Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching, Austin

I've been to Austin several times before and have always wanted to see the famous bats so this time we finally made it and it really was a one of a kind experience. We got to a viewing spot southeast of the bridge about 90 minutes before sunset and found a comfortable spot on the hill to sit and wait. It wasn't overly crowded (it was a Thursday) but still I'd guess there were about 100 people there in addition to the boats and kayaks on the river. The bats made their first appearance around 830pm (about 10 minutes after sunset) and after spending 30 minutes or so flying right around the bridge they started streaming out into the night sky on their hunt. From what we heard from other watchers the time in relation to sunset varies from night to night and the way the bats exit varies too. The bats are tiny so in the dark it's hard to see individuals but once they start flying as a group you can see them better. This is something everyone should see!

If you're coming for the bat experience don't waste your time. Not sure why this is so highly rated but it was a waste of our time. We got there during the designated time websites suggest and stood for almost two hours only seeing a bat every now and then after the sun set and it got dark. Around 9 pm everyone waiting on the lake and bridge began to leave. Around that time you could see a lot more bats flying but even then it wasn't how it was described. I would have rather spent those two hours doing something else.

I visited this bridge on my Austin trip since it was listed on multiple websites as one of the must-do items in Austin. It’s one of those touristy places which is easily walkable from downtown Austin and provides magnificent views of downtown Austin. I was there on an evening in mid-December, and it was quite cold with the drizzle. The downtown buildings were lit up and that made for some great nighttime photos. You can walk along the length of the bridge and can also see the bats that call this bridge their home along your walk. There are stairs going down from one end of the bridge and people use the trail below for running or walking as well. If it’s drizzling or raining hard, then you can take shelter under the bridge. In the evenings, I gleaned it can get chilly, so a jacket would be helpful. Oh, and you can also see the Capitol Building from the bridge. This is an essential thing to do while you’re in Austin.

Can get hectic with all the people but it was cool to see. We rented scooters to get down to the the bridge which was an exhilarating experience on its own. We arrived at sunset which is around 835pm in June. The bats started coming out about 10 minutes later. The majority of them looked to be coming from the middle section of the bridge and eventually swarming together farther down river. It was fascinating to see the way they flew with precision around the bridge.

Great walk along the bridge. You can walk along it, enjoy the water scene. Down below is a walking trail or use a regular bike. At night you might be able to see the bats. We didn't wait until dark this time. You can also walk into downtown for some good eats or shopping.