San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city of 70,897 people in Caldwell County, Texas, founded in 1808.
Why visit San Marcos
Townapedia lists 78 museums and landmarks, 54 parks and trails, 172 places to eat, 38 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Texas State University, The SPOT Cinema Eatery, Farmers Union Gin Company and Fire Station and City Hall.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 97°F; January lows average 39°F.
Weather in San Marcos
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About San Marcos
San Marcos () is a city in and the county seat of Hays County, Texas, United States. The city is mostly a part of the Greater Austin metropolitan area. San Marcos's limits extend into Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties, as well. The latter is part of the Greater San Antonio Metropolitan Area.
From the Wikipedia article San Marcos, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Texas State University
School · 1.1 mi
Public research university in San Marcos, Texas, United States
Performing Arts Center (PERF)
Cinema and theater · 0.9 mi
405 Moon Street, San Marcos
Museums and landmarks78
Farmers Union Gin Company
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic place in San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Fire Station and City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Hays County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Building in San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Old Main
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Red-roofed Victorian Gothic building on the campus of Texas State University–San Marcos
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Riley's Tavern
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.0 mi
Building in New Braunfels (vicinity), Comal County, Texas
Calaboose African American History Museum
Museum · 0.6 mi
200 West Martin Luther King Drive
Th-Sa 10:00-14:00
LBJ Museum of San Marcos History
Museum · 0.7 mi
131 North Guadalupe Street, San Marcos
Tu-Su 11:00-17:00
Spring Lake Glass-Bottom Boat Tour
Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi
201 San Marcos Springs Drive, San Marcos
09:30-17:00
66 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds54
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
Hiking and trails · 1.4 mi
201 San Marcos Springs Drive, San Marcos
09:30-17:00
Blanco Shoals Natural Area
Hiking and trails · 3.2 mi
1201 River Ridge Parkway, San Marcos
06:00-23:00
UFCU Stadium
Sports field and stadium · 1.4 mi
1100 Aquarena Springs Drive, San Marcos
San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center
Hiking and trails · 3.5 mi
500 East McCarty Lane, San Marcos
Mo-Fr 07:30-16:00
42 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes172
Saltgrass Steak House
Restaurant · Steak House · 1.3 mi
1141 Interstate 35, San Marcos
Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su-Th 11:00-21:00
Babe's Doughnut and Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Donut · 0.8 mi
214 North LBJ Drive, San Marcos
Mo off; Tu-Th 08:00-13:00; Fr-Su 08:00-15:00
Casa Maria Mexican Restaurant and Bakery
Restaurant · Mexican
706 South Guadalupe Street, San Marcos
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-21:30; Sa 08:00-21:30; Su 08:00-21:00
Hays County Barbecue
Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.0 mi
1612 South Interstate 35, San Marcos
Mo-Th 11:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00
Kobe Japanese Steak House
Restaurant · Sushi, Japanese, Steak House, Teppanyaki · 1.3 mi
210 Springtown Way, San Marcos
Fr-Sa 11:30-23:00; Su-Th 11:30-22:00
Outback Steakhouse
Restaurant · American, Steak · 4.5 mi
4205 South Interstate 35, San Marcos
Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Rollin' Bowl
Restaurant · Asian · 0.5 mi
1285 South Interstate 35, San Marcos
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:30
Sakura
Restaurant · Sushi · 1.7 mi
117 Meiners Street, San Marcos
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-21:30
160 more on the map.
History
Archeologists have found evidence at the San Marcos River associated with the Clovis culture, which suggests that the river has been the site of human habitation for more than 10,000 years. The San Marcos Springs are the third-largest collection of springs in Texas. Never in recorded history has the river run dry.
In 1689, Spaniard Alonso de León led an expedition from Mexico to explore Texas and establish missions and presidios in the region. De León's party helped blaze the Camino Real (later known as the Old San Antonio Road), which followed present-day Hunter Road, Hopkins Street, and Aquarena Springs Drive (the route later shifted four miles to the south; it is now followed by County Road 266, known locally as Old Bastrop Highway). De León's party reached the river on April 25, the feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist; the river was thus named the San Marcos.
From the History section of San Marcos, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay38
Churches and places of worship29
First United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Fort Street Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.8 mi
624 East Hopkins Street, San Marcos
Iglesia Cristiana Pentecostes Columna y baluatry de la verdad
Church · Pentecostal · 0.4 mi
325 South Guadalupe Street, San Marcos
McCarty Student Center
Church · Church Of Christ · 1.0 mi
506 North Guadalupe Street, San Marcos
Shopping28
Gas and EV charging28
Schools, colleges and libraries36
Healthcare10
Student Health Center-Thorpe Lane
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.5 mi
1347 Thorpe Lane, San Marcos
Map of San Marcos
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 39°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 67°F | 42°F | 1.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 73°F | 50°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 80°F | 56°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 86°F | 65°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 92°F | 72°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 96°F | 73°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 97°F | 74°F | 2.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 90°F | 68°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 82°F | 58°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 72°F | 48°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 64°F | 41°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for San Marcos (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Caldwell County has had 19 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-05-17: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-08-25: Hurricane Harvey (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 27 miles away.
- Kyle 9 mi north, about 14 min by car
- Buda 15 mi north, about 24 min by car
- Lockhart 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- New Braunfels 16 mi southwest, about 26 min by car
- Canyon Lake 19 mi west, about 31 min by car
- Cibolo 27 mi southwest, about 43 min by car
- Austin 31 mi north, about 50 min by car
- Converse 33 mi southwest, about 54 min by car
- Live Oak 33 mi southwest, about 53 min by car
- Lakeway 33 mi north, about 54 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Hays county courthouse historic district 2013, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Southside School San Marcos Texas 2023, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- San marcos station 2014, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- San Marcos River Waterfall - San Marcos, Texas (27818714562), Jonathan Cutrer from San Angelo, United States, CC BY 2.0
- San Marcos River at Rio Vista Park, jcutrer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wesley Chapel AME Church San Marcos Texas, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Wesley Chapel Historical Marker San Marcos Texas, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Sacred Craft Tattoos San Marcos Texas 2026, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- AquaBrew Brewery San Marcos Texas 2019, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- City Finance San Marcos Texas 2026, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Eddie Durham Historical Marker San Marcos Texas, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Ulysses Cephas Historical Marker San Marcos Texas, Larry D. Moore, Public domain
- The Calaboose Historical Marker San Marcos Texas, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Cephas House San Marcos Texas 2026, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Old First Baptist Church San Marcos Texas 2026, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- San Marcos Colored School Home Ec Building 2025, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Eli Merriman Home San Marcos Texas 2023, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Dunbar Historic District 12A San Marcos Texas 2026, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- San marcos telephone company 2008, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- San Marcos Methodist, Liveon001 ©Travis Witt, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort street presbyterian church 2012, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Fire station city hall 2012, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Rileys Tavern (1 of 1), Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cheatham Street Warehouse South Elevation 2020, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Curicta scorpio 442492107, Joseph Aubert, CC BY 4.0
- Curicta scorpio 442492075, Joseph Aubert, CC BY 4.0
- Curicta scorpio 442492084, Joseph Aubert, CC BY 4.0
- Curicta scorpio 442492100, Joseph Aubert, CC BY 4.0
- Curicta scorpio 442492110, Joseph Aubert, CC BY 4.0
- Curicta scorpio 442492066, Joseph Aubert, CC BY 4.0
- Cheatham Street Warehouse East Entrance 2020, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Cheatham Street Warehouse West Entrance 2020, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Farmers union cotton gin 2012, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Big-claw river shrimp (Macrobrachium carcinus) (3682940827), Clinton & Charles Robertson from RAF Lakenheath, UK & San Marcos, TX, USA & UK, CC BY 2.0
- Cannaphila insularis 44995360, Judy Gallagher, CC BY 4.0
- Cannaphila insularis judygva 41354594, Judy Gallagher, CC BY 4.0
- Hays calaboose 2013, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Old hays jail 2013, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Moore grocery company 2013, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Green faris buildings 2013, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.