Barton Springs Pool, Austin

This is our all time favorite place to swim! Austin allows women to go topless so be prepared if you are a Karen to stay at home if you have a problem with that. The water stays cold all year round since it’s a natural spring. I bring flippers and snorkels to really enjoy the crystal clear water. The pool is so large that even when its very crowded once you get inside still plenty of room. You have to pay to get in, non residents pay $9. Residents pay $5 No coolers, and only drinks are ones you can put a top on. No pets allowed but right beside the pool is barking springs which is great for dogs, but too many people are letting them off leash so potential dog fights can happen. Keep you pet in a leash if you bring them. VERY clean great place to spend the day. They are open till 10 pm and there are lights that add to the fun of night swimming. Great family place. Great for small kids too as the water gets very shallow on one end. I went topless since many other women were doing so, it’s perfectly legal in Austin, I had a blast no one said anything negative to me, but looking at some of the other reviews some people take serious issues with topless women- those people should stay at home. If you want to leave and grab lunch there are tables under a shaded area right outside the pool, and then you can get back in make sure to have them stamp your hand or keep your pass- using the app saves a lot of time.

Really great place to relax in the hot weather. Parking gets really busy but sometimes you’ll get lucky and find a a spot up close. Entry is $9, card or exact cash. Once inside there is lots of elevated grass area to set up on. Water is just like they say, cold. Took me a minute to warm up to it but eventually did and had a blast. There’s a diving board and shallow and deep ends. Pool floor is very slippery!! They have lifeguards posted all along the pool for safety. There are also restrooms and changing rooms. Really cool place to swim and enjoy. Definitely will visit again when in Austin.

We didn’t get into the pool but we entered where the kayak and canoe rental is. You don’t have to pay just find a spot along the bank and get on in! Some spots are shallow for you get kids and some are deep! We had a blast no filter needed for this water! It looks amazing and freezing but you get used to it after a while.

The place was nice and clean and quite spacious when we went! Typically when you first arrive, there are so many people camped out on the grass everywhere and can be difficult to find a spot when with a few friends. However, that was not the case when I went! The water, of course, was nice and cool and the sun made the weather absolutely perfect! When we left, I noticed that I had left my shades at the spot we were at and the woman at the office let me go back in and get them without any cost! Definitely will keep coming back throughout the summer!

Very beautiful ! The water is always a chilly 60 degrees since it’s a natural spring! It’s chilly when you get in but very refreshing when it’s 100+ degrees outside! Parking is a nightmare and is $5 per car but overall once you get parked and head down there- you pay for admission from the pay to enter machines- $5 for Austin Residents, $9 for visitors- and then you get in line to enter- it’s pretty wide open spaces ! Note: Food, coolers and alcohol aren’t allowed in- and I would suggest wearing chacos or other water shoes because the pavement around the spring is hot and the spring itself is nothing but rocks at the bottom so it’s not very comfortable to stand on