Austin, TX

Where is the best place to see Texas bluebonnets in 2024? Check out our map

Published

2 years ago

March 9, 2024

Press Room

Where is the best place to see Texas bluebonnets in 2024? Check out our map

We’re in prime bluebonnet viewing season in Texas, which also means it’s time to break out those cameras.

The Texas state flower, known scientifically as Lupinus texensis, normally blooms from late February to early April, according to thetexaswildflower.com. The flowers are most commonly found in fields and are extremely prevalent in Central Texas.

Photos of groups of bluebonnets are stunning. Their colors can vary from blue to purple, and they’re great for personal and nature photography. To get the best shots, here are some locations in Central Texas where bluebonnets thrive:

State parks

Several state parks in Central Texas offer great bluebonnet viewing and photography opportunities, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The most notable parks are Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, Inks Lake State Park, Pedernales Fall State Park, Palmetto State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

All of the parks are within an hour-and-a-half drive from Austin. So, make it a day trip and go see Texas’ official state flower in full bloom.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center features nearly 900 different species of plants, including the star of the show: the bluebonnet. The center allows visitors to get up close and personal with wildflowers of all varieties, making it a great place to view bluebonnets.

The center also features its very own bluebonnet photo station, according to TheAustinThings.com. There’s a small entry fee and reservations are required, but it’ll likely make your bluebonnet photos worth it.

Turkey Bend Recreation Area

Consider heading to Marble Falls to gawk at the bluebonnets growing in Turkey Bend Recreation Area and Muleshoe Bend. It’s a wildflower hotspot, according to TexasHillCountry.com, complete with more than 400 acres of land and views of the Colorado River to boot.

Marble Falls is also home to the aptly named Blue Bonnet Cafe, where visitors can enjoy all-day breakfast and the cafe’s “world famous” pies.

McKinney Falls

Some of the best views of bluebonnet fields come courtesy of McKinney Falls State Park, less than a 30-minute drive from Austin. Waterfalls complement the scenery, and Sierra Schmidt, lead writer and photographer at VeryTrulyTexas.com, recommends the park’s Onion Creek Trail for the best viewing opportunities.

St. Edward’s University

A hometown favorite for bluebonnet viewing is St. Edward’s University, a private, Catholic university situated along South Congress Avenue.

The campus’ bluebonnet fields are a major draw for students and visitors. They even prompted one student to create a map of the best spots to view the flowers.

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Austin, TX

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Published

8 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Cedric Ricks spoke in his own defense at his 2013 murder trial, something most defendants accused of a terrible crime do not do. Ricks confessed that he had killed his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her 8-year-old son. He admitted he was aggressive and had trouble controlling his anger, stating that he was “sorry about everything.” […]

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Austin, TX

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Published

20 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Austin had a particularly itchy and drippy cedar fever season to start the year. Many winter days, from late December into February, had high or very high ashe juniper (aka cedar) pollen counts.

Central Texas has a year-round allergy season with mold popping up at any time. For the more traditional spring and fall allergy seasons, forecasters at AccuWeather are predicting some of the allergens across the country will be worse this year than average.

Texas, though, is a different story.

For grass allergies, which happen now through September, AccuWeather estimates Austin will have an average season. However, just west of the Interstate 35 corridor in the Hill Country to almost El Paso, that season is expected to be worse than normal.

“Texas may experience above-average grass pollen for a few weeks,” AccuWeather’s allergy report said, “though the season could be shorter-lived compared to northern areas.”

It all depends on the weather

How much rain we get in the next six months and the perennial Texas heat will all affect the growing season for grasses and weeds, as well as the amount of pollen trees produce. The Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmers Almanac are both predicting a wetter and warmer spring.

Rain helps plants grow, which can increase pollen production over time. However, rainfall during allergy season can also bring temporary relief by washing pollen out of the air. That’s what we’re expecting this weekend, with our first meaningful rain chance in nearly three weeks. Tree and weed pollen levels might briefly drop, but mold could spike because it thrives in damp, humid weather.

If spring continues with excessive heat like we saw in February, it could limit the growth of some plants and trees. Extreme heat can reduce how much they grow, and how much pollen they produce. On the other hand, if we get a healthy balance of rain and only slightly above-normal temperatures — not extreme heat — pollen counts could climb. That’s especially true as we head into April, typically our windiest month of the year, which helps spread pollen more easily.

How can you treat allergies in Austin?

If you are feeling the effects of allergies, here are some things you can do to lessen them:

Start taking allergy medication at least two weeks before your allergen’s season is supposed to start. Keep taking your allergy medication throughout your allergen’s season, even on low-pollen days.
Vary your allergy medication. You can take a nasal spray, an eye drop and an oral antihistamine at the same time to treat the different symptoms. If one kind of allergy medication isn’t working, consult your doctor about whether you should add a second one or switch out the medication.
Take a shower before going to bed.
Take off outside clothes or shoes when you get into the house.
Do a daily nasal wash such as a neti pot or saline spray.
Consider seeing an allergist to get drops or shots to lessen your reaction to the allergen.

Consider these household tips to improve your chances of keeping allergens away:

Change the filters in your house regularly during cedar fever season.
Vacuum and sweep regularly.
Change your sheets, especially your pillow regularly.
Keep doors and windows closed.
Clean out the vents in your home.
Have your home tested for indoor allergens such as mold.
Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air.
Wear a mask outside or inside while you are trying to lessen the pollen or mold indoors.

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Austin, TX

Texas Primary: Breakdown of Texas races

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts. FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.

Posted March 3, 2026 10:32pm CST

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