Places to Swim in Austin, Texas

Austin’s swimming scene is truly something special. With numerous publicly accessible swimming holes and spring-fed pools inside city limits and a short drive away, swimming in Austin is unlike anywhere else in the world. And due to Austin’s fabulously warm weather, most are open year round! There’s simply no better excuse to steal away for an afternoon dip… or why not make it an entire day?

The Heywood Hotel concierge team is happy to share with you our favorite places to swim in Austin and the Texas Hill Country. Plus, if you book a stay at the Heywood, you not only get the best local advice available, you can check out free beach towels, soft-sided coolers, sunscreen and more. So put on your suit and pack up some waters and your complimentary Zilker beers, and let’s go swimming! 

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Nearby Swimming Holes In Austin

You don’t have to drive far to dive in. Austin has a few urban swimming holes that are perfect for a quick getaway. 

 

Austin’s gorgeous Barton Creek Greenbelt offers 12 miles of hiking trails surrounded by picturesque limestone bluffs. It can make you feel like you’re a million miles away, even when you’re just a hop, skip and a jump from downtown.

There are multiple swimming holes accessible from the Barton Creek Greenbelt, all free to use, but with access dependent on water levels. Three of our favorites are accessible near the intersection of Loop 1 (known locally as “MoPac”) and Highway 360.

Hike the well-defined Greenbelt trail that heads slightly downhill for about a quarter of a mile to the shallow Twin Falls. Continue around a mile and a half on to the deeper Sculpture Falls, or continue a couple of miles further to Hill of Life Dam (this is just over a 5-mile round trip). Swimming is based on water levels, so the best time to go is usually May and late spring. You can check water conditions here or the Heywood Hotel concierge team is always happy to check current conditions and make a recommendation for you. 

Austin’s Spring-Fed Swimming Pools

Austin’s public pools are often the focal point of a great day. With more than 34 public pools around the city, there is always an opportunity to lap up the good life under the Texan sun. Here are two of our favorite places to swim in spring, summer and beyond, right here in Austin. 

 

Considered the “Crown Jewel of Austin,” Barton Springs Pool is a local treasure, and by far the best way to cool off on a hot Texas day! Just a few miles from the Heywood Hotel, this spring-fed, natural-bottom pool is 68 degrees year round and measures 3 acres in size!

Although it may look like a swimming hole, unlike those we mentioned above, Barton Springs is an actual public pool, complete with lifeguards, changing stations and restrooms. The admission fee is typically $5 per person ($2 for adults 62 and older).

Barton Springs is open for unguarded swim from 5:00am-8:00am and guarded swim from 8:00am-10:00pm daily except for Thursday.  On Thursday, they are open for unguarded swim from 5:00am-9:00am and guarded swim from 7:00pm-10:00pm (closed from 9:00am-7:00pm).

Deep Eddy Pool is another great place to swim in Austin, just three miles west of the Heywood Hotel. While the water is spring-fed and not chlorinated, the experience of this public pool is otherwise similar to the more familiar public pools, with a concrete bottom, swim lanes and a wading area. The water is pristine, and stays around 70 degrees, making it a perfect spot to cool off.

Like Barton Springs, Deep Eddy is a municipal pool and typically has a $5 entry fee ($2 for adults 62 and older).

Deep Eddy is open daily for recreational swim from 11:00am-8:00pm. Open for lap swim from 8:00am-8:00pm Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and 9:00am-8:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Please note: they are closed on the first Tuesday of every month.

After your laps, be sure to check out Pool Burger. Two unlikely Austin institutions came together (Jeffrey’s and Deep Eddy Cabaret) to create this Tiki-cocktail mecca and serve hormone-free and antibiotic-free burgs. 

Swimming Day Trips from Austin 

Jump in the car with your bae or your bestie, or make it a solo trip. You don’t need to pack much to make the most of a Texas Hill Country day trip; a swimsuit, sunglasses, and some sensible shoes for hiking. These nearby swimming destinations take full advantage of their surrounding diverse landscapes.

 

Just 40 minutes away in the town of Wimberley, Jacob’s Well feels like an entirely different world. This fully submerged cave, the second-largest in Texas, has long been considered an excellent way to cool off from the Texas heat. The swimming hole is the mouth of an artesian spring and stays a constant 68°F.

Though the surface area is only 12 feet in diameter, below the surface is another matter. The waters plunge 30 feet and reveal a complex cave system. The depth of the largest cavern is 140 feet! Jacob’s Well is open for swimming May 1 through September 30 by online reservation only. Hiking is allowed year-round with no reservation required. The entrance fee is $9 for adults and $5 for seniors and service members.

Another option in Wimberly is the Blue Hole Regional Park. Blue Hole is a natural, spring-fed swimming hole lined by historic cypress trees. The park encompasses 126 acres of natural forests and native grass fields and includes 4.5 miles of nature trails. A 40-mile drive from downtown and the Heywood Hotel, the Blue Hole is open seasonally from May through September. Reservations are required. There are 2 time slots for swimming: 9:00am to 1:00pm, or 2:00 to 6:00pm, but you can reserve both and stay all day! The entrance fee is $12 for adults, $6 for seniors.

Krause Springs is a camping, hiking and swimming site located approximately 30 miles northwest of Austin in Spicewood. Float along shady, cypress tree-lined banks, swing from the rope swing, or just find a nice spot to sunbathe. Admission is $10 per adult. Open daily from 9:00am to 8:00pm. Krause Springs is one of the most popular places to swim around Austin and can get very busy on weekends so we recommend calling ahead or letting the Heywood Hotel concierge team know if we can help check availability.

 

Hamilton Pool is a beautiful, natural spring fed pool that was created thousands of years ago when the dome of an underground river collapsed. The result is one of the most scenic swimming spots in the world. Located 20 miles west of Austin off Highway 71, the unique swimming hole features a 50-foot waterfall. It is truly a hidden oasis in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Please note that entry fees can only be paid in cash.

While swimming is not allowed in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake, you can head a few miles upstream to swim in the Colorado River. The open shorefront at Emma Long Park is a 30-minute drive northwest of the Heywood Hotel. Year-round cool water and plenty of shady spots make this an ideal place to make it an afternoon of fun and sun. The park is open from 7:00am to 10:00pm daily with reservations required on weekends. Cost is $5 per vehicle Monday through Thursday and $10 per vehicle Friday through Sunday and holidays.

Or why not do your part to keep Austin weird at Hippie Hollow? Approximately 30 minutes from downtown Austin and the Heywood Hotel is this rocky retreat on Lake Travis. Hippie Hollow is the only official clothing-optional public park in Texas and entry to the park is restricted to adults 18 years of age and older. If you are looking to avoid tan lines, perhaps Hippie Hollow is the perfect destination for you. The park is open 9:00am-7:30pm and admission is $8 for adults and $3 for seniors, cash required.

Looking for more information on the best places to swim in Texas? 

Need help planning your time in Austin? Stop by the Heywood Hotel to chat up a member of our concierge team.

While you’re here, pick up a copy of “The Swimming Holes of Texas,” for purchase in the retail section of our hotel lobby. Got a question? Shoot us an email, we’d be glad to help!

 

Featured photo of Krause Springs by Stephen Walkowski

 

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Planning a trip to Austin and not sure what to do? Our concierge team has some ideas for you! Book your stay at the friendliest boutique hotel in Austin and let us help you plan the perfect Austin getaway!