It's the best Austin picnic weather, if you go at the right time.
To celebrate the return to Texas summer, let us suggest a classic, old-fashioned picnic. It's easy, fun, and puts you in touch with that cottagecore lifestyle you've always dreamed of. With such a bounty of grassy parks and picturesque spots in this city, Austin invites us to get outside and dine al fresco. So make a plan to pack up some food, grab your cute picnic blanket, and head out to one of these Best Picnic Spots in Austin.
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Photo credit: Roger Ho
2207 Lou Neff Rd
Austinites adore Zilker Metropolitan Park. Whether you’re out climbing on the rocks or throwing a Frisbee out in the open grass, Zilker has plenty of great spots to choose from. Sit down and spread out your picnic with sweeping city views in the background. Zilker is a classic choice for a great day spent on a picnic blanket under a tree.
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Photo via Do512 Family
3809 W 35th St
The lush grounds of Laguna Gloria will make you feel like you’ve been whisked away to Tuscany. Here you’ll enjoy the views of Lake Austin, the Italian-style Driscoll Villa, and really cool sculptures and gardens at this home to the Contemporary Austin Museum and art school. If you're looking for some food for your picnic, they have Spread & Co. on the property, where you can get window-service charcuterie boards, breakfast, lunch, coffee, beer, and wine. The Contemporary Austin’s Laguna Gloria location is currently encouraging advanced ticket reservations for all visitors, which you can purchase online here.
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Photo via Do512 Family
4550 Mueller Blvd
This East Austin neighborhood park across from the Thinkery includes sprawling green areas and really unique play structures with a very modern design. It’s also adjacent to a little lake where you can feed the ducks, take a stroll, and spread out a picnic blanket. There are tons of nearby restaurants and food trucks in Mueller where you can grab food to go.
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Photo via Do512 Family
1100 Congress Ave
The grounds of the Texas State Capitol provide a gorgeous spot for a picnic. The pretty, green, manicured lawn with lots of shady trees provides a great spot to relax and enjoy time outdoors. Kids (and adults) love running up and down the hills there, too.
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Photo via City of Austin's Office of Sustainability
200 Sandra Muraida Way
Near the Seaholm Power Plant is an area called Sand Beach Park, where you’ll find a long table that is part of the Art in Public Places program and was commissioned by Rosario Marquardt and Roberto Behar. Named “Open Room Austin”, it was conceived as a social sculpture and features a 24-foot-long table with a “delicate” lace tablecloth, benches, and lighting structures, all made of powder-coated aluminum. The piece has hosted various activities, such as wedding photos and birthday parties, and is also just a fun place for a truly “Austin-y” picnic.
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Photo Credit: Roger Ho
4801 La Crosse Ave
How does a picnic surrounded by the beauty of wildflowers sound? Pretty terrific, right? The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center also includes a grotto with caves and a waterfall, a maze made of native shrubs, giant tree stumps and limbs, and more. And of course, you can take a great nature walk while you’re there. The Wildflower Center is currently taking reservations to ensure guests can safely social distance. Click here for details.
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Photo via Do512 Family
1600 City Park Rd
Here you’ll find 151 picnic tables to choose from. It’s one of the largest parks in Austin with swimming spots and 68 barbecue pits. Being on the water’s edge will make your picnic even more picturesque. This local favorite does have a $5 admission charge (per vehicle), Monday through Thursday, and $10 per day Friday through Sunday, and Holidays. Please take note that currently park patrons are required to obtain day passes for Emma Long Metropolitan Park for Fridays – Sundays via an online registration system.
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Photo via McKinney Falls Facebook
5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy
If you want to head just outside the outskirts of town, you can head over to McKinney Falls State Park. It’s a great place for hiking, camping and simply catching a break from the city. At this time, you must reserve day and camping passes online before you visit. There is an entrance fee of $6 for ages 13 and up, and visitors ages 12 and under are free.
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Photo via Pease Park Conservancy Facebook
1100 Kingsbury St
Pease Park is home to 84 acres of green space, so there isn’t a shortage of places to sprawl out a blanket or sit down at a table with your best snacks. The recently-reopened Kingsbury Commons and the classic Live Oak Meadow are both lovely spots for a picnic. The area is covered with tall oak trees that provide wonderful shade and gorgeous views of Shoal Creek.
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Photo via Do512 Family
14100 Low Water Crossing Rd
Jessica Hollis Park is a small LCRA Park that’s located on the far north shore of Lake Austin, just below Mansfield Dam. Because of the proximity to the dam, water comes from the bottom of Lake Travis, making it very cold and brisk and a great place to dip your toes in to cool down. We personally love this spot for picnics. You’ll find a few picnic tables and grills set up along the water for a nice outdoor meal. Bring along your picnic blankets, chairs, and cooler, and be sure to pack out all of your trash when you’re done. Take note that the whole picnic area is small and can easily fill up on weekends.
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Where's your favorite picnic spot?
