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Zilker Park

2100 Barton Springs Rd · Austin, TX

Why you should go…

Zilker Park is Austin's flagship green space, 351 acres stretching along the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. It contains Barton Springs Pool, the Zilker Botanical Garden, hike-and-bike trails, and open lawns used for picnics, disc golf, and festivals like Austin City Limits. Admission to the park itself is free.

  • #park
  • #green space
  • #picnic
  • #trails
  • #festivals

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 Zilker Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • 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.

    0.2 mi awayMore like this

  • 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.

    1.3 mi awayMore like this

  • 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.

    1.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • 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.

    1.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Congress Avenue Bridge Bats

    Free

    Up to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats stream out from under this bridge every summer evening.

    1.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Texas Historical Commission State Historic Sites

    Free

    Texas' statewide network of 42 state historic sites, from Revolution-era battlegrounds and forts to historic homes.

    1.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing