Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park preserves the places that shaped the thirty-sixth president, and it is a rewarding free stop on a Hill Country loop out of San Antonio. The park has two districts, about fourteen miles apart on Highway 290. The Johnson City district is the best place to start: a visitor center, the Boyhood Home, and the Johnson Settlement, which tells the story of the family's earlier roots and has a one-mile trail. Boyhood Home tours have run daily at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., so time your arrival to catch one. The second district is the LBJ Ranch, which you can explore as a self-guided driving tour. Free driving permits are required and are available from the LBJ State Park visitor center, at 199 Park Road 52 in Stonewall. The ranch route passes sites including the Junction School, the reconstructed birthplace, the Johnson family cemetery and the Show Barn, and it conveys a sense of the rolling ranchland that Johnson loved and, famously, brought politicians and journalists to see.
What to check first
The Texas White House, the Lockheed Jetstar and the Hangar Visitor Center have been closed during a rehabilitation project, according to the park's most recent notice, so confirm what is open before you plan a day around a particular building. This is a good example of why the park's current-conditions page is worth reading in advance. Even without the house, the Johnson City sites and the ranch drive give a clear picture of Johnson's boyhood, family and political formation.
Hours and cost
The park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, and neither district charges an entrance fee. Driving permits for the ranch are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the state park visitor center, so allow time to collect one before the ranch route. Pets must be leashed and are not allowed inside buildings, although they are permitted on the Johnson Settlement trail.
Making a day of it
Johnson City is about an hour and a half north-west of San Antonio, and the park sits on the road toward Fredericksburg, which makes it an easy pairing with the National Museum of the Pacific War or a Hill Country lunch. In spring, the ranch roads and nearby fields are among the places where wildflowers colour the roadsides.
History readers will appreciate the connection with Texas politics, while others may simply enjoy a quiet, free outing among oak-studded hills. Allow two to three hours for both districts, more if you want to walk the Settlement trail.
What to expect
The experience
Two free districts: a Johnson City visitor center, Boyhood Home and settlement trail, and a self-guided driving tour of the LBJ Ranch.
Best time
Weekdays; spring for wildflowers; arrive in time for a Boyhood Home tour.
How long
Two to three hours for both districts.
Tips
Collect your free ranch driving permit at the state park visitor center, and confirm which buildings are open.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Presidential history fans on a Hill Country loop.
- Families
- A free, relaxed stop with a gentle trail and a driving tour.
- Couples
- A quiet outing with scenery and history.
- Pair with
- The Pacific War museum, Fredericksburg or Wildseed Farms.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Is there an entrance fee?+
No, neither district charges an entrance fee.
How far apart are the two districts?+
About fourteen miles apart on Highway 290, at Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall.
Do I need a permit for the ranch?+
Yes, free driving permits are required and are available at the LBJ State Park visitor center in Stonewall.
Can I tour the Texas White House?+
The Texas White House has been closed during a rehabilitation project, so check the park's current notice before you go.
When are Boyhood Home tours?+
They have run daily at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
