Texas summers are notoriously hot, but there are plenty of pools, springs, and rivers to cool off around the Austin area.
We rounded up a few pools and natural swimming holes in Austin where you can beat the heat. Whether you're looking for a fancy afternoon of drinks at a hotel pool or on the hunt for something a bit more natural, we've got you covered.
Photo Credit: Roger Ho
2201 Barton Springs Road
Within Zilker Park's 358 acres lies one of the crown jewels of Austin - Barton Springs Pool. The pool itself measures three acres in size and is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees, ideal for year-round swimming. Barton Springs attracts a diverse crowd of people and has seen record-setting numbers of visitors nearing 800,000 in recent years. As with other city pools, there is an admission fee here except during off-season. Eating and drinking is not allowed within the fenced area, but the downstream portion of the Springs is both dog and snack-friendly - and free to use!
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photo via yelp by jennifer d.
1850 TX-130 N Service Rd, Pflugerville, TX
Looking to relive your childhood's best summers? From the PFlow Rider Surf Simulator to the Lazy-T River, there's something at Typhoon Texas for the most daring and most chilled-out grownups, and everyone in between. With 4 restaurants and an on-site bar serving cocktails and beer on draft, this Pflugerville waterpark easily offers hours of fun.
Photo Credit: South Congress Hotel / Instagram
1603 South Congress
The Rooftop Pool is perched over South Congress Avenue with views of the downtown Austin skyline. Non-hotel guests can get pool passes for $30 a day Monday through Thursday, 11 am to 5 pm. The cost of a pass includes entry and towels. Guests can also order snacks and drinks from Café No Sé, which caters poolside at South Congress Hotel.
Photo Credit: Deep Eddy Pool / Instagram
401 Deep Eddy Drive
This historic man-made pool is the oldest swimming pool in Texas. Deep Eddy Pool is listed as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, and it even has a bathhouse built during the Depression era. The pool began as a swimming hole in the Colorado River, became a resort in the 1920s, and is today a popular swimming pool operated by the City of Austin. The nearby bar, Deep Eddy Cabaret, is also a favorite watering hole for locals. As with other city pools, there is an admission fee here except during off-season, and food and drinks (besides water) are not allowed.
Photo Credit: Marquisepro / Instagram
200 Lavaca Street
You can swim with a great view of the skyline this summer with a day pass for the WET Deck at The W, available for $15 on Monday thru Thursday and $30 on Friday and Sunday. The WET deck features private cabanas, lounge chairs, tanning shelves, and two outdoor showers to rinse off. Additionally, there is complimentary access to the WET Deck Monday-Friday after 5 pm. Reserve cabanas and more here. This pool gets pretty lit on summer weekends!
Photo Credit: Jon2911 / Instagram
If you're a member of PURE Austin - whose tagline is "We're not gym people either" - you can frolic in the waters of their own private lake. (If you're not a member you can a day pass for $25) Located on Braker near the Domain, the private lake offers everything from open water swimming and SUP to dockside yoga and trail running. There's also a climbing wall and a cafe for refueling.
Photo Credit: austintexas.gov
1800 E 51st St
The City of Austin recently renovated Bartholomew Pool, which offers two child-friendly pool areas including a pair of side-by-side, Schlitterbahn-style, winding blue-tube water slides. There's also a four-lane, 25-yard lap pool with a 12-foot deep end and diving board. Admission will cost Austin residents $1-3, depending on age, and as with other public pools, you should leave the snacking and drinking for before or after your visit.
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photo via instagram @_sensitivesavage
The Line Austin111 E Cesar Chavez St
For $25 on weekdays, you can hang out at the Line hotel's infinity pool and gaze out at a gorgeous view of the city and Town Lake. Buy a pass from 11 am on at the hotel bar, Dean's One Trick Pony - parking validation is included, but availability is limited.
Photo Credit: Hotel Ella Facebook
1900 Rio Grande
Now through Labor Day weekend you can sip cocktails and get sun kissed at the Hotel Ella pool without a room reservation. While you’re here, do as you please: with a daily pass, you can lounge under the cabana with friends or your favorite page-turner, enjoy drinks & snacks for purchase from Goodall's, or spend the day making a splash. Hotel Ella pool passes are available now through Labor Day, and are $25 a person. Read about the pool here.
Photo Credit:tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway
McKinney Falls State Park is in Austin, just 13 miles southeast of the State Capitol (map). There is lots to do at the park, from swimming and fishing to hiking and camping. Read more about camping at the park here. There are lots of trails, lots of wide open spaces, and water that you can wade or jump in. As this is a state park, public display or consumption of alcohol is off-limits at McKinney Falls. Fun fact: these falls featured prominently in the second season of HBO's The Leftovers.
Photo Credit: Barton Creek Home
S Mo-Pac Expy
The Greenbelt has long been a popular destination for summer swims in Austin. Water level fluctuations throughout the summer make this a bit of a gamble - there are a couple of resources for you to check flow before you go, though. The Greenbelt stretches some 7.9 miles; popular spots within this expanse for a dip include Campbell's Hole, Gus Fruh, and Twin Falls. Read more about trails and access points here - and remember, public consumption of alcohol is technically out of bounds at the Greenbelt.
Photo Credit: House Beautiful Magazine Facebook
24300 Hamilton Pool Rd.
The historic swimming pool, located just 40 minutes outside of downtown Austin in Dripping Springs, is actually a collapsed grotto which now sports a 50-foot waterfall and unique rock formations that encircle the pool. Visitors can choose to swim, shade themselves in the rock shelf located behind the waterfall, or explore the numerous hiking trails located in the park. Boasting numerous bird species including the Golden Cheek Warbler and cliff swallows, as well as plenty of rare plant species, Hamilton Pool is the ideal place to take the kids on an exploratory hike and finish with a refreshing dip in the pool.
Take note that Hamilton Pool Preserve does NOT usually allow swimming after heavy rains and the threat of high bacteria, so you should always call their info line at 512-264-2740 to check first. You’re also required to make a reservation to visit Hamilton Pool. You can make your reservations online for a particular date and choose from the following time periods: 9 am – 1 pm, or 2 – 6 pm. You’ll pay online for your reservation fee ($10), and pay for your entrance fee ($15) with cash or check when you arrive at the preserve. Alcohol is not allowed, but you should bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. For more info, click here.
Photo Credit: RootsRated.com
404 Krause Springs Rd.
Listed in the Natural Registration of Historic Places, Krause Springs is surely one of the most magical places to swim in the state. Located 30 miles outside of Austin, Krause hosts over 34 small springs, a waterfall, a man-made wallowing pool, and a natural swimming pool. Day guest passes are $8 for adults, $5 for kids age 4-11, and free for children under the age of 4. Overnight camping costs a bit more per person. Snacks and refreshments are welcome at Krause Springs as long as they are not in glass containers.
Photo Credit: Friends of Blue Hole
100 Blue Hole Lane
Hidden in the center of Wimberley, Blue Hole is surrounded by 126 acres of forest and grasslands and sports a unique ecosystem which houses a variety of fish, reptiles, mammals and plant species. Kids are welcome to explore the bountiful wildlife and then enjoy a dip in the Blue Hole Pool, which is surrounded by beautiful cypress trees, many equipped with rope swings. During summer months, you'll have to make a reservation to swim - read more about pricing and how to make a reservation here. Alcohol and glass containers are a no-go at this park.
With a lazy river, water slides, a giant tipping water bucket, several pools, a rock climbing waterfall wall, food trucks, and plenty of shade — this place is awesome. Rock’N River is located in Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock, just a short drive from Austin. A recent renovation has increased the capacity to 16,000, with a new area of the park that includes a 12-foot jumping platform, a rock climbing wall and drop slide, plus water volleyball and basketball. Find out all about it via Do512 Family.
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photo via schlitterbahn.com
400 N Liberty Ave
You're never too old for the damp charm of Texas' original German-themed waterpark. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Chill in the lazy river, which incorporates the real Comal River, or slide down tons of fun water rides. If you didn't grow up in this part of Texas, it's not too late to make a pilgrimage out to the 'Bahn. It's been updated to include a resort and a newer section accessible by free tram - so if you did it as a kid, there's more to see this time around!
What's your favorite place to swim in Austin?
Let us know!
