Get into Leakey first and keep this day loose — it’s really a reset day before the river pace kicks in. Start by checking in at South Frio River RV Resort & Campground, where you can unload, sort out the coolers and dry bag, and figure out what’s actually packed for tubing versus what can stay in the cabin or car. In May, afternoons can feel warm but the mornings still have a little Hill Country cool to them, so it’s worth taking ten minutes to get sunscreen, water shoes, and the waterproof phone pouch where you can grab them fast tomorrow. If you’re arriving from San Antonio or Uvalde, plan on a simple drive in on TX-83 and try to arrive with enough daylight to settle before the evening rush.
Once you’re unpacked, head into downtown Leakey and swing by Leakey Drug Co. — it’s one of those old-school small-town stops that saves a trip later. Expect to spend about $10–20 per person on drinks, snacks, ice cream, forgotten toiletries, or whatever river item you swore you packed. It’s the right place to pick up odds and ends before stores get picked over for the weekend, and if you forgot sunscreen, bug spray, or a cheap extra cooler item, this is the moment to fix it. From there, stay close and keep things easy; downtown is compact enough that you can park once and just wander a bit.
For dinner, go to The Bent Rim Grill and keep it casual. It’s a solid first-night choice when you don’t want to overthink anything after travel — think straightforward Hill Country comfort food, cold drinks, and enough parking that you’re not hunting around when you’re already hungry. Budget around $15–30 per person, and if you get there on the earlier side you’ll usually avoid the heaviest dinner crowd. After that, make one quick supply run at Leakey Conoco / local convenience stop for ice, beverages, batteries, sunscreen, and any last-minute tubing supplies; this is also where you’ll be glad you remembered the cooler, because river ice disappears fast in May.
If you still have the energy, end with a quiet walk at Frio Pecan Farm near Leakey. It’s a peaceful, low-effort way to close out the day: river-country views, pecan trees, and that first real feeling that you’ve arrived in the Frio Canyon. You usually won’t pay anything just to wander and take in the scenery, and sunset is the best time because the light softens and the whole area feels a lot calmer than the main river spots. Keep it short, head back early, and let the evening be about an easy night in so you’re ready for tubing tomorrow.
Leave Leakey early and take TX-83 south into Concan so you’re parked, unpacked, and not rushing once the river crowd wakes up. Start with Frio Pecan Farm, which is a nice first stop because it gives you that calm, green Frio Canyon feeling before the day turns social and float-heavy. Plan on about 45 minutes here; it’s the kind of place where you just want to sip coffee, take a few photos, and look at the water. If you’re buying anything, expect simple countryside pricing rather than city markup — good snacks, maybe a drink, and a little breathing room. After that, slide over to Frio Country Resort for tubing logistics: confirm shuttle timing, grab wristbands or passes if needed, and make sure your dry bag, cooler, and waterproof phone pouch are actually organized before you head to the river.
This is the main event: The Frio River. In May, the water is usually clear and refreshing, but it can still feel cold when you first get in, so keep your rash guard on and cinch down anything loose before launch. The rocky bottom is no joke, so use your sturdy water shoes from the get-go and keep your cooler light — this is one of those days where less stuff makes the float better. Spend 4–5 hours drifting, swimming, and stopping on gravel bars when you find a good one. A lot of the day here is about pacing: hydrate often, reapply sunscreen, and don’t be surprised if the best stretch is simply the unhurried middle of the float, where the canyon gets quieter and the water turns glassy.
After you dry off and change, head to House Pasture Cattle Co. and Event Center for a proper post-river meal and, if you’re lucky, a little live music. It’s one of those classic Frio Canyon evenings where boots, swimsuits, and sunburns all end up in the same room. Budget around $20–40 per person depending on what you order and whether there’s a bigger crowd or event happening. Once you’ve eaten, make one last easy stop at Garner Village for water, ice, snacks, or anything you burned through during the float — it’s a practical refill point before the drive back to your cabin or campground, and it keeps you from having to hunt for supplies later in the night.
Head into Garner State Park early so you can beat the heat and claim an easy parking spot near the riverfront day-use areas; in May, the park can get busy by late morning, especially on weekends, and day-use entry is usually around $8 per adult. Start with a slow walk around the CCC-era stone buildings and shaded grounds — this is one of those parks where the history is part of the scenery, not just a side note. Then work your way toward Old Baldy Trail while the light is still soft and the temperature is manageable.
Old Baldy Trail is short but legitimately steep, so take it seriously: water, grippy shoes, and a little patience go a long way. Plan on 1.5–2 hours round-trip if you pause for the views, and expect a proper calf workout on the way up. The payoff is the classic Frio Canyon overlook — one of the best around — with big views of the river winding through the hills. After that climb, drift over to the quieter Crystal Cave area to cool down and let your legs recover; it’s a nice breather with more shade and a wilder, rockier feel than the main picnic zones.
When you’re ready to eat, swing by the Soda Fountain at Garner State Park for something easy and unfussy: burgers, snacks, shakes, and cold treats that usually land in the $10–20 per person range depending on how hungry everyone is. It’s a good mid-day reset because you don’t have to leave the park or lose momentum. After lunch, keep the pace loose and head to the Frio River day-use area for the part of the day everyone comes here for — wading, swimming, or just sitting in the clear water with your feet in the current. The rocks can be slick and the water can feel cool even in May, so those sturdy water shoes from your packing list will earn their keep.
As the light softens, stay near the water for one last lazy hour, then wrap the day with an easy dinner at The Frio Lodge near Garner — a practical nearby stop where you can clean up, refuel, and not think about driving too far after a full park day. Expect a casual Hill Country dinner pace and roughly $15–30 per person depending on what you order. If you’re heading back toward Leakey after dinner, take TX-83 north when you leave; the drive is usually straightforward, about 20–25 minutes, and it’s nicest to head out just after sunset or once you’ve had time to shake the river water out of your car before the evening chill sets in.
Start early on The Frio River near Leakey while the water is still calm and the crowds are thin. This is the best part of the day for a quieter swim or an easy float, especially in May when the mornings are pleasantly cool before the Texas sun starts working on you. If you’re getting in the water, use the water shoes you packed — the Frio’s riverbed is rocky in spots — and keep your dry bag, phone pouch, and insulated bottle close by. Plan on about 2–3 hours here, and if you want to linger, this stretch is a good place to just sit on a shaded bank and let the day ease in naturally.
Afterward, head to Leakey City Park for a simple reset: shade, a picnic table if you can snag one, and a slower local rhythm before the afternoon hop around the canyon. It’s the kind of stop where you can dry off a bit, reapply sunscreen, and eat something light without rushing. From there, make the easy drive toward Lost Maples General Store for lunch supplies and cold drinks; think sandwiches, snacks, and anything you forgot to pack, usually in the $10–20 per person range depending on how hungry you are. It’s a practical Hill Country stop, not fancy, but that’s the charm — quick in, quick out, then back to the road.
On the way back toward town, take a short break at the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop along TX-83 for a classic Hill Country overlook moment. Even if you’re not on a bike, the pull-off is worth it for the wide views over the limestone hills and the feel of the canyon opening up around you. Give yourself 20–30 minutes here for photos, a cold drink, and just enough breathing room before dinner; this is one of those places where the view is the whole point, so don’t overthink it.
Wrap the day with a casual dinner at The Leakey Fish House in Leakey. It’s a solid local choice after a river day — straightforward comfort food, no fuss, and the kind of place where everybody looks a little sun-tired in the best possible way. Expect around $15–30 per person and about 1.5 hours if you want to sit and let the day wind down properly. If you’ve still got energy after dinner, a short drive back through town is nice at dusk, when the canyon air finally cools off and the whole area feels like it exhales.
Leave Leakey after breakfast and aim to roll into Garner State Park around opening so you’re parked before the day-use crowd thickens; in May, that usually means a calmer check-in, easier parking, and more breathing room on the trails. Plan on about 30 minutes to get through entry, sort your day pack, and top off water. If you’re driving in from town, the run up TX-83 and into the park is short but scenic, so take it easy and don’t rush the entrance gate—especially if you’re carrying hiking boots, extra water, and a light rain shell for those Hill Country pop-up storms.
Start with Crystal Cave Trail, which is a nice way to ease into the day: shaded in spots, a little rocky in others, and not as punishing as the bigger climbs. Give it about 1.5 hours so you can move at a comfortable pace and actually enjoy the oak-juniper canopy rather than just checking it off. After that, continue into Joe Jimmy Loop Trail for a longer, more scenic walk; this one is best when you’re in no hurry and want those broad Hill Country views without committing to an all-day trek. Two hours is a good window, and water shoes are not what you want here—use your trail shoes, bring the small backpack, and keep the sunscreen handy because the exposed sections can sneak up on you.
Head to The Garner Grill for a proper sit-down reset. It’s close enough to keep the day flowing without a long drive, and it’s the kind of place where you can actually sit down, cool off, and eat like a human again after the trails. Budget roughly $15–30 per person, depending on what you order, and expect a casual Hill Country crowd rather than anything fast. If you’re there on a busy spring day, service can slow a bit, so treat it as part of the break instead of trying to rush through it.
After lunch, give yourself a little downtime before heading out for The Frio Bat Flight Amphitheater. In May, the bat emergence at dusk is one of those very Texas experiences that’s worth planning around: arrive early enough to settle in and find a good view, then stay through sunset when the bats begin pouring out. It’s an easy way to shift from trail mode into evening mode, and the timing matters more than the distance—bring a light layer, a flashlight for after dark, and insect repellent since you’ll be sitting still once the bats start flying.
Wrap the day with a relaxed drive through Frio Valley Ranch in the Concan area. It’s a good cool-down after a full trail day and a nice excuse to see the river corridor in softer evening light without scheduling anything else. Keep it loose, enjoy the scenery from the car or a quiet roadside stop, and then head back with no agenda beyond an early night.
Ease into the day with a slow float and swim on The Frio River in Concan — this is the no-pressure river day, so don’t try to turn it into a checklist. The best rhythm is to get in water by late morning, when the sun is up but the heat hasn’t fully built yet. Expect a simple, easygoing stretch of river time: dip in, drift a bit, find a shady bank, repeat. If you’re tubing or lounging, keep your dry bag, waterproof phone pouch, and trash mesh bag close; the Frio is beautiful, but the rocky bottom and the park rules are real, so water shoes and a reusable bottle make life a lot easier.
For a solid midday anchor, head to House Pasture Cattle Co. and Event Center. It’s one of those places that works whether you want a real meal, a cold drink, or just a break from the sun, and it fits this canyon day perfectly. Figure on roughly $20–40 per person, depending on how hungry everyone is and whether you add drinks. If you’re coming straight off the river, give yourself a little buffer to dry off and change — it’s casual, but not “still dripping from the river” casual. This is a good point in the day to recharge, not rush.
After lunch, make the short hop to Frio Pecan Farm for a quieter scenic stop. It’s the right kind of palate cleanser after a river-heavy morning: a peaceful walk, a few photos, and one last look at the Frio Canyon before the day starts winding down. Plan on about 45 minutes here — enough to stretch your legs and enjoy the views without overcommitting. If the weather is warm, go ahead and keep your hat, sunscreen, and bug spray on hand; May in this part of Texas can swing from breezy to sticky pretty fast.
Head back into Leakey for a low-key farewell dinner at The Bent Rim Grill — it’s easy, unfussy, and a good “last night in Hill Country” kind of place after a day on the water. Budget about $15–30 per person, and try to arrive before the dinner rush if you want the smoothest service. After that, stop by Leakey Mercantile to grab any last-minute snacks, small gifts, or road-trip odds and ends before departure day. It’s a quick, practical end to the trip, and honestly that’s the best way to do Leakey: one more easy meal, one more little errand, then let the river day linger.
Roll out of Concan with a relaxed late-morning drive up TX-83 so you’ve got enough time to make the last stop without feeling rushed. Your first anchor is Leakey Drug Co. in downtown Leakey — the kind of old-school small-town stop that saves a departure day. Grab coffee, breakfast tacos or a pastry if they’ve got them, plus any last-minute sunscreen, cold drinks, or forgotten travel basics; figure on about 30–45 minutes and roughly $10–20 per person. It’s easy parking right off the main drag, so this is the smoothest place to regroup before you point the car north.
From downtown, take a quick scenic loop to The Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop / scenic TX-83 pull-off for one last look at the canyon. It’s not a long stop — just enough time to stretch, snap a few photos, and take in the limestone hills and river-bottom views that make this stretch of road feel so memorable. Give it about 20 minutes, and if the shoulder is busy, just be patient and keep the stop brief; this is more of a “one more deep breath of Hill Country” moment than a destination.
Before you head out of town, swing by The Leakey Fish House for an easy final meal or a to-go lunch for the road. It’s a practical choice on a departure day because you can keep it simple, eat without a long wait, and leave on your own schedule — budget about an hour and $15–30 per person. After that, continue onto US-83 north toward Uvalde and out of the canyon; it’s a straightforward exit, and a late-morning departure usually means less pressure on your timing. If you’ve got a few extra minutes, top off fuel in town before you leave, because once you’re on the highway the pace becomes pure Texas miles.