16 Places to Swim in Austin, Texas
May 12, 2024
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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.
Staying in Austin this summer? Join us now through September 15 and receive a great summer rate plus free passes to Barton Springs Pool or your choice of more than 30 Austin pools. Learn more about our Heywood Hotel Summer Swim Package here!
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!
Austin Swimming Holes
You don’t have to drive far to dive in. Austin has a few urban swimming holes that are perfect for a quick getaway.
1. Barton Creek Greenbelt
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 6.5 miles
Sculpture Falls photo by Jesse Thelitz
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 are free to use, but access is 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.
2. Barton Springs Pool
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 3 miles
Barton Springs Pool photo by Spawnzilla, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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 Fahrenheit year-round and measures three acres in size!
Although it may look like a swimming hole, unlike others on this list, Barton Springs is an actual public pool, complete with lifeguards, changing stations and restrooms.
Free Barton Springs Passes: From May 15 through September 15, 2024, the Heywood Hotel is excited to offer free passes to Deep Eddy or your choice of more than 30 Austin pools. Learn more about the Heywood Hotel Summer Swim Pass. |
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Barton Springs Pool Admission and Hours
In 2024, the admission fee for Barton Springs is $5 per person for residents and $9 per person for non-residents. Tickets are $2 for adults 62 and older if you’re a resident and $5 if you’re from out of town.
Barton Springs Pool is open from 5:00am-10:00pm daily except for Thursday. Lifeguards are on duty from 8:00am-8:00pm. On Thursday, Barton Springs Pool is closed for cleaning between the hours of 9:00am and 7:00pm, but it is open for unguarded swim from 5:00am-9:00am and again from 7:00pm-10:00pm.
3. Deep Eddy Pool
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 3.5 miles
Photo of Deep Eddy Pool by Steve Hopson (SteveHopson on en.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
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.
After your laps, be sure to check out Pool Burger. Two unlikely Austin institutions came together (Jeffrey’s restaurant and Deep Eddy Cabaret) to create this Tiki-cocktail mecca and serve hormone-free and antibiotic-free burgs.
Free Deep Eddy Passes: From May 15 through September 15, 2024, the Heywood Hotel is excited to offer free passes to Deep Eddy or your choice of more than 30 Austin pools. Learn more about the Heywood Hotel Summer Swim Pass. |
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Deep Eddy Pool Admission and Hours
Like Barton Springs, Deep Eddy is a municipal pool with a $5 entry fee for residents ($2 for adults 62 and older) and $9 entry fee for out-of-towners.
Deep Eddy is open daily from 8:00am-8:00pm for lap swim and 10:00am-8:00pm for recreational swim. Please note: Deep Eddy is usually closed on the first Tuesday of every month.
Looking for a hotel near Barton Springs Pool or Deep Eddy Pool? Book your stay at the Heywood Hotel, located just a few miles away from the city’s best pools. |
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Swimming Holes Near Austin
Jump in the car with your bae or bestie, or make a solo trip to nearby swimming holes in the Texas Hill Country. You don’t need to pack much to make the most of a day trip out west; a swimsuit, sunglasses, and some sensible hiking shoes. These swimming destinations take full advantage of their surrounding diverse landscapes.
4. Jacob’s Well
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 40 miles
Jacob’s Well photo courtesy of traveltexas.com
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 at a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 Admission and Hours
Jacob’s Well is typically 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. Check with your Heywood Hotel concierge for more information on current opening hours and reservations availability.
5. Blue Hole Wimberley
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 40 miles
Blue Hole photo by Jim Canning, @jim.outdoors
Another option in Wimberley is the Blue Hole Regional Park. Blue Hole is a natural, spring-fed swimming hole lined by historic cypress trees. A 40-mile drive from downtown Austin and the Heywood Hotel, the park encompasses 126 acres of natural forests and native grass fields and includes 4.5 miles of nature trails.
Blue Hole Wimberley Admission and Hours
The Blue Hole is open seasonally from May through September. Reservations are required. You can book half day passes for one of the following time slots: 9:00am to 1:00pm, or 2:00 to 6:00pm. Or you can reserve both and stay all day! The entrance fee is $12 for adults, $6 for seniors.
6. Krause Springs
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 38 miles
Photo of Krause Springs by Brian P. Barnes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Krause Springs is a privately owned camping, hiking and swimming site located approximately 30 miles northwest of Austin in the town of Spicewood. Float along shady, cypress tree-lined banks, swing from the rope swing, or just find a nice spot to sunbathe. There are 32 springs on the property which feed into the manmade pool and the natural pool.
Krause Springs Admission and Hours
Admission to Krause Springs 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.
7. Hamilton Pool Preserve
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 30 miles
Hamilton Pool Preserve photo courtesy of Travis County Parks
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 not just in Texas, but in the entire 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.
Hamilton Pool Admission and Hours
Reservations are required to enter and swim at the preserve, and it’s recommended to book at least a couple of months in advance, especially if you plan to go on a weekend. Admission is $12 per vehicle plus an additional fee of $8 per adult ($3 for seniors). Please note that entry fees can only be paid in cash. You can choose a reservation block from 9:00 am-12:30 pm or 2:00 pm-5:30 pm. Hamilton Pool is open daily from 9:00am-6:00pm.
8. Emma Long Park
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 20 miles
Emma Long Park photo by Larry D. Moore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
One of Austin’s most famous water features is Lady Bird Lake, which is a section of the Colorado River dammed for public access. 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 for an afternoon of fun and sun.
Emma Long Park Admission and Hours
The park is open from 8:00am to 7:00pm daily with reservations required from Friday-Sunday and on holidays. Cost is $5 per vehicle Monday through Thursday and $10 per vehicle Friday through Sunday and holidays.
9. Pedernales Falls State Park
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 40 miles
Pedernales Falls is another swimming hole near Austin that’s worth making the drive for. Located in Johnson City, the state park offers a chance to wade in the Pedernales River as it flows over the state’s iconic limestone formations. The trail to get to the swimming area is a bit of a rocky hike, so keep this in mind if you plan to visit.
Pedernales Falls Admission and Hours
The park is open daily from 8:00am to 10:00pm. Reservations are recommended for weekends, holidays, and the busy seasons (spring, summer, and fall). Admission is $6 for adults. If you decide to go, ask your Heywood Hotel concierge for more suggestions of places to visit along the way.
10. Hippie Hollow
Distance From the Heywood Hotel: 30 miles
Photo courtesy of Travis County Parks
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.
Hippie Hollow Admission and Hours
The park is open 9:00am-7:00pm and admission is $8 for adults and $3 for seniors, cash required.
Looking for more information on the best places to swim in Texas?
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? Email the Heywood Hotel, we’d be glad to help!
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!
Heywood Hotel Lobby in Austin, Texas