Driving Time - Helotes to Lost Maples - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

BigBendHiker · 10-18-2007, 07:03 AM

We are thinking of making a day trip to Lost Maples. What is the approximate driving time from Helotes to Lost Maples? What would be the best route? Hwy 90 to Sabinal and then up to Vanderpool?

Thanks in advance.

Shannon · 10-18-2007, 11:23 AM

Per our Driving Distance & Travel Time Calculator, the drive from Helotes to Vanderpool is:
Total Driving Distance: 63.67 miles
Total Driving Time: 1 hour, 17 minutes

Give or take some, since Lost Maples isn't in Vanderpool's city center.

campermom · 10-18-2007, 04:53 PM

When calculating distance, I get the address of the park and enter it into yahoo maps. I prefer it over mapquest. I go through Bandera. Lost Maples is a nice day trip. Have a good time.

Shannon · 10-18-2007, 05:08 PM

Bear in mind sometimes the published address for a park is actually a P.O. Box, where the park staff pick up the park's mail, rather than being a location in or near the park. This is the case for a lot of the more rural/isolated parks.

Most up-to-date GPS units have the correct (park headquarters/entrance) location stored for parks so they route you, correctly, to the entrance instead of the park's mailing address.

natureboyhays · 10-18-2007, 11:21 PM

I would recommend taking Hwy 16 from Helotes thru Bandera to Medina, then at Medina turn left on FM 337, stay on 337 until it stops at FM 187, turn right, then it's only a few miles to Lost Maples. It's a beautiful drive, especially the part from Medina to the park. I think Shannon's timing estimate sounds about right, 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 30 min. To me, Lost Maples and the areas surrounding it are about as good as the hill country gets. Hope you enjoy your trip

Shannon · 10-19-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natureboyhays

I would recommend taking Hwy 16 from Helotes thru Bandera to Medina, then at Medina turn left on FM 337, stay on 337 until it stops at FM 187, turn right, then it's only a few miles to Lost Maples. It's a beautiful drive, especially the part from Medina to the park. I think Shannon's timing estimate sounds about right, 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 30 min. To me, Lost Maples and the areas surrounding it are about as good as the hill country gets. Hope you enjoy your trip

Your route is the one was always take. The Medina area is especially scenic--one of the roads there (I'm afraid I always forget which one, else I'd mention it by name) offers up steep drop-offs, impressive road cuts, lots of trees, winding roads and a couple overlooks. If you don't find yourself traveling it to get to the park, ask at the ranger station and I'm sure they can direct you the right way. Enjoy!