How long is Santa's Ranch in New Braunfels?

The route is about a mile. The drive takes around half an hour at a crawl; weekend lines to get in can add much more.

How much is Santa's Ranch?

$37 plus tax per car for 2026, or $74 plus tax for a season pass you can use every night.

When is Santa's Ranch open in 2026?

Every night from November 6, 2026 to January 3, 2027: 6–10 pm Sunday to Thursday and 6–11 pm Friday and Saturday.

For a carload of kids, yes — three million lights without leaving the car, and cocoa and kettle corn at the end. Go on a weeknight to skip the long line off I-35.

Illustration

Drive-thru · New Braunfels, off I-35 · Ticketed

Santa's Ranch 2026 (New Braunfels)

A mile of Hill Country road through three million lights, animated scenes and tunnels of light — dinosaurs included — about half an hour north of San Antonio off I-35. You stay in the car the whole way, with hot cocoa and kettle corn from the stand at the end.

Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027

Google 4.6 ★ · 1,501 reviews

At a glance

2026 dates: November 6, 2026 – January 3, 2027, every night
Hours: 6–10 pm Sun–Thu, 6–11 pm Fri–Sat
Price: $37 + tax per car, or $74 + tax for a season pass (2026)
The drive: About a mile of Hill Country road through three million lights, tunnels and animated scenes — dinosaurs included
Where: 9561 I-35 North, New Braunfels, TX 78130 — about 30 minutes north of San Antonio

Is it worth it?

Worth the drive from San Antonio — especially early in the evening, when you'll be through the gate in minutes.

What visitors say

Reviewers love the tunnels and themed areas and say the traffic moves at just the right speed to take it in. Staff get a lot of praise. People who arrived just before the gate opened got through almost at once; a few found the story told by the displays hard to follow.

Light tunnels and animated scenes
About 30 minutes of driving
Hot cocoa and kettle corn
Pets welcome in the car
Season pass for repeat visits

Getting there and getting in

Look for the 50-foot Christmas tree from the interstate.
Keep to the right lane and keep moving; stay in the car except for restrooms.
No trailers, buses, limos or RVs; vehicles up to 8 ft high and 30 ft long.

Worth knowing

Open in the rain and on holidays. Pets are welcome.

Open in Google Maps

Santa's Ranch entrance

Official site

Questions people ask

How long is Santa's Ranch in New Braunfels?: The route is about a mile. The drive takes around half an hour at a crawl; weekend lines to get in can add much more.
How much is Santa's Ranch?: $37 plus tax per car for 2026, or $74 plus tax for a season pass you can use every night.
When is Santa's Ranch open in 2026?: Every night from November 6, 2026 to January 3, 2027: 6–10 pm Sunday to Thursday and 6–11 pm Friday and Saturday.
Is it worth it?: For a carload of kids, yes — three million lights without leaving the car, and cocoa and kettle corn at the end. Go on a weeknight to skip the long line off I-35.

Checked 2026-09-30. Sources: Santa's Ranch (official). Last season's numbers are labelled with their year until the organiser publishes 2026.

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