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Congress Avenue Bridge Bats

Congress Ave Bridge · Austin, TX

Why you should go…

The Congress Avenue Bridge hosts North America's largest urban bat colony, with as many as 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats roosting underneath from March through October. Crowds gather along the bridge and the adjacent Statesman Bat Observation Center at dusk to watch the nightly emergence. The show is free and depends on weather and season.

  • #bats
  • #wildlife
  • #sunset
  • #free
  • #only in austin

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Congress Avenue Bridge Bats, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Lone Star Riverboat Bat Cruise

    Under $25

    Watch the Congress Avenue bat colony take flight from the water on an evening riverboat cruise.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Theatre & Events
    Iconic

    ACL Live at the Moody Theater

    $25–$50

    The downtown venue where Austin City Limits is taped, and a working concert hall most other nights.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Nightlife
    Iconic

    Sixth Street Entertainment District

    Free

    Blocks of bars and live music clubs that turn into Austin's busiest nightlife strip after dark.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Nightlife

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail

    Free

    A 10-mile loop around the water where half of Austin seems to run, walk, or paddleboard.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Local Gem

    Barton Springs Pool

    Under $25

    A spring-fed swimming pool that holds a steady 68 degrees no matter how hot Austin gets.

    1.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Zilker Park

    Free

    351 acres of green space along Lady Bird Lake, home to Barton Springs and the Zilker Botanical Garden.

    1.7 mi awayMore like this