Martindale, Texas

Martindale is not a destination town. It does not have a downtown square, a restaurant district, or attractions that would fill an afternoon. It is a place you launch from (or float to), and understanding that distinction is the point of this page. If you are looking for things to do in the San Marcos area, start with the San Marcos page. If you are looking for the longer river float -- the three-to-four-hour stretch through open agricultural land that avoids the in-town crowds -- this is where you go.

History

Martindale was established in 1855 by Nancy Martindale, who moved to Texas from Mississippi in 1851 and donated land for the townsite. A Baptist church was the first community institution. The settlement grew slowly around agriculture -- cotton in the bottomlands along the San Marcos River, cattle on the surrounding prairie. A post office was established in the 1850s, and the town served as a supply point for the surrounding farms of Caldwell County.

The population has never been large. It hovered around 300-400 through most of the 20th century, grew modestly after 2000 as San Marcos expanded eastward, and reached 1,243 in the 2020 census. Current estimates place it around 1,072. The town incorporated and has a city council, a planning and zoning commission, and a city hall at 407 Main Street -- but the municipal infrastructure is minimal. There is no police department (Caldwell County Sheriff provides coverage), no public library, and no school within city limits (students attend San Marcos CISD schools).

The River Here

The San Marcos River below the city of San Marcos widens and slows as it passes through agricultural land toward Martindale. This stretch lacks the in-town amenities (no parks, no fencing, no ambassadors) but also lacks the crowds. The water is still spring-fed and clear, though it warms slightly as it moves downstream and receives tributary input. The riverbed alternates between gravel bars, deeper pools, and stretches of aquatic vegetation.

The float from the put-in points east of San Marcos to the take-outs near Martindale runs approximately 5.5 miles and takes three to four hours by tube, two to three hours by kayak. The current is gentle. There are no rapids, no falls, and no portages. It is a lazy float through open country -- pecan trees along the banks, cattle in the fields, occasional rope swings, and very few other people on weekdays.

The Outfitters

Two outfitters operate on this downstream stretch:

Don's Fish Camp -- the more established of the two. Located in Martindale proper. They bus you upriver to a put-in and you float back to your vehicle at their property. Three-hour float. Tube rental available on-site or by advance online reservation. They also rent cooler tubes and sell ice. The property has parking, restrooms, and a small store. This is the operation most people mean when they say "floating in Martindale."

Texas State Tubes -- located just east of San Marcos, closer to the put-in end. Provides tubes, shuttle service, and parking. The float from their operation runs approximately 2.5-4 hours depending on water level, current, and how often you stop. They serve the same stretch of river as Don's but from the upstream end.

Both outfitters are seasonal operations that run primarily from March/April through September/October, with peak business Memorial Day through Labor Day. Pricing is comparable to Lions Club in town ($20-30 per tube with shuttle). Advance reservations are recommended on summer weekends.

What Else Is Here

Not much, and that is an honest answer:

Duett's Texas Club -- a bar and live music venue on the main road. The closest thing Martindale has to nightlife. Occasional touring acts, mostly local and regional bands.

Cool River Ranch -- an event venue on the river used primarily for weddings and private parties. Not a public attraction.

The town itself -- a few streets of modest homes, some agricultural land, a volunteer fire department, and the quiet that comes with a community of 1,000 people who chose to live seven miles from a city of 67,000 rather than in it.

There is no grocery store, no gas station within city limits, and no restaurant beyond Duett's. If you need supplies, get them in San Marcos before you drive out. The outfitters sell ice and basic snacks but nothing resembling a meal.

Practical Information

Getting there: From San Marcos, take TX-80 East (also called Martindale Road) for approximately 7 miles. The drive takes 10-12 minutes. Don's Fish Camp is on River Road off TX-80. Texas State Tubes is on the same corridor, closer to the San Marcos side.

What to bring: Sunscreen, water in a reusable container (the container ban applies to the river within San Marcos city limits; downstream of city limits enforcement is less structured, but reusable containers are still the right call), footwear that can get wet, and cash for incidentals at the outfitters.

Cell service: Spotty once you are on the river. Reliable in town and at the outfitter properties.

USGS gauge: The monitoring station near Martindale is USGS 08171400 (San Marcos Rv nr Martindale, TX). Check flow before going -- if the Blanco River has flooded upstream, the San Marcos can rise quickly at this point.

Parking: Both outfitters have on-site parking included with tube rental. Do not park on residential streets in Martindale -- the town is small enough that residents notice and it creates friction.

Why It Is Here

Martindale appears on this site because it is where the river goes. If you want the longer, quieter float -- the one that avoids the crowds and the container checks and the $5 entry fee at Rio Vista -- you drive seven miles east and put in here. That is the entire value proposition. It is not a town you visit for its own sake. It is a town you visit because the San Marcos River passes through it, and two businesses have built operations around that fact. For everything else -- food, lodging, entertainment, supplies -- go back to San Marcos.

Martindale, Caldwell County, Texas. Population 1,243 (2020 census). Elevation 545 ft. On TX-80, 7 miles east of San Marcos.