Best Swimming Holes

The 12 best swimming holes in and around Austin

Summer is in full swing, which means it's time to plan a trip and take a dip in one of Austin's best swimming holes. We've created a guide to 12 of the best swimming holes in Austin and Central Texas.

Barton Springs
No list of swimming holes would be complete without Barton Springs, the refreshing sanctuary in the middle of the city. Whether you're looking to get in a few laps or lay out in the sun, this gem is a convenient getaway. Tip: Come at night between 9-10 pm, when admission is free and the pool is less crowded. That means more opportunities to jump off the diving board.
2201 Barton Springs Rd. Open year-round; summer hours are 5 am-10 pm, with limited hours on Thursdays. Cash only; $3 for adults, $2 for ages 12-17, $1 for ages 11 and under, $1 for seniors. No food or drink allowed. Lifeguard.More info here.

Deep Eddy
Just around the corner from Barton Springs is Deep Eddy, another spring-fed escape. This popular pool is our No. 1 pick for kids, and there's plenty of space on the hill for a picnic lunch.
401 Deep Eddy Dr. Open year-round; summer hours are 10 am-8 pm, closed Tuesdays. Cash only; $3 for adults, $2 for ages 12-17, $1 for ages 11 and under, $1 for seniors. No food or drink allowed in pool area. Lifeguard. More info here.

The Greenbelt
More than 800 acres between Zilker Park and the "Hill of Life" is yours for the taking. Hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing are fun activities, but when it gets too hot, take a stroll along Barton Creek and find a nice little spot to go for a swim. Best picks for swimming are along the Gus Fruh trail and east of the Loop 360 access point. If you have little ones, there are plenty of shallow areas where the kiddos can splash and wade.
3755 Capital of Texas Hwy (Loop 360 access). Open daily, dawn to dusk. Admission is free. Food and drink allowed; no glass (and please take your trash back with you). No lifeguard. More info here.

"Secret" Beach
This technically isn't a "swimming hole," and it's not very "secret," either, but Secret Beach is a must on this list. In the Roy G. Guerrero Metropolitan Park park along the Colorado River you'll find a sandy spot that's perfect for posting up and lounging. If tubing is your thing, you can also plan a leisurely float down the river. This little spot is dog- and kid-friendly.
400 Grove Blvd. Open daily; 5 am-10 pm. Admission is free. Food and drink allowed; no alcohol or glass (and please take your trash back with you). No lifeguard. More info here.

McKinney Falls State Park
In Southeast Austin you'll find this amazing state park. If you're in the mood to explore, there are plenty of trails to wander along and a handful of historical sites to visit. When it's time to cool off, relax in the shallow areas or scope out places that are deep enough for a full dip.
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway. Open daily, 8 am-10 pm. Cash preferred; $6 for adults, free for ages 13 and under. Food and drink allowed. No lifeguard. Camping allowed. More info here.

Hippie Hollow
Nothing beats the summer heat like taking off your clothes — perhaps all of them. This "clothing optional" beach on Lake Travis will force you to leave your inhibitions behind. This is our No. 1 pick for sunbathing (obviously). Entry allowed for those 18 and older only.
7000 Comanche Tr. Open daily, 9 am until dusk. Cash only, $15 per vehicle. Food and drink allowed. No lifeguard. More info here.

Georgetown's Blue Hole
The Blue Hole in Georgetown is technically a bend in the San Gabriel River, just minutes away from the city center. A steep cliff overlooks the warm, deep water and long, rocky banks. This is an ideal spot to set up camp for the day or bring an inflatable raft to lounge along the river. Make sure to bring sunscreen and perhaps a beach umbrella, because shade is very limited.
West Second Street and Rock Street, Georgetown, Texas. Open daily, dawn to dusk. Admission is free. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers. No lifeguard. More info here.

Krause Springs
Head west through the Hill Country to find this lush wonderland. There are 32 springs and two pools for swimming as well as one magical butterfly garden for exploring. If a single day in this enchanting place isn't enough, we suggest camping for a night or two.
404 Krause Spring Rd., Spicewood, Texas. Open daily, 9 am-9 pm. Cash only; $7 for adults, $5 for ages 4-11, free for ages 3 and under. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers. No lifeguard. More info here.

Jacob's Well
Jacob's Well is a wonderful place to swim, even with a few big, new changes. In order to protect the area, there are now admission fees and restricted swimming hours. Plan ahead, because you must reserve a two-hour slot for swimming via the Hays County website. Only 300 people will be allowed to swim per day.
1699 Mt. Sharp Rd., Wimberley, Texas. Open daily, 10 am-8 pm. $9 for adults; $5 for Hays County residents, children ages 5-12, active military and veterans; free for children 4 and under. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers. More info here.

Wimberley's Blue Hole
The Blue Hole in Wimberley is a swimmer's delight. This shady oasis offers plenty of deep water for swimming or jumping off rope swings as well as a current that's just right for a lazy float on an innertube. For the younger ones, there's a large lawn area where kids can run around and play.
100 Blue Hole Rd., Wimberley, Texas. Open daily, 10 am-6 pm. Cash only; $9 for adults, $5 for ages 4-12 and 60 or older, free for kids under 3. Food and drink allowed, no glass or alcohol. No lifeguard.More info here.

Pace Bend Park
This park is an exceptional island-like gem surrounded by Lake Travis. For those with swimming in mind, the east side of the park has the most accessible beaches. Boating is very popular here, so we suggest checking out Mudd Cover and Gracy Cove, which are swimming-only areas.
2201 N. Pace Bend Rd., Spicewood, Texas. Open daily, dawn to dusk. Cash only, $10 per vehicle. Leashed pets allowed. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers, no smoking. No lifeguard. Camping allowed. More info here.

Hamilton Pool Preserve
This picturesque lagoon is fed by a small, sprinkling waterfall. There's a 10-15 minute walk down to the pool, so bring appropriate shoes. Arrive early: A limited number of folks are allowed in. Note: Warm weather can cause bacteria levels to be too high for swimming, so call 512-264-2740 before you go.
24300 Hamilton Pool Rd., Dripping Springs, Texas. Open daily, 9 am-6 pm, no entry past 5:30 pm. Cash only, $15 per vehicle. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers. No lifeguard. More info here.

Barton Springs.

Barton Springs_Austin_deep end

Photo by Nicole Raney

Barton Springs.

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Cap Capital

Austin City Council and UT approve grants for I-35 cap projects

City of Austin I-35 caps

Rendering courtesy of the City of Austin via KVUE

The City Council and the University of Texas are working on similar, but separate projects.

On Thursday, December 12, the Austin City Council approved accepting a federal grant of more than $105 million to help create caps over I-35 between Cesar Chavez and Fourth streets, and approved taking out a $41 million loan for part of the project. They tabled $223 million in funding agreements with TxDOT and will discuss those in the spring.

As TxDOT's work to expand Interstate 35 through Central Austin is already underway, several entities are planning to build land plazas over the highway.

On Wednesday, the University of Texas System Board of Regents also approved $106 million for a project near campus. It involves building a series of caps over the highway between 15th Street and Dean Keeton Street to connect the campus with the other side of the interstate. UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife said it is 10 to 12 acres in front of the new medical complex.

"We believe this is so important because even though they won't be constructed for eight to 10 years," Eltife said, "real estate in front of the medical complex will be desperately needed in the future."

Construction on an MD Anderson Cancer Center and UT Austin Hospital at the UT Media Center is set to start in 2026.

"This gives us the opportunity to cap that area to monetize it in terms of creating revenue from future buildings and medical facilities," Eltife said.

TxDOT broke ground on the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project in late October. Planned updates include the construction of two carpool lanes between U.S. 290 and State Highway 71, lowering the main lanes from Airport Boulevard to Lady Bird Lake to remove the interstate's upper decks, making room for the cap-and-stitch initiative that will add plazas above the interstate.

The U-T project is separate from the city project, which could create up to 30 acres of new public space in Central Austin between Holly Street and Airport Boulevard. TxDOT will build the foundation of the decks as it expands I-35, while the city will build what's on top.

In design renderings of what the caps could look like, the cap between Fourth and Seventh streets could see an elevated walkway and outdoor dining space. Another design shows a cap between Cesar Chavez and Fourth streets, and the plan includes a "street promenade" and bike path.

Brianna Frey, who is managing the project for the city, said it will bring new parks, shops and entertainment to Central Austin.

"I think the public is interested in seeing some of those benefits too as it relates to either their business districts or their neighborhoods or where they like to go hang out with their families, or potentially in the future could see themselves hanging out with their families," Frey said.

Austin City Council's plans
Thursday's city council meeting was supposed to be the deadline for council members to decide whether to spend hundreds of millions on the project. The agenda initially contained two items: one for $19 million in design funding and a second item for $265 million in funding for the roadway elements for the caps.

However, in a memo on December 5, City Manager T.C. Broadnax withdrew the items because TxDOT extended the deadline. The memo cited delays in TxDOT's pump station contract award. The deadline has been extended to March 2025, and city staff intend to bring it up at a different city council meeting this spring.

While there was no vote scheduled on those big ticket items on Thursday, the city council did vote on the $41 million state infrastructure bank loan, which Frey said will help cover TxDOT design fees. Those fees could range from $8 million to $19 million, depending on which caps move forward into design. Part of it will also go to the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant, which the city has to match.

They will also formally accept $105 million from the federal government for the section between Cedar Chavez and Fourth streets. That funding will require a $45 million match from the city. So far, that is the only cap to get funding and is the only cap scheduled for construction. Other caps can be added if the city secures financing.

The price tag for the full build of the project has ballooned to nearly $1.4 billion. It has increased by 50 percent to 80 percent due to building material costs and adjustments as crews have advanced the design and further fleshed out the elements.

"A lot of that has to do with the fact that some of these caps are going to create a tunnel-like system that needs to be supported by more voltage in electricity. There will need to be a lot more fire, life, and safety components that just weren't in the design at the schematic level," Frey said. "These are new added elements that they've priced out for us that we previously hadn't received yet."

With the cost estimates as they are, the city is evaluating plans to move forward with only some of the caps.

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Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

i-35 construction finance city council

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