From North Austin: take Airport Boulevard south till it becomes US 183, go straight.
From South Austin: take Ben White (TX 71) east under IH 35 to Burleson Road, turn right and get to US 183.

In a nutshell: You’re driving south on 183 to Luling, where you’ll go straight onto TX 80. You DON’T TURN till you get to the Rancho gate.

00.0 - Ferrellgas Propane store, 183 / Burleson Road intersection--Zero your mileage here and head south on US 183.

0.2 - Onion Creek - Begins in the Hill Country near Henly, cascades through McKinney Falls State Park, where it’s fed by Williamson Creek a few miles to the west, and flows into the Colorado River downstream of Austin.

1.8 - Sheriff’s Posse Arena rodeo ground site - Small hills behind are all that’s left of Pilot Knob, the only extinct volcano around. Down the long slope is the fertile Blackland Prairie, a tall-grass region extending from south of San Antonio to the Illinois Corn Belt.

2.4 - historical marker - More information about the Knob

2.6 - Dry Creek - North Fork, then South; begins just to the right, flows northeast under TX 71 to the Colorado; famous for floods.

4.6 - San Francisco Church - Mission-style in stone with grotto. Just beyond is Creedmoor-Maha water-supply tank serving two small towns to the East and West.

5.2 - Mustang Ridge - Fully incorporated city - note well: speed limit 65!

8.7 - Maha Ridge - Separates Maha Creek from Cedar Creek.

10.3 - county line - From Travis into Caldwell (named for Mathew “Old Paint”); note pavement change.

10.6 - a prairie home - Erlich House: pyramid roof, dormers, porch, square shape - great! Horribly intrusive “contemporary” abomination across the street.

11.0 - TX 21 overpass (no turn) - Now a modern highway, it’s the Old San Antonio Road, oldest thoroughfare in Texas. Originally connected Nacogdoches to Presidio San Juan Bautiste (near Eagle Pass) via Béxar; blazed by Louis J. de Saint-Denis in 1714.

12.3 - Mendoza - Village near headwaters of Cedar Creek, named for an early settler.

13.5 - LCRA lines - High-voltage electricity from Fayette power plant; Bluebonnet Farm

15.5 - basin-boundary ridge - Divides Colorado and Guadalupe river watersheds; view of microwave transmission tower atop Lone Man Mountain, 25 miles W. Low hills to the southeast are the Iron Mountains, which trend southwestward through your ultimate destination, Belmont.

16.5 - FM 1185 - (no turn) - At road to Lytton Springs, enter Post Oak Savanna. Speed limit 60!

17.0 - Roadside Park - on left

18.6 - Main Fork of Plum Creek - Begins near Kyle, flows into San Marcos River below Luling. Site of horrific Comanche/Texian running battle in 1840, where “Old Paint” Caldwell figured prominently.

20.3 - Lockhart - North city limit

21.2 - Kreutz Market - OK barbecue, but not as quaint or tasty as Smitty’s near dowtown; Union Pacific RR crossing, Town Creek, cane break. Try Black's cafeteria-style BBQ.

21.5 - town square - View of 1890s Victorian courthouse, domed Clark Library beyond.

22.4 - FM 20 (no turn) - To Lockhart State Park, built 1930s by Civilian Conservation Corps. Chisholm Trail BBQ serves fine beef.

24.1 - South city limit--bye Lockhart - halfway there, resume 65 mph!

25.6 - Clear Fork of Plum Creek - Begins southeast of Kyle, flows through Lockhart State Park.

26.8 - FM 671 (no turn) - Alternate route to Luling through Joliet and Mineral Springs

27.7 - Rest Area - On the right

28.9 - Rest Area - On the left

30.8 - West Fork of Plum Creek - Double bridge; up hill on left is a former emu farm where a few birds still live.

32.9 - Carter Airport - Luling is within smell--hold your nose!

33.6 - ridge - Luling panorama

36.1 - Oil City - Davis Log House, antique derrick

36.3 - Southern Pacific RR - TX 80 S (go straight, DO NOT TURN!!!) - Named for a rail company president’s wife, the town fronts the tracks. Site of annual Watermelon Thump in June. Note decorated pump jacks and melon-painted water tower.

37.3 - San Marcos River - South city limit, Guadalupe County line, with Zedler’s Mill’s horizontal water wheel on your right and the bunker-like, flood-proof city park bathhouse on the left.

38.6 - IH 10 overpass (no turn) - From Florida to California, the most southern coast-to-coast interstate.

41.4 - Smith Creek - Flows northeast into the San Marcos.

41.8 - county line - Enter Gonzales County; note pavement change.

44.2 - ridge top - Divides San Marcos and Guadalupe river basins.

44.6 - Dillworth community - Spring on left used to always flow; pink building on right is old rural Black school house.

44.9 - St. James Church - founded and pastored years ago by Jesus Garcia, father of James Garcia, current RRR leasee.

45.7 - Neasloney Wildlife Management Area - operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife, with nature trail.

47.8 - 4-way stop (no turn) - Up slope to right is Belmont, home of yummy Goss Barbecue and the Belmont Social Club.

48.5 - Guadalupe River - “Watercourse of the Wolf,” rises in the Edwards Plateau from two forks above Hunt in Kerr County.

48.6 - Garcia’s River Camp sign on left.

48.7 - Rancho Richey Refuge - Turn right at second gate (past Gate One). Look for the big vinyl sign and flagging. At the Main Gate, LOOK CAREFULLY: it’s chained, but not locked--just unhook the chain from the nail. Dirt road leads to the Bluff Barn Camping Area. Be sure to close gate behind you, then follow the signs. Welcome!