On this ride we head south out of Kerrville to Bandera, Texas, " The Cowboy Capital of the World". Bandera is a 35 mile ride on Highway 16 South. Bandera offers much for the visiting motorcyclist and is also a motorcycle friendly town. Not as large as Fredericksburg by any means but there are many unique shops along Main Street and also on some side streets, as well as many good places to eat, drink and be entertained. The ride to Bandera is a very scenic one no matter which route you take. Lets map out our ride using Highway 16 South first, then later in this article I'll tell some alternative routes to try.

There are quit a few different ways to ride to Bandera. The most direct, but slightly longer way to go is to take Highway 16 South through Kerrville. Highway 16 South changes from a 4 lane road to a two lane once you get over the hills in South Kerrville. If you are a new rider or a beginner this may NOT be the route for you to take. There are a few very sharp turns as you get over the hills into Medina that can unnerve the new rider. One of the turns in particular with have you down into second gear or maybe even into first gear. Once you are past the sharp turns, the rest of the ride is very scenic passing many ranches before coming into Medina. 

After you pass the mountain and sharp turns you will see Koyote Ranch on your right heading south on Highway 16. Koyote Ranch offers motorcycle camping and lodging along with gas, food and hospitality. Most weekends the outdoor bar and patio is packed with motorcyclists taking a break from the open road. Koyote Ranch is a wonderful place to kick back and relax before heading down the road once again into Medina.

Medina, Texas is a very small town with a population of 250. In 1989 the Texas Department of Agriculture declared Medina the Apple Capital of Texas. When you enter Medina keep in mind the speed limit is reduced and inforced. Worthy of a stop while in Medina is the Cider Mill and Country Store at Love Creek Orchards. They have everything from gifts to apple ice cream. Their apple pie is truly my  favorite. It reminds me of the apple pie that my grandma made.

If you are passing through Medina in the morning hours and are looking for breakfast, stop at Keese's Bar B Q across from the Medina Post Office. The fine, friendly folks at Keese's serve up a big hearty breakfast that is tough to beat anywhere. If you walk away hungry it is your own fault. Of course they also serve excellent barbeque foods throughout the day as well. Stop in and say hello on your way through Medina.

Once you are thru the town of Medina, you are about half way to Bandera. Once out of Medina the road is mostly flat with plenty of gentle curves as the road follows a path along the banks of the Medina River. Just before Bandera and before you cross the Medina River bridge there is a roadside picnic area on your left. This is a good place to stop for a picnic, swim or a rest. Continue on Highway 16 South until you come to the stop light in Bandera at the intersection of State Highways 16 and 173.

Continue straight thru the light into town and you will see the main shopping district, restaurants and watering holes.

Bandera is a small town (population 950) rich in early western history. Bandera is " The Cowboy Capital of the World." Many champion cowboys have come out of Bandera County. After the Civil War, Bandera was used as a staging area for cattle drives to Dodge City and beyond. Each year during Labor Day weekend, Bandera holds a longhorn cattle drive through the streets of Bandera.

If you like country music, almost every bar, dancehall and honky-tonk features live music. My favorite was the Cabaret Dancehall on Main Street. Unfortunately it closed in January 2007 and is currently up for sale. Hopefully it will reopen under new management soon.  It is a real Texas style honky-tonk in my book. Also on Main Street is Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar which is another spot to visit for live music. A favorite spot in Bandera among the biker crowd is the 11th Street Cowboy Bar. It is one block west of Main Street. Look for all the parked motorcycles, you can't miss them.

If you are looking for a bite to eat in Bandera I highly recommend Busbee’s BBQ. The food can't be beat. OST restaurant also offers good food and service. The breakfast at OST is as good as it gets!

One other place worth visiting while in Bandera is the Frontier Times Museum on 13th St.

Bandera is a very friendly town when it comes to motorcycles and on most weekends the town is full of bikes. Please...respect the laws of Bandera and the many pedestrians and horses that are on the streets in Bandera. We want to be welcomed back time and time again.

Alternatives to Highway 16 South - Highway 173 South

Another excellent route to Bandera is to take Highway 173 South out of Kerrville, straight into Bandera. Why more motorcyclist don't use 173 South is a mystery to me. Seldom do I pass many other bikes on 173. 173 South has a posted speed limit of 70 MPH with wonderful scenery passing many large ranches along the way. You'll may even see bison just below Camp Verde on the left. If you have never seen a bison live and in person, they are a magnificent animal to see.

When you get to the stoplight in Bandera, take a left into town. It is about a 22 mile ride. 

Another route to take is Highway 173 South to FM 2828 West to Highway 16 South. The ride across FM 2828 is very scenic and I recommend this route to Bandera just for the scenery and the great road that FM 2828 is. When you reach Highway 16 South, turn left and continue on to Bandera. Both 173 South and FM 2828 are easy roads to ride, even for the beginner. The speed limit on both roads is 70 mph but slower traffic can use the shoulder or slow lane on 173. 2828 does not have a shoulder to ride on but generally does not have very much traffic on it.

Koyote Ranch - Medina, Texas on Highway 16 

  Koyote Ranch is committed to providing a comfortable and upscale environment for Motor Touring. We have gone so far as to provide a dedicated area of camp sites in the resort exclusively for riders, with covered parking for your bike. 

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