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Living in Driftwood, TX

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Living in Driftwood, TX puts you in the Texas Hill Country about 24 miles southwest of downtown Austin, in northern Hays County between Dripping Springs, Buda and Wimberley. Driftwood is an unincorporated community of rolling ranch land, vineyards and live oaks, with gated communities, a private golf and ranch club, and plenty of acreage. The right home here usually comes down to land versus a gated neighborhood, how you get water and wastewater, which school district serves the address, and how far you want to drive into town.

Settlers first arrived around 1850 and Driftwood took shape as a community in the 1880s, when it gained a post office. Today the heart of the area runs along RM 150 and FM 1826, where The Salt Lick has been smoking barbecue over its open pit since 1967, with wineries, a distillery and a brewery a short drive apart. When we tour Driftwood with buyers, we start with how you want to live: on a few acres or a larger ranch tract, inside a gated community with shared amenities, or in a club community with golf. For sellers, it's about showing buyers exactly what your property offers, from views, trees and acreage to water, septic and road access, since no two Driftwood homes are alike.

What it's like to live in Driftwood

Strengths: Hill Country views and open land, gated communities like La Ventana and Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club, local wineries, a distillery and a brewery, The Salt Lick close by, and a quieter, rural setting with Dripping Springs, Buda and South Austin within driving distance.

Trade-offs: You'll drive for most errands and to reach Austin, and there's no passenger rail. The wineries and venues draw visitors, so RM 150 and FM 1826 can get busy on weekends. Many homes run on a private well or small water system and septic, internet options vary by street, and HOA, POA or club dues apply in many communities. The school district can change from one address to the next. For sellers, buyers will want clear answers on utilities, easements and access, so good paperwork carries a lot of weight.

Driftwood neighborhoods and home styles

La Ventana. A gated Hill Country community off Elder Hill Road between RM 150 and Ranch Road 12, with homes on larger lots, shared amenities like pools, trails and courts, and some equestrian-friendly lots. The neighborhood spans more than one school district, so check each address.

Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club. A private 800-acre club community with a championship 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio and more than 70 acres of vineyards, set on two connected parcels called The Ranch and The Creek. Expect custom homes and estate lots, and review the club membership terms and community rules for each property.

Creek of Driftwood and smaller gated neighborhoods. Smaller gated subdivisions with homes on half-acre-plus lots sit off the main roads. Age, size and finishes vary, so look at each house on its own.

Acreage, ranches and Hill Country homes. Spread along FM 1826, Elder Hill Road and the Ranch Road 12 corridor toward Wimberley, with tracts from a few acres to working ranches. Confirm the well, septic, road access, easements, deed restrictions and any agricultural tax status for each property.

Commute and things to do in Driftwood

Getting around. RM 150 runs through Driftwood, toward Kyle and I-35 to the east and toward Ranch Road 12 to the west. FM 1826 heads north toward South Austin and US 290, and Ranch Road 12 connects Dripping Springs and Wimberley. There's no passenger rail, so plan on driving. Test your actual commute at the hours you travel before you fall for a view.

Things to do. Line up for barbecue at The Salt Lick on FM 1826, taste wine at Driftwood Estate Winery on its bluff off Elder Hill Road, Duchman Family Winery on RM 150 or Fall Creek Vineyards on FM 1826, sip sotol at Desert Door Distillery on Darden Hill Road, and spend an afternoon at Vista Brewing on RM 150. Dripping Springs, Wimberley and Buda are each a short drive for more shopping and dining.

Schools in Driftwood

Driftwood is split between school districts. Much of the area is in Dripping Springs ISD, which opened Cypress Springs Elementary on Darden Hill Road in Driftwood in 2021, with Cypress Springs feeding Sycamore Springs Middle School and then Dripping Springs High School. Other Driftwood addresses are in Hays CISD, and a few are in Wimberley ISD. Use the Dripping Springs ISD attendance zones page or the Hays CISD interactive attendance zone map to search an address, and confirm the campus with the district before you write an offer. Tell us your school priorities early so your search stays honest.

What Driftwood offers

  • Hill Country acreage, ranch land and homes with long views.
  • Gated communities like La Ventana, with shared amenities and some equestrian-friendly lots.
  • Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club, with its Tom Fazio golf course and vineyards.
  • The Salt Lick, Driftwood Estate Winery, Duchman Family Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards, Desert Door Distillery and Vista Brewing close to home.
  • A quieter, rural setting about 24 miles from downtown Austin, with Dripping Springs, Buda and South Austin within driving distance.
  • For sellers, steady interest from buyers looking for Hill Country land and homes near Austin, as long as your utilities, access and easements are documented up front.

Trade-offs to weigh: you'll drive for most errands, weekend visitor traffic picks up near the wineries and venues, utilities and internet vary by property, and school districts depend on the address.

Nearby areas to compare

Dripping Springs: just northwest of Driftwood, with a small-town center, Hill Country neighborhoods and Dripping Springs ISD

South Austin: north up FM 1826, with city neighborhoods, shopping and dining closer to downtown

Explore all areas · Buying in Austin · Selling your home

Driftwood FAQs

Driftwood is about 24 miles southwest of downtown Austin in northern Hays County, along RM 150 and FM 1826. Drive times depend on traffic and on where in the area you live, so test your commute at the hours you would actually travel.

No. Driftwood is an unincorporated community in northern Hays County. The Census counts a small Driftwood census-designated place, but the Driftwood ZIP code (78619) covers a much wider area of ranches, wineries and neighborhoods around it.

It depends on the address. Much of Driftwood is in Dripping Springs ISD, which opened Cypress Springs Elementary on Darden Hill Road in Driftwood in 2021, while other addresses are in Hays CISD and a few are in Wimberley ISD. Check each address with the district before you buy.

Buyers often look at La Ventana, a gated Hill Country community off Elder Hill Road, Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club, a private 800-acre club community with a Tom Fazio golf course, smaller gated neighborhoods like Creek of Driftwood, and acreage and ranch tracts along FM 1826, Elder Hill Road and Ranch Road 12.

Ask how the home gets water and wastewater, since many properties outside a city use a private well, a small water system or a septic system. Also confirm internet options, HOA or POA rules and dues, any club membership terms, road access and easements, and which school district serves the address.

Set up VIP listing alerts in Find My Home (/find-my-home/), then get in touch so we can narrow down acreage versus a gated community, school districts, utilities and your commute. Call or text 512-693-8578 if you would rather talk first.

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Driftwood

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