LBJ National Historical Park: Visitor and Heritage Guide

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin, tells the story of the 36th president from his family's first settlement here to his final resting place on the ranch he loved. It is a quiet, rewarding visit, and the National Park Service says plainly that it is laid out differently from most parks, which is the first thing to understand before you go.

Two areas, 14 miles apart

The park has two distinct visitor areas separated by 14 miles. In Johnson City are the National Park visitor center, where rangers help plan the day, the Boyhood Home where Johnson spent his childhood, and the Johnson Settlement, where his grandparents first settled in the 1860s. The LBJ Ranch lies 14 miles west of Johnson City near Stonewall.

Seeing the ranch

To drive onto the LBJ Ranch, visitors obtain a free driving permit at the visitor center of the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, next to the ranch. The route takes you past the ranch's pastures and buildings, the president's final resting place, and the Texas White House. The National Park Service records that Johnson spent a quarter of his presidency here, which is why the press gave the house its name. Check the park's current information for house tour availability before you go.

LBJ State Park and the Sauer-Beckmann Farm

The neighboring Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, charges no entrance fees. Its Sauer-Beckmann Farm is a living history German farm, and a good way to understand the farming community of the Hill Country that Johnson grew up in.

How long to allow

Allow at least half a day for both areas, and a full day if you want the farm, the ranch drive and the Johnson City sites without rushing. The park pairs naturally with Fredericksburg, about half an hour west, and with the wineries and wildflower roads of the Hill Country.

Practical notes

• Begin at either visitor center and pick up the ranch permit before driving to the ranch.
• Bring water and sun protection: much of the visit is outdoors.
• Confirm current hours for both visitor areas with the park before you go.
• National park passes cover federal entrance where fees apply; the state park charges no entrance fee.

Part of a wider Texas trip

LABUSA Travel's Discover Texas cultural journey includes a day in the Hill Country, and the park is an easy addition to a stay in Fredericksburg or Austin. For Texas's other presidential and frontier history, see our guides to the San Antonio Missions and the San Jacinto Battleground.

Sources

• National Park Service: Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park: the story of the 36th president from his birthplace to his final resting place, including the Texas White House. Accessed 11 October 2026.
• National Park Service: Plan your visit: the park has two distinct visitor areas separated by 14 miles, Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall, and the ranch is seen with a free driving permit from the LBJ State Park and Historic Site visitor center. Accessed 11 October 2026.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site: no entrance fees, and the Sauer-Beckmann Farm, a living history German farm. Accessed 11 October 2026.