About Zip Code 78619
Zip code 78619 covers Driftwood, an unincorporated community in northeastern Hays County approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Austin. Driftwood sits along FM-1826, FM-150, and Elder Hill Road in a Hill Country setting characterized by rolling limestone hills, live oak and juniper woodlands, seasonal creeks, and spring-fed Onion Creek. The community has no incorporated government and maintains a rural residential character, though development pressure from the expanding Austin metro has steadily increased lot density and home construction over the past decade. Driftwood is positioned between Buda to the east on I-35 and Dripping Springs to the west on US-290, and it falls within the Dripping Springs extraterritorial jurisdiction for planning purposes.
Real estate in 78619 is predominantly single-family homes on one- to ten-acre lots, with a mix of custom-built residences, ranch properties, and a small number of subdivisions with deed restrictions. Homes in communities such as Driftwood Estates, Hays Country Oaks, and Sunset Canyon range from $450,000 to $800,000 for three- to five-bedroom houses on one- to three-acre lots. Custom homes on larger parcels of 5 to 20 acres with Hill Country views range from $700,000 to $1.5 million or more. Vacant land is available from approximately $150,000 per acre for desirable hilltop or creek-front tracts, down to $50,000 to $80,000 per acre for parcels without significant views or water features. There is very little inventory below $400,000 in the Driftwood area, placing it in the upper tier of Hays County real estate markets.
Students in 78619 attend Dripping Springs ISD, a highly regarded district serving approximately 7,500 students across multiple campuses. Dripping Springs Elementary, Walnut Springs Elementary, and Rooster Springs Elementary serve the lower grades. Dripping Springs Middle School covers 6th through 8th grade, and Dripping Springs High School serves 9th through 12th. The district consistently receives A-rated designations from the Texas Education Agency and ranks among the top districts in the Austin metro for standardized test scores and college readiness indicators. Dripping Springs High School competes in UIL Class 5A athletics with strong programs in football, baseball, golf, and cross-country. The district offers extensive Advanced Placement courses, dual-credit through ACC, and career and technology pathways.
Driftwood is approximately 25 minutes from downtown Austin via FM-1826 and MoPac, or 30 minutes via US-290 and SH-71 depending on the specific route. Dripping Springs is about 10 minutes to the west, and Buda is approximately 15 minutes to the east. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is roughly 25 minutes away via SH-45 and SH-130. The area has no commercial center of its own, with the Salt Lick BBQ restaurant on FM-1826 serving as perhaps the best-known local landmark. Wineries and event venues along the Driftwood corridor, including Driftwood Estate Winery, Vista Brewing, and numerous wedding venues, contribute to a growing tourism and hospitality economy. Medical care requires a trip to Buda, Kyle, or south Austin, with Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle about 15 minutes east. Grocery shopping is available at the H-E-B in Dripping Springs, about 10 minutes west, or the stores in Buda and Oak Hill.
