a cocktail for yourself at the honor bar as soon as you arrive, then spend the day on the river or cruising around on a bicycle before cooking a meal in the stylish kitchen (or on the grill out back). End the day playing darts, lounging on the swing, gathered around the fire pit, or relaxing in the large hot tub. Don’t forget to snap a selfie by the custom sign made just for you or the colorful mural that represents Kerrville’s newest artistic tradition.

Even if you’re traveling with a smaller group or just your sweetheart, you can still stay at The Starkey House. The home is divided into the two-bedroom Get-Away and The Tuck-Away, a one-bedroom suite. Go for The Get-Away and you’ll have access to the main kitchen, fire pit, built-in washer pit, grill, outdoor shower, and hot tub. Meanwhile, The Tuck-Away features an outdoor lounge area, dartboard, picnic table, a small kitchenette, and a refreshing rain shower. The two units are semi-attached but still very private, so you won’t even know anyone else is here.

To fully immerse yourself in Hill Country history, make Kerrville’s Methodist Encampment neighborhood your home away from home. Built in the early 1900’s to provide housing for families attending an annual Methodist event, this part of town is now full of beautifully renovated houses. Set behind a massive oak tree, the colonial Spanish-style façade of The Mission beckons you into its inviting embrace. Hardwood floors and antique furniture add warmth, and the full kitchen makes it easy to savor your vacation on your terms.

Starting your day with a cup of coffee in the bright and airy sunroom in the Tanglewood Cottage is a must in the morning. Yet the rest of the home, from the kitchen’s granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances to its two bedrooms, is just as bathed in natural light thanks to its large windows. Finally, The Painter’s Cabin is just the setting for a romantic retreat. Red-tinted wood floors and walls serve up abundant historic appeal, and the one-bedroom cabin’s front patio is just the place to watch deer in the mornings.

Regardless of which place you stay, you’ll enjoy a quintessentially Hill Country experience unlike any other in the region.

Anywhere that calls itself Casa Tejas has to be a pretty big deal. Rio De Arcadia’s two-bedroom home certainly lives up to the name. Weighing in at more than 1,900 square feet, the house showcases Lone Star State pride with its wealth of Texana art and decorations. A wooden front door crafted by none other than James Avery (of James Avery Artisan Jewelry) beckons you inward, and the spacious great room and den give you plenty of space to stretch out. Head into the kitchen and you’ll find everything you need for short- and long-term stays, and the utility room features a washer and dryer. Yet the star of the show might just be the enormous deck that faces the Guadalupe River.

Despite its name, The Studio can comfortably accommodate just as many people as Casa Tejas. Set just steps away but in its own building, The Studio is a two-bed, two-bath home with a full kitchen and a large master bathroom, as well as a utility room with a washer and dryer. Greet the sunrise on the breakfast deck, work on your tan on the studio patio, or soak in the relaxing warmth of the hot tub. Book either house and you can dive into the negative edge swimming pool or enjoy private access to the Guadalupe River, which is just a short walk away.

When you want to live it large in the Hill Country, look no further than Rio De Arcadia.

The Texas Hill Country is full of one-of-a-kind places to stay, and Kerrville is no exception. Book your getaway at any of these remarkable bungalows, cottages, and houses, then discover all the city has to see and do here.