Entire home

The House on the River

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Property grounds
Interior
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Pool
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 122760 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
San Marcos, TX
  • Rio Vista Park
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Texas State University
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Bobcat Stadium
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Austin, TX (AUS-Austin-Bergstrom Intl.)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Room options

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About the neighborhood

San Marcos

Rio Vista stay.Within a 10-minute walk of this Rio Vista vacation home, you'll find Ramon Lucio Park and Ramon Lucio Memorial Park. San Marcos Discovery Center and Rio Vista Park are also within half a mile (1 km).

What's nearby

  • Rio Vista Park - 12 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • San Marcos River - 12 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • Strahan Coliseum - 19 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Texas State University - 3 min drive - 1.1 miles
  • Bobcat Stadium - 3 min drive - 1.3 miles

Getting around

  • San Marcos Station - 18 min walk
  • Austin-Bergstrom Intl. Airport (AUS) - 36 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Ivar's River Pub - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Industry - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪The Coffee Bar - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Fuego Tortilla Grill-San Marcos - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Herbert's Taco Hut - ‬6 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The House on the River

The river house retreat is the perfect place to get away from it all. The two and a half acre lot is located on the beautiful San Marcos River, nestled under a canopy of pecan and cypress trees. It's your ideal home base for Texas State events, river fun and outlet shopping. We are a short drive from Austin so keep our property in mind for F-1 Circuit of the Americas, SXSW, ACL Fest & more!

AMENITIES
Amenities include a full kitchen (stove, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher and cookware), a washer, dryer and three bathrooms. The main attraction of this property is the river and beautiful yard.

The house features one large master bedroom with a king bed and en suite bathroom. Upstairs has one small bedroom with a queen size bed, and one large room with three full size beds and one twin bed that allow for dormitory style sleeping. There is also a bathroom upstairs with a newly installed tub/bath combo. The main living area has a large sectional which seats 4 people, along with 2 other chairs. The second entertaining area which is located off of the kitchen has 2 couches with reclining seats. . Both rooms have smart TV's. and DVD players. The house offers a deck off the back of the house for relaxing as well as a large covered pavilion down closer to the river with a BBQ pit and large smoker. We have several long folding tables to place food, as well as a picnic table for seating. The cement bank allows for easy access to the river via a triangle metal swing or ladder. You will enjoy sunbathing or reading your book on the floating dock.

FOR THOSE WITH CAT ALLERGIES: Though there are no cats living in the house, the property is home to five felines friendly felines, who are known to show up in the backyard for some impromptu petting.


HOUSE RULES:
--> Please read before booking with us!
CHECK IN / CHECK OUT
Check in after 2 pm. Check out 11am. We'll happily accommodate special requests whenever possible.
NO PARTIES OR EVENTS
Non-negotiable. Please don't even bother asking.
QUIET HOURS
Since this is a residential neighborhood, we ask that you please keep noise levels at a minimum throughout your stay, and that you especially observe quiet hours after 10 p.m. and before 8 a.m.
NO UNREGISTERED GUESTS
If more than the number of registered guests arrive, you will be asked to leave. Per VRBO policy, YOUR RESERVATION WILL BE CANCELLED WITHOUT A REFUND.
Booking with us means you agree to All Things. Do us both a favor and book only if you find our rules acceptable.

The short term rental city ordinance requires that no more than 12 people be allowed to stay on the property during the rental. We have limited driveway space so all cars must fit in the driveway and cannot be parked out on the street. WE WILL NOT RENT OUT TO COLLEGE STUDENTS looking to have a party and violate noise ordinances or damage property.

Property manager

Jennifer Richards

Languages

English

Similar properties

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car not required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Day bed

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Smoking outside is permitted.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • On a river
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water tubing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,760 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 30

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

River House Retreat San Marcos
River House Retreat
River Retreat San Marcos
The River House Retreat Marcos
The River House Retreat San Marcos
The River House Retreat Private vacation home
The River House Retreat Private vacation home San Marcos

Frequently asked questions

How close is The House on the River to the airport?

This vacation home is 33.7 mi (36-min drive) away from the Austin-Bergstrom Intl. Airport (AUS) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does The House on the River have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

Does The House on the River offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at The House on the River?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home.

What time is check-in at The House on the River?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

Is there free parking at The House on the River?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does The House on the River have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does The House on the River have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is The House on the River to downtown San Marcos?

This vacation home is 0.5 mi away from San Marcos.

The House on the River Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 52 out of 65 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 65 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 65 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 65 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 65 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Casey C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Paradise away from home!

What an amazing property! I wish we could have extended our stay! We could not have asked for more, the house was amazing and the grounds and river access were icing on the cake. Our host Jennifer was so helpful and available for any questions.If you want to stay in a home that has a rich history and more character than a cookie cutter hotel, this is the place for you! We hope to return the next time we are in San Marcos!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Time, Great Place

Awesome spot, a little antiquated but overall had all we needed! Would recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike C.

Liked: Cleanliness

True Spirit of San Marcos

This property is an example of the spirit and soul of San Marcos. In mid town, close to everything, 2 acres of pecan tress and cypress, deer and of course frontage to the River between Sewell Park and Rio Vista. If you want the real deal in San Marcos this is it!! Property Manager and Owner is just fantastic!!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth M.

Liked: Cleanliness

2024 Weekend on the Riviera

Communication with home owner was easy and pleasant. She was pleasant and kind and she wanted to make sure we had everything we needed. We all loved this house. It was comfortable and well stocked with all that's need for a fun reunion of 11 , 1976 high School girlfriends. There was plenty of room for all of us. I can't wait until we return for our 2025 "Weekend on the Riviera "
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

4/10 Poor

Paul F.

Disliked: Cleanliness

River house

Great property with river access. Old house with the need for a deep clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mykel-Anne B., Tomball Texas, USA

Liked: Cleanliness

Best place in San Marcos, Tx

This place is AMAZING! The location is so close to downtown, but feels like a little piece of paradise on the river! All the feels of home. We will definitely be back on all our visits to San Marcos, Tx! We are so thankful we found it and it was available! Couldn’t have been more happy with it!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dwain A., San Marcos, TX

Liked: Cleanliness

The location is perfect, the weather cooperated!

Just perfect for family / friends quiet get together. LOTS of space inside and by the San Marcos River.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Al R.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Great potential right in the river.

Location was wonderful. River access was convenient. Back yard was amazing! We saw little deer every day, along with squirrels, and lots of birds. House was quirky and cool as heck, however….. Very old house, with central AC and window units. It was warm while we were there, so they all had to run the entire time. The master bedroom unit had a strange clicking sound that was very annoying while trying to sleep. The house DESPERATELY needs a deep cleaning. Everything had layers of dust on it. The window units were full of dust. Every window was dirty. Back patio was cluttered, with many places that had standing water for mosquitos. Coy pond was just sad. The house is very old, and I get that. It just needs a lot of work and cleaning to make it the perfect little spot. We met the owner and she was very nice. I hope they take this review with the spirit it was written, not to be mean, but as constructive criticism. We are fairly regular vacation renters, and this was not worth what we paid. All this being said, we would love to stay here again IF we knew it was cleaned and repaired.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Amy T.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Lovely river house

Our stay was fantastic, proximity to campus is great, the river, the beds are fantastic, tons of towels-we loved its old school river house vibe. We had some folks in our party who were a little concerned about the cleanliness, I can only imagine how hard a deep clean would be but may be appreciated by guests. We loved it, thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness

Great weekend retreat

It would be hard to ask for a better gathering spot for friends and family! Great place for a cookout by the river
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Samuel H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great spot

Perfect spot for anyone looking to spend time on the river. Really helpful host and a great experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Neil F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great River House

This house was perfect for our group of guys. Not fancy but the location and big yard along the river were perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Christina V.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great river house

Lots of space in the home, and access to river is ideal! It’s what your looking for
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matthew W.

Liked: Cleanliness

BOYz trip

After spending days of our lives floating past this home, it was a dream come true to stay here. The house and property were beautiful and it was the perfect place to stay for a large group. The host was very accommodating and friendly. I can’t wait to come back here again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debra S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fabulous stay!

We loved the house and property! Jennifer was an excellent communicator and provided lots of details when I asked questions before our stay. It was great to be right on the river - the house and yard were the perfect place for our family to gather. The house has a lot of character and the property is gorgeous - we would lover to go back - thank you Jennifer!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sharon K.

Liked: Cleanliness

Our Visit

We had an amazing time!! The house is a little dated, but the yard and river access made up for that!!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brooke T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Lake stay

This house is great for family and friend reunions. We rented in the winter for a fishing tournament on the river and all said we are going to try and come back in the summer when you could really experience the property more. Great for kids too
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeremiah H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Location

Enjoyed our stay for a friend reunion. Will probably rent again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Annie C.

Liked: Cleanliness

River house like no other! Can’t wait to come back

This property was so amazing! Perfect for groups and has a very relaxed family style feel. Jennifer met me at the property and showed me how to work everything and was so nice! She gave us suggestions where to eat and was super helpful! Her communication was amazing, and she helped me navigate the logistics before we even met. Each room has a wall AC that totally cranks and can keep up with the hot weather. The yard is massive! We brought a disc golf with us, enjoyed the outdoor area down by the water and brought food down to enjoy the river. The San Marcos “natural” rock slides are about a 20 min float down. HEB is close by and the kitchen had all the gadgets you would need to make this place your home for the weekend. If you are looking for a fancy modern place, this isn’t it. But if you are looking for a great property to make magical memories with your group, this is the one!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nichol S., College Station, Tx

Liked: Cleanliness

We’ll be back for a third year!!!

We love this place! This was our second summer here and you just can’t beat the location. It’s right on the river, the backyard is beautiful, and so spacious. The house provides lots of room for our group of 10-12 friends that come together for a weekend getaway every summer. It’s our little paradise and we love it!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

tammy w., Livingston

Liked: Cleanliness

Annual river trip

For the past 5 years we have rented this house and we love it. It's very relaxing and convenient. The owner is wonderful. We will rent every year, as long as it's available.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Natasha T. T., Los Fresnos

Liked: Cleanliness

River Vacation

The owners were very helpful and always prompt on answering my questions. The location is amazing and perfect for all ages. The house was very roomy and had plenty of beds for us all. We will be back next year.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness

Magical

This old house had a magical feel to it. It felt like home. It felt like the lake house we once owned. It brought out the child and wonder in us as we played in the river and attempted to swing from the rope swing. It was beautiful and comfortable. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dylan T., Liberty Hill

Liked: Cleanliness

River House

Exceeded our expectations on just how awesome it is to have a river you can walk to as you please. House is historic and has very interesting layouts through out. Great stay. Looking forward to renting again in future.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome Place

The house was wonderful and right on the river. The house has all the amenities you need both inside and out. (grills, tubes, firepit, good wifi and more). Sadly we did not use the river too much as we used the house as our camp for a weekend at COTA. Coming home after a long day at the track to a fire and listening to the river go by was a great cap off to the days. The house is very convenient to the highway with COTA about 40 mins away. Given the traffic into Austin around the track and coming up from the south was a huge time saver for us. Would for sure stay here again for a race weekend and more.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021