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Driftwood is a census-designated place in Hays County, Texas, set in the rolling Hill Country about 24 miles southwest of downtown Austin. The 2020 census counted just 106 residents, making it a genuinely small rural community whose regional fame far outweighs its population. Driftwood lies along Ranch to Market Road 150, roughly fifteen miles northwest of Kyle and 25 miles from San Marcos, the county seat, placing it within the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metropolitan area even as it retains a distinctly rural feel. The community's reputation rests on food and drink. The Salt Lick BBQ, one of Texas's best-known barbecue restaurants, has drawn visitors to Driftwood for decades, and the neighboring Salt Lick Cellars pours wine made from vines on the property. Around these anchors, a cluster of wineries, breweries, and distilleries has grown along the Hill Country's wine trail, making Driftwood a destination for day-trippers from Austin and tourists exploring the region. This commercial identity exists alongside a lightly developed rural landscape of ranches, acreage, and oak-covered hills. The contrast between Driftwood's tiny official population and its busy destination status is the defining feature of the place. On weekends, the parking lots of the barbecue and wine establishments fill with visitors, while the surrounding countryside remains quiet and sparsely settled. That balance of rural seclusion and steady visitors gives the area a character distinct from both the suburbs to the east and the larger Hill Country towns nearby. Education is provided by the Dripping Springs Independent School District, which serves Driftwood along with Dripping Springs and the surrounding northern Hays County area. Daily life for residents is quiet and spread out, with services in Dripping Springs, Kyle, and Wimberley, and Austin within commuting distance. Driftwood suits those who want Hill Country acreage and privacy while remaining close to the metro, and who appreciate having a landmark barbecue restaurant and a wine scene in their own community.

Population 106

County Hays County

Active Listings 146

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Driftwood, Texas in?

Driftwood is in Hays County, Texas, in the Hill Country southwest of Austin. The county seat, San Marcos, lies about 25 miles to the south, and Austin is roughly 24 miles to the northeast.

What is Driftwood known for?

Driftwood is best known as the home of the Salt Lick BBQ, a landmark Hill Country barbecue restaurant, and the neighboring Salt Lick Cellars winery. The area around Ranch to Market Road 150 also holds wineries, breweries, and distilleries.

What school district serves Driftwood?

Driftwood is served by the Dripping Springs Independent School District, which enrolls more than 8,000 students across northern Hays County and serves Driftwood, Dripping Springs, and the surrounding rural areas of the county.

How far is Driftwood from Austin?

Driftwood lies about 24 miles southwest of downtown Austin, reached along Ranch to Market Road 150 through the Hill Country. Kyle is about fifteen miles to the southeast, and San Marcos, the county seat, is roughly 25 miles to the south.

Is Driftwood a town?

Driftwood is a census-designated place with a small official population of just over 100 residents, according to the 2020 census. It is a rural community whose regional fame as a barbecue and wine destination far exceeds its resident count.

City Guide

About Driftwood

Real Estate & Housing

Driftwood's housing is Hill Country in character, made up of homes on acreage, ranch-style properties, and scattered rural residences rather than dense subdivisions. The official census-designated place is tiny, but the surrounding Driftwood area, within the Dripping Springs school district, holds a mix of established homesteads and larger country lots with oak-covered hills and open pasture. Buyers are typically drawn by space, privacy, and the area's scenic Hill Country setting, accepting a short drive for most services. The region's proximity to Austin and Dripping Springs gives it appeal for those seeking a rural property within reach of the metro.

Neighborhoods

Driftwood has no formal neighborhoods or subdivisions in the conventional sense. The community is defined by Ranch to Market Road 150, which passes through its center, and by the surrounding Hill Country countryside of ranches, acreage, and scattered homes. The Salt Lick BBQ and Salt Lick Cellars form the area's social and commercial focal points, drawing visitors to a place with almost no other commercial development. The nearby towns of Dripping Springs and Wimberley provide the surrounding communities and services. Driftwood reads as a rural crossroads with a famous destination rather than a town of distinct residential districts.

Lifestyle in Driftwood

Driftwood's lifestyle is shaped by its dual identity as a tiny rural community and a beloved Hill Country destination. The Salt Lick BBQ draws a steady stream of visitors from Austin and beyond, and the surrounding wineries, breweries, and distilleries have made the area a stop on the Hill Country's food-and-wine trail. For the small number of full-time residents, life is quiet and spread out, centered on rural roads, Hill Country views, and a slower pace than the city. Dripping Springs and Wimberley provide nearby services, while Austin remains an easy drive for work and culture. It is a place for those who want Hill Country living with a famous barbecue joint down the road.

Schools & Education

Driftwood is served by the Dripping Springs Independent School District, which enrolls more than 8,000 students across approximately 198 square miles of northern Hays County, including a small portion of Travis County. The district serves Driftwood, Dripping Springs, and the surrounding rural communities, providing a well-regarded K-12 pathway for families in the area. Because the district is one of the region's draws, education is a meaningful part of the Driftwood area's appeal, pairing Hill Country acreage with access to a strong public school system.

Getting Around

Driftwood is reached by Ranch to Market Road 150, which connects the community to the broader Hays County road network and toward Austin. Downtown Austin is about 24 miles to the northeast, Kyle is roughly fifteen miles southeast, and San Marcos lies about 25 miles south. There is no public transit or passenger rail serving Driftwood, so transportation is entirely by private vehicle. For residents, the practical pattern is a scenic Hill Country drive to reach the region's jobs, services, and entertainment, with Austin's employment centers within commuting range.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Driftwood is oriented around Hill Country food, wine, and scenery. The Salt Lick BBQ is the community's best-known draw, with Salt Lick Cellars offering wine tasting beside the restaurant. The surrounding area's wineries, breweries, and distilleries make Driftwood a destination on the Hill Country wine trail. Beyond the table, the rolling countryside offers scenic drives and rural exploration, with the outdoor recreation of Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and the Pedernales River valley a short drive away. The nearby Hamilton Pool Preserve and other Hill Country natural attractions add hiking and swimming within easy reach.

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