Sandwiched Between Austin And Waco Is An Overlooked Texas City With A Scenic Lake

While we hear a lot about Dallas, Houston, and Austin, much of Texas — the U.S.'s second biggest state after Alaska — is overlooked. But it turns out Texas has a lot of hidden gems, and one of them is Harker Heights, a city with a scenic lake that's sandwiched between Austin and Waco.

Compared to many U.S. cities, the "Bright Star of Central Texas," is fairly new. Until 1957, the land was owned by Pinckney R. Cox and Harley Kern. After that, the duo began dividing up their land and selling off lots. It didn't take long for the community to grow from the original two residents and their families to about 650 in 1960, when the settlement was established. By 2000, Harker Heights had a population of 17,308, and by 2021 it had grown to 33,560.

With no major industries in the city and only 300 businesses, Harker Heights is considered a bedroom town because the majority of its residents work in other parts of the state. But despite this, Harker Heights is worth visiting if you're in the area. It's just over 70 miles north of Austin – the funky Southern city that was named one of America's best college towns – and an hour's drive south of Waco. As well as being home to the scenic Stillhouse Hollow Lake, it has parks, a river, and a culturally-diverse selection of restaurants.

Harker Heights is celebrated for its nature, making it a great place to stop off at should you be driving from Austin to Waco, or vice versa. While Austin is known for its music scene and Waco is renowned for having the world's longest, natural lazy river at Waco Surf, Harker Heights has a reputation for being a place where life moves a bit slower and is more relaxed. 

The 6,430-acre Stillhouse Hollow Lake, which boasts 58 miles of shoreline, is one of the area's biggest draws. It's here that you can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, and camping. The lake is surrounded by parks: Stillhouse, Chalk Ridge Falls, Rivers Bend, Union Grove, Cedar Gap, and Dana Peak. All of these offer a variety of hiking trails, including from one park to another. They also provide access to birds for those who fancy themselves birders. Although Stillhouse Hollow Lake is beautiful, if you're looking for more action, Belton Lake, which is about a 20-minute drive north, offers paintball and mountain bike trails. Freedom Boat Rentals on Belton Lake is also based there.

All of these parks and both lakes are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, so there's a $5 entrance fee. Camping costs from $20 to $60 a night depending on the type of site and the electrical and water services you use.

Like most small communities, when it comes to places to stay, your options are pretty limited. Most are chain inns such as Best Western Harker Heights and Super 8 by Wyndham Harker Heights Killeen/Fort Hood. Both are affordable, with rooms around $100 to $120 a night. Nearby Killeen has more hotels and privately-owned rentals.

While Harker Heights' accommodations may fall a little short, its Central Texas foodie scene will make up for it. From Opa's Schnitzel Hut and Acropolis Greek Cuisine to The Shack Caribbean Seafood And Grill and Arepitas Harker Heights, there's no shortage of diverse food in the area. In fact, if you really want to make the most of Harker Heights' restaurants, you can enjoy a Texas barbecue one night, Venezuelan the next, Mexican for lunch the following day, and finish up with homestyle German food before you leave.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Austin is about an 80-minute drive away. You can also fly into Dallas, which worldwide travelers visit for its food and nightlife. From there, get a connecting flight to Killeen Regional Airport (GRK), a 25-minute drive west of Harker Heights. You can either rent a car or use a car service like Uber to get into the city.