I have spent the last decade mapping out backroads and trail towns across the country. When I look for a driving route, I want winding asphalt and a quiet destination. The Texas Hill Country offers plenty of both. If you want a drive that avoids the heavy tourist traffic and ends at a taco stand locals guard like a secret, you need to drive the Devil’s Backbone. This route connects Wimberley to Blanco. It trades crowded interstates for limestone ridges and ends with some of the best barbacoa in the state.
The Caribbean for Less Than You Think
Up to 65% off + a resort credit + a free night at select Sandals resorts. 8 islands. 17 resorts. All-inclusive everything. See the deals →
The Route Overview
To do this drive right, you need to know exactly where to turn. GPS will often try to route you onto the faster highways. Ignore it. Follow these waypoints instead.
| Waypoint | Road Name | Estimated Drive Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start: Wimberley Square | Ranch Road 12 North | 0 mins | Grab a coffee and top off your gas tank. |
| Turnoff: Junction 12 & 32 | FM 32 West | 15 mins | The official start of the Devil’s Backbone. |
| Scenic Stop: Overlook | FM 32 | 25 mins | Pull over at the stone wall for a wide view of the valley. |
| End: Blanco Taco Trailer | US 281 & FM 32 | 45 mins | Look for the white trailer near the junction south of the square. |
Leaving the Highway Behind
The trip begins in Wimberley. You leave the busy town square and head north on Ranch Road 12. The transition happens quickly. Strip malls fade into open pastures. The road narrows. You roll the windows down to hear the tires humming against the rough chip-seal pavement.
This is the kind of slow travel that forces you to pay attention. You watch for deer grazing near the fence lines. You notice the way the morning light hits the twisted trunks of the live oaks. The air out here smells like cedar and dust.
The Scenic Middle
At the junction of Ranch Road 12 and Farm to Market 32, you turn west. This stretch of FM 32 is known as the Devil’s Backbone. It rides the top of a limestone ridge. The views open up on both sides of the car. You see deep valleys carved by ancient rivers. The terrain here is rugged and dry.
I always recommend pulling over at the official Devil’s Backbone picnic area. It is a simple gravel pull-out with a low stone wall. You can stand there and look out over miles of unbroken Texas horizon. The wind usually picks up here. It carries the scent of sun-baked rock and dry grass. There are no gift shops or crowded visitor centers. It is just you and the open road.
The Destination
FM 32 eventually drops down from the ridge and meets US Highway 281 in the town of Blanco. Blanco is a quiet river town. Most visitors drive straight through on their way to San Antonio or Fredericksburg. They miss the best food in the area.
Just south of the town square, parked near a gravel lot off the highway, sits a plain white food trailer. It has no flashy signs. Locals know it simply by the line of pickup trucks parked out front at noon. This is Taqueria El Charro.
The menu is taped to the window. You want the barbacoa. It is slow-cooked until it falls completely apart. They serve it on handmade flour tortillas that arrive warm and slightly blistered from the griddle. Order it with fresh cilantro, diced white onions, and a heavy pour of their green salsa. The salsa has a sharp, bright heat that cuts right through the richness of the meat.
You take your paper plate to the hood of your car. You eat while watching the river flow under the highway bridge.
Practical Tips for the Road
Before You Go
- Bring Cash: The trailer does not accept credit cards. Pack some small bills.
- Arrive Early: They open early for the breakfast crowd and usually close by two in the afternoon.
- Have a Backup Plan: If they sell out of barbacoa, the al pastor is a highly worthy alternative.
Taking the long way is always worth it when the payoff is this good. The next time you find yourself in the Hill Country, skip the interstate. Take your time on the ridge, roll the windows down, and enjoy the drive.
