# Bastrop

Bastrop is the county seat of Bastrop County, Texas, and is located about 30 mi (48 km) east of Austin. Bastrop was settled by Europeans in 1804 and incorporated on December 18, 1837, with a 2020 population of 9688. It is known for its isolated belt of loblolly pines (the "Lost Pines") that exist miles to the west of the Piney Woods of East Texas and Louisiana; see Bastrop State Park below.

## Understand

* Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, 927 Main Street, +1 512 303-0558. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Visit the Chamber and pick up a free visitor's guide. If the chamber is closed, guides may be found in the box by the front door.
* The Bastrop Advertiser is the oldest semi-weekly newspaper in the state of Texas. It publishes twice a week and can be purchased at most area convenience stores for $0.50.
* Bastrop does not have a smoking ordinance so patrons may smoke inside restaurants, unless it is forbidden by the restaurant.

## Get in
### By plane

Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is 30 miles (48 km) west of the city center. The most practical means of travel from the airport is by rental car but taxis are available. A one-way trip by taxi is about $40 (credit cards accepted).

### By bus

* CARTS Bastrop Station, 310 Hospital Dr, ☏ +1 512 478-7433. Provides regional transport between Austin and outlying municipalities, like Bastrop. (updated Jan 2022)

### By car

The main highway through Bastrop is Texas State Highway 71 which can be picked up off Interstate Highway 35 in Austin or off Interstate Highway 10 about 75 miles west of Houston.

## Get around

Loop 150 off 71 takes you through the heart of historical downtown Bastrop. Once downtown, parking is plentiful and free. Bastrop is small enough that it is practical to park and walk to boutique shops, restaurants, the new river walk and the many historic houses located in the city.

## See

* Bastrop County Historical Society Museum, 904 Main St, ☏ +1 512 303-0057, +1 512 303-0904. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-4PM. $2. (updated Mar 2017)
* Lost Pines Art Center, 815 Main St, ☏ +1 512 321-8055. M-F 9AM-5PM. (updated Mar 2017)

## Do
### Indoors

* Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, ☏ +1 512 321-6283. Professional theater productions in a historic building built in 1889.
* Bastrop Skate Palace, 488 Hwy. 95 N, ☏ +1 512 303-0320. Sessions Sa-Su 1PM-4PM. Large indoor roller skating rink.
* Film Alley Bastrop, 1600 Chestnut St, ☏ +1 512-321-0123. Multi-screen movie theater with stadium seating, bowling (bumpers available), indoor miniature golf and arcade

### Outdoors

* Bastrop State Park, Texas State Hwy. 21 (about 1 mile east), ☏ +1 512 321-2101. Su-Sa 8AM-5PM (to 7PM in summer). Located among the "Lost Pines of Texas," this 3,500-acre park has a swimming pool (summer only-fee), golf course known as the Lost Pines Golf Course (fee), a 10-acre lake, hiking trails, picnic tables, tent and RV campsites (fee), and 13 cabins (fee). The "Lost Pines" are a pocket of loblolly pines far removed due to ecological forces from their dominant habitat in the Piney Woods to the east and threatened by further ecological change. $4 per day, per person 13 and older.
* Fisherman's Park (City) and the Colorado River walk. Playground, Boat ramp
* Lake Bastrop, ☏ +1 512-498-1922. This 906-acre lake offers recreational facilities in two parks, one on the north shore and one on the south shore, for boating (fee), fishing, swimming, water-skiing, picnicking, and camping (fee).
* McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Texas State Highway 71 (8.4 miles west of Bastrop), ☏ +1 512 303-5073. M-Sa 8AM-5PM; Su noon-5PM. Closed on major holidays. Great hiking in arroyos and canyon-like country along the Colorado River. $3 for adults, $1 seniors, no charge for children 13 and under.
* Pine Forest Golf Club, ☏ +1 512-321-1181.
* ColoVista Golf Club, 100 Country Club Dr, ☏ +1 512-887-6189.

## Buy

* The Sugar Shack, 114 Loop 150 W, ☏ +1 512 321-3777. As the name implies, all kinds of sweet treats to be had.
* Berdoll Pecan Farm, 2626 State Highway 71 W. Cedar Creek. Tasty treats and gifts.

## Eat
### Budget

* The Pit Stop, 1006 Main St, ☏ +1 512-549-3772. Grill and fast food
* Roadhouse, 2804 Hwy 21 E, ☏ +1 512 321-1803. Best burgers.

### Mid-range

* Billy's Pit Bar-B-Q, 110 Hwy 71 W, ☏ +1 512 321-6453. W-M 11AM-7PM. Simple barbecue, Texas style. The food is tasty.
* Cedar's Mediterranean and Italian Grill, 904 College St, ☏ +1 512 321-7808. M-Sa 11AM-9PM.
* Anita's Mexican Restaurant, 1004 Main St, ☏ +1 512 303-9693. Tu-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 8AM-2PM. Solid Tex-Mex eatery. Consistently good food. $Mid-range.
* Jalisco Mexican Restaurant, 495 Hwy 71, ☏ +1 512 303-2330. Mid-range.
* Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, 494 Hwy. 71 W, Suite 180, ☏ +1 512 321-3002. Daily 11AM-10PM. Mid-range.
* Texas Grill, 101 Hwy 71, ☏ +1 512 321-5491. Daily 6AM-2:30PM. Country café, chicken fried steak. Cafeteria style lunch. Breakfast anytime.

## Drink

* Leon's Country Store, 4027-4039 Farm to Market 535, Red Rock (in Rockne), ☏ +1 512 321-7346. Quaint old beer joint, convenience store, & feed store.
* CC Wine & Co, 924 Main St, ☏ +1 512 412-6031. Wine boutique, food and coffee, children's toys (Melissa & Doug, Klutz), wine accessories.
* Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, ☏ +1 512 549-3722. Lots of beer options here in a casual bar environment. (updated Jan 2022)

## Sleep

* 30.163384-97.4451851 Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Rd (About 10 miles west of Bastrop), ☏ +1 512 308-1234. Resort and spa situated on 405 acres (260 ha) of Central Texas landscape, adjacent to the 1,100-acre (440 ha) McKinney Roughs Nature Park along the Colorado River. Equestrian center, golf course, swimming pool with water slide.
* Quality Inn, 106 Hasler Blvd, ☏ +1 512 321-3303. Two story motel.
* Pecan Street Inn Bed & Breakfast, 1010 Pecan St, ☏ +1 512 988-1231. Located in a historic landmark home.
* Days Inn, 4102 Hwy 71 E, ☏ +1 512 321-1157. Two-story motel. $57 (Jan 2022).
* Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 491 Agnes, ☏ +1 512 321-1900. Three-story motel.
* Best Western Bastrop Pines Inn, 107 Hunters Crossing Blvd, ☏ +1 512 321-0900. Outdoor pool and hot tub. $62 (Jan 2022).

### RV parks

* Bastrop River RV Park, 98 Hwy 71 W, ☏ +1 512 321-7500. Gated, paved, propane available, walkway to deck on river bank, swimming pool.
* Bluebonnet Campground, 307 FM 1209, ☏ +1 512 332-2267.
* Bastrop RV Park, 689 Highway 71 West, ☏ +1 512 321-4404.

## Go next

Bastrop is 30 minutes (off rush hour) from Austin. The drive in to Austin on Hwy 71 is lined with antiques, gift shops, a flea market, a fossil and bonsai store, and many more central Texas cultural venues. Or you can go to Smithville to shop antiques and country kitsch. Or go to San Marcos for the outlet malls.