Communities in Prime Locations in or Near the Austin-San Antonio Corridor

Austin

The Austin-San Antonio Corridor comprises two major metropolises in Austin and San Antonio and several rapidly growing surrounding communities. This hub for business and culture has experienced massive economic and population growth over the past several decades. 

Many cities in or near the Austin-San Antonio Corridor are in prime locations to take advantage of all this area has to offer, including beautiful outdoor settings, thriving downtown areas, and cultural destinations. Let’s look at some of the big cities and small towns in or near the Austin-San Antonio Corridor that provide residents with numerous lifestyle benefits. 

Lake Travis | Image credit: Dale Honeycutt

Bandera

Bandera is a suburb roughly an hour’s drive from San Antonio. While accessing the big city’s many amenities is easy, Bandera’s distinct small-town atmosphere makes it feel worlds apart. Bandera has been referred to as the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” It is a nature lover’s paradise, with trails for horseback riding and surrounding outdoor areas that offer views of canyons, hills, and wide open plains. The town itself is small with a Wild West look and appealing dining options.

Bandera | Image credit: Polina Portnaya

Jonestown

Jonestown is a city in Travis County, just 20 miles northwest of Austin, with a quiet, safe, and rural feel. The area is famed for its glittering blue lakes, particularly Lake Travis, one of Texas’s most well-known bodies of water. Jonestown’s convenience to Austin also makes it popular for commuters. It has a small population of around 2,000 but has much to do, from exploring Jones Brothers Park to enjoying tasty Texas barbecue at the local restaurants. 

Jonestown

New Braunfels

New Braunfels is a unique city with a distinctly German-Texan feel, located near San Antonio. The town was established by German settlers and retains its German identity; the town hosts annual events such as Wurstfest—a celebration of the German sausage—and houses many German pastry shops and restaurants. With its location along the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, New Braunfels is a scenic community with easy access to gorgeous scenery, such as the Natural Bridge Caverns. Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort is one of New Braunfels’s excellent child-friendly attractions that appeal to families. 

Guadalupe River

Austin

Austin is Texas’s state capital, a city that has become one of America’s most sought-after places to live. With a naturally beautiful setting surrounded by lakes and parks, residents enjoy boating and hiking along the water. Austin is renowned for its live music scene and delectable culinary options, and it has a busy nightlife with bars, breweries, and entertainment venues. It is the site of the University of Texas at Austin, a premier university, and its technology industry is becoming increasingly pronounced. The powerful Austin job market includes offices of many large companies, including Apple, Google, and Tesla. 

Austin | Image credit: Max Miner

Portland

Portland is about a two-hour drive south of San Antonio, ideal for those who want to live on the Texas Gulf Coast but avoid the crowds. Though it is not in the Austin-San Antonio Corridor, this beautiful city along Corpus Christi Bay, just across the water from Corpus Christi, is still in an impeccable prime location. Visitors typically explore the area’s scenic beaches and bayside parks, golf, fish, boat, and hike. 

Corpus Christi Bay