THINGS TO DO
What to do and where to go
A TXST weekend: a river through campus, outlets 10 minutes away, Austin in 30 and the whole Hill Country beyond.
On campus and around San Marcos
San Marcos River
22°C year-round, flowing right through campus. Swim, kayak, tube — and take part in the River Jump tradition.
The Meadows Center
Glass-bottom boats over Spring Lake, one of the largest freshwater springs in Texas, next to campus.
Student Recreation Center
Large gym, pools, climbing wall, yoga and dance classes — free for students. The Outdoor Center rents kayaks, tents and bikes cheaply.
Downtown Square
Cafés, live music, Saturday farmers market and a historic cinema — 10 minutes on foot from campus.
Game day
Saturday football at Bobcat Stadium with tailgating and a maroon-and-gold crowd. From July 2026 TXST competes in the Pac-12.
Hundreds of clubs
Academic, cultural, sports and e-sports. Sign up at the Student Org Fair each semester.
Shopping — outlets on your doorstep
San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets form one of the largest outlet clusters in the U.S., 10 minutes from campus: Nike, Adidas, Coach, Polo, Samsonite… at 30–70% off. It is where international students buy winter clothes and gifts to take home. Black Friday in late November is the year’s biggest sale.
Weekend trips
| Destination | From campus | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | 30 min | Live music on 6th Street, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park, Asian markets, SXSW & ACL festivals, F1 |
| San Antonio | 45 min | River Walk, the Alamo, Six Flags, SeaWorld, large Vietnamese community |
| New Braunfels & Gruene | 20 min | Tubing the Guadalupe/Comal, Schlitterbahn, the oldest dance hall in Texas |
| Wimberley | 30 min | Blue Hole, Jacob’s Well, arts town |
| Lockhart | 20 min | The BBQ capital of Texas |
| Natural Bridge Caverns | 40 min | The largest caverns in Texas |
| Fredericksburg | 1.5 h | German-heritage town, peach orchards, Enchanted Rock |
| Port Aransas coast | 3 h | Gulf of Mexico beaches — a spring break favourite |
Having fun on a budget
Always ask for the student discount
Cinemas, museums, theme parks, software, Spotify, Amazon Prime — show your Bobcat Card or .edu email.
Go with Campus Recreation
The university runs guided kayaking, camping and climbing trips far cheaper than going alone.
Free campus events
Outdoor film nights, concerts, international culture festivals and free food — follow the student events calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What do international students do at weekends?
The river or the gym, outlet shopping, trips to Austin for Asian food and groceries, game days, and club events.
How do I get around without a car?
Downtown and the river are walkable. For Austin/San Antonio, carpool with friends, take the intercity bus or split an Uber.
Is there a Vietnamese community?
Yes. Vietnamese students at TXST celebrate Tết and Mid-Autumn and shop together; Austin and San Antonio have large Vietnamese communities with temples, churches and Tết fairs.
Want to know what life is really like?
The International Office connects you with current students at TXST — ask them directly before you decide.