Lockhart was declared 'Barbecue Capital of Texas' by the Legislature for a reason — Kreuz Market (1900), Smitty's (1924) and Black's all sit within five blocks. Eat at all three on Saturday — butcher paper, no forks at Kreuz, sausage rings at Black's. Sunday morning go to Snow's BBQ in Lexington (45 minutes east) where Tootsie Tomanetz still works the pit at 90 years old; line forms by 6am, doors open at 8, brisket sells out by 10. Decompression: a pour at Garrison Brothers in Hye on the way back to Austin, dinner at Olamaie in town before AUS.
Five quick questions, then we build the full itinerary — lodging, daily schedule, dining, bars, the group-chat message — and drop you into a Trip Room you can share with the crew.