Our next stop brought us to New Braunfels, home to the Comal River, which holds a fun claim to fame thanks to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!—it’s officially the shortest river in the world at just 2.5 miles. Short, sweet, and surprisingly influential, the river springs from Comal Springs in Landa Park, fuels a swimming pool, flows past the famous Schlitterbahn Water Park, and then merges with the Guadalupe River in downtown New Braunfels.

The Comal is pure, clear, and cold, with a steady temperature between 23-29°C, making it perfect for tubers and swimmers in warmer months. It’s also one of Texas’s largest springs, pumping a staggering 8 million gallons of water per hour—basically, nature’s answer to a luxury water feature. This time of year, though? Not a single tube in sight, and we weren’t about to brave the chill ourselves, no matter how sunny it was.

The RV park we stayed at was perched right on the Comal River, but getting to our site? Oh boy. Picture us barreling down a steep hill, taking a white-knuckle hairpin turn at the bottom, and then climbing back up another hill to park. Let’s just say I was not impressed with this adrenaline-pumping welcome. Once settled, though, we had a quiet spot not far from the water, with occasional visits from a doe and her two fawns—so peaceful it almost made me forget my roller-coaster arrival.

Almost.

The park itself was a bit rough around the edges. The lots desperately needed a mow, and most of the sites were occupied by full-timers who seemed to have been there since Y2K. Oh, and did I mention the train tracks? Right next to the park. Trains thundered by nonstop, but thankfully, the conductors took pity on us and spared us their horns. Small mercies.

New Braunfels itself was lovely, though! We spent an afternoon sipping drinks on a quaint little patio while the chihuahuas lounged quietly beside us, earning their RV lifestyle gold stars.

But the real star of this stop was Gruene, the historic district just a short drive away. Right as we arrived, we hit the jackpot: a bonus flea market! We spent hours wandering through the tents, checking out quirky treasures and chatting with vendors. Eventually, even the chis grew tired (a feat in itself), so we sought out one of Gruene’s many live music venues—seriously, they’re everywhere—and snagged a table for drinks, snacks, and toe-tapping tunes.

Gruene is the kind of place that oozes charm, with its vintage vibe and endless entertainment options. Between the bustling flea market and the live music, we could have stayed all day. It almost made me forget the trains back at the RV park.

Final verdict? you decide, I can’t!

Despite the rough edges, this stop had its moments of magic—and for that, New Braunfels, we salute you! Off to the next adventure!