TerraTx Art Festival

Before You Go · Travel

Getting here & staying

Two-lane roads, a canyon with a short supply of beds, and a September sun that means business. Plan ahead and the drive pays off.

Getting Here

The drive in

  • San Antoniovia US-90 W & US-83 N2 hr
  • Austinvia US-290 W & TX-16 S3 hr 30 min
  • Houstonthe long haul — fuel up in Hondo5 hr
  • Del Riovia US-90 E1 hr 30 min

The grounds sit off US-83 between Leakey and Concan. Fill your tank in Leakey — it’s the last reliable gas before the canyon, and the line gets long on Saturday morning.

Cell signal drops to nothing inside the canyon walls. Screenshot the festival map and the schedule before you arrive, and agree on a meeting spot with your group.

Where to Sleep

Finding a bed

Concan and Leakey have very few rooms. By July, most cabins, RV sites, and the one motel are booked. If you’re reading this in August, plan to drive in for the day — or look at Uvalde (45 min) and Bandera (1 hr).

  • Frio Canyon river cabins

    Concan / Leakey

    Cabins right on the water book out months ahead. Several outfitters along US-83 keep a few aside until late summer.

    Book by July

  • RV & glamping sites

    Riverside parks

    Full-hookup RV sites and a handful of glamping tents at the river outfitters. Weekend minimums apply during festival weekend.

    Book by July

  • The Leakey motel

    Leakey

    The canyon's one true motel. Small, simple, and the first thing to sell out. Call directly — they don't always show online.

    Book by June

  • Primitive & tent camping

    Garner State Park & outfitters

    Garner State Park (15 min south) and several private camps offer tent sites. Garner reservations open a rolling 5 months ahead and go fast.

    Reserve early

  • Uvalde (45 min south)

    Uvalde

    If the canyon is full, Uvalde has chain hotels and a real grocery store. An easy day-trip drive in and out.

  • Bandera (1 hr east)

    Bandera

    The 'Cowboy Capital' has dude ranches, cabins, and hotels — a scenic backup with plenty of its own character.

What to Bring

Pack for a canyon

  • A refillable water bottleFree refill stations on-site. September in the canyon is hot — drink more than you think you need.
  • Real sun protectionHat, sunscreen, sunglasses. Shade is generous near the river and thin on the open grounds.
  • Water shoes or sandalsThe riverbed is rounded limestone — slick and a little ankle-testing. Closed-toe water shoes beat flip-flops.
  • CashCell signal is unreliable, so card readers are too. Most booths take cash for sure; some take cards when the signal cooperates.
  • A camp chair or blanketStage seating is bring-your-own. A blanket on the river flat for the evening sets is the move.
  • A light layer for eveningCanyon nights cool off fast once the sun drops behind the walls.

Questions we didn’t cover? Check the FAQ or reach out.