Barton Springs Municipal Pool image

Barton Springs Municipal Pool

Bar Tourist attraction Swimming pool Public swimming pool

One of the Most Revieweds in Austin


Address

2131 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746, United States

Website

www.austintexas.gov

Contact

+1 512-974-6300

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (9.1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Sunday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Monday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Tuesday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Wednesday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 5 to 9 am, 7 to 10 pm
  • Friday: 5 am to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: water (32) pool (15) Austin (10) cold (10) spring (9) great (9) cool (9) time (8) swim (8) nice (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Brittany “Rain” K. 1 year ago on Google
    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.
    63 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 isabella 1 year ago on Google
    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.
    34 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hope M. 1 year ago on Google
    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!
    16 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kelley 1 year ago on Google
    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
    15 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angel V. 1 year ago on Google
    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.
    15 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Robert H. 7 months ago on Google
    Super awesome place to visit in Austin!!! First off jumping in the water will shock your body. It’s very very cold. You do get used to it after a few minutes but it was almost miserable for me at first. It is an amazing natural spring pool with awesome views all around. A diving board and plenty of space to sit around and enjoy the sun or shade. For Austin residents it is cheaper than non residents but if you are a veteran or active military no need for tickets. Just show ID at gate and they let you in for free. Everyone else in your party does need a ticket. Outside of the gates there is a great panini food truck with soft drinks and Gatorade along with water. There’s also a Jim Jim’s stand which is just flavored ice. Definitely recommend going just to try but I personally am not spending a ton of time in the water just because I do like it a little warmer. This is definitely a place to go here in Austin though and super popular. TONS of people!! I recommend getting online and buying tickets before you get here and you must read the rules before coming in just because there is a few and I mainly was surprised you can’t bring ice chests but that’s the rules. Anyway enjoy and definitely check it out.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Da-Wang W. 1 year ago on Google
    We had so much fun coming to the pool! Although there were a lot of people, we actually didn’t feel too crowded because the space was pretty large. Parking can be challenging, but there is an overflow parking area like 3-5 minutes by walking. However, some of the parking ticket payment machines are broken and can only accept coins… so there might be a huge line waiting to pay parking. Also, getting into the pool requires waiting in a long line as well, but it totally worths it. Overall, we had great experiences here.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ashley A. 7 months ago on Google
    Visited from Houston on a Friday afternoon, and it wasn't too crowded. Water was cold at first but was definitely refreshing in this over 100° Texas heat. I do recommend water shoes as they are very slippery and the rocks are uneven as they are natural springs. They have shallow areas and deep areas on the opposite side. They also have restrooms and showers available, which were a plus. We took water tumblers and stayed about 4 hours, and we were good. We will definitely return!
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Nicole S. 1 year ago on Google
    Gorgeous space to hang out in the sunshine in or around the water! We didn't go to the paid area of the park, but enjoyed watching the families and pups play in the water. There were topless women, which I wasn't prepared for, but everyone was respectful and had a nice time.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kayli D. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a cool place! The water is so refreshing and cold! Bring goggles to see fish swimming beneath you! Full disclosure…. If you bring children make sure you are aware… this is a topless friendly place. Some women go around topless. Not many but some.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Van N. 1 year ago on Google
    Went on a Monday morning and the water was so clean (and cold!) It wasn't busy at all. The staff and lifeguards are great. Bring some blankets and towels to lounge on the hillside. You cannot bring food, alcohol, glass containers nor coolers INTO the facility... But they are great for a quick pic-nic/tailgate at your vehicle! Don't forget to pay for parking at the parking kiosks. Highly recommend this place for all ages. The BEST way to cool off quickly.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Inaya R. 1 year ago on Google
    Barton Springs is a great place (arguably the best place) to swim in Austin! I love going with friends or solo, taking a dip in the cool waters or laying out in the grass under the Texas sun. Also be sure to catch Summer Yoga Club ATX (@summeryogaclubatx) every Friday morning at 7:15 during the summer at the south entrance of Barton Springs for FREE yoga and a plunge in the pool after. It’s so much fun! You should also very much check this place out during sunrise or sunset. You can hardly beat the view of the Austin city skyline.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Adiel T. 7 months ago on Google
    Awesome spot! The whole place was pretty clean and the water was cold and nice on a hot summer day. It is a spring even tho it is build as a pool to be more comfortable, but there is moss in the water. There are easy entry to the water with stairs and ladders. People were jumping from the diving board and it looked really fun. There are lifeguards watching everyone and making sure that everyone is safe. The bathrooms were clean and comfortable. I do recommend going on the week days so it's not so packed with people.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kim B. 8 months ago on Google
    This place was amazing. The water was about 68 degrees while the air temp was 107 degrees. They have lifeguards on duty for your safety. Very family friendly! The parking is about the only issue I came across because all the kiosks were down except one. Had to wait thirty minutes to pay for parking in the sweltering heat. The online site was down as well. We still had an amazing time and I recommend this place if you need to cool down in the hot Texas heat!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alex H. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the coolest 'pools' I have been to. Refreshing on a hot day with bites of the skyline. There is a diving board and we saw ducks and turtles swimming around. Worth a visit especially if you are with children.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 The Foodie A. 7 months ago on Google
    How awesome is to have nature spring water to swim! Not to mention the ancient history in this area. Nothing beats the fresh water and nature surrounding. As deep as 18’. You can come spend the whole day here. It opens till 10pm which is excellent.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gina W. 6 months ago on Google
    What a lovely spot and they're open late. The water is very cold, even on 105° days. It's wonderful to be able to swim in a natural habitat with fish, turtles and salamanders thriving there. Water shoes were a must for me. It was great to see the lifeguards passing attention and stopping folks from flipping into the water. Be sure to Bring your flotation devices for the left side of the pool.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carl Koonce (Big T. 7 months ago on Google
    Kids had a blast plenty of clear water atmosphere is breathable and has a very nice couple of views to see and look at or to take plenty of photos. You can tube, swim, jump off the bridge, or even use the rope to swing in the water for extra fun. At the end of this very hot beautiful day everyone is exhausted and ready for a good sleep once you get home.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel K. 4 months ago on Google
    I'd definitely want to go back on a warmer day and get into the pool! Haven't seen anything like it! I believe the ticket to swim is $5 but entrance is free if you just want to walk around.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tress P. 1 year ago on Google
    If you're looking for a watering hole to cool down in, take the kids and their friends to, AND not break the bank then you have come to the right place! It was our first time visting Barton Springs and we were pleasantly surprised at how easy this trip was. Parking was decent and admission to get in was fair!! $5 for adults that live in Austin, $9 for non residents and kids was between $2-5 for resident/non resident. Now, you can't bring outside food or drinks or coolers here but a closed water bottle was permitted from what I saw. The water IS something I'd say come prepared to deal with. Because it's a spring, it's filled with algae. My 7 year old was weirded out at first but after a few minutes she was having a blast!! The water is cool, and there's so much space you won't feel overcrowded. There is a shallow end for little ones and a diving area and deep end. Oh and lifeguards on site which was a huge relief!Come prepared with floaties, tubes and puddle jumpers for the kiddos. We were here almost 4 hours!! And will be returning that's for sure! 5 stars for this new experience!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amelia M. 1 year ago on Google
    Giant spring pool. You can pay or not. The side where you don't pay is the river. Water is very cold and the bottom is slippery. It is NOT VERY HANDICAPPED ACCESSABLE. The so called grass trail to the pool is not accessible to any handicapped person. I use a sturdy forearm crutch. I barely made the trail. There are not any directions in the parking lots. There are handicapped spaces to park. Once in the entrance, the so called ramp for wheelchairs is far away. Other than myself I didn't see one handicapped person. It was really crowded. Another issue is that the sides of the pool are hills of grass and trees. I really advise to try to find instructions as to where to go.Its nice to take a dip. For seniors $2.00. Have to buy tickets at the kiosk to get in or buy online.

  • 5/5 Sivaani S. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a beautiful place in the middle of the city! We went to the garden in the morning then cooled off at the springs. Such a refreshing swim! Was cold for the first second and we went on a not super hot day but you get used to it quick and it’s super nice. Very slippery so didn’t end up taking my baby in- I would bring water shoes for next time! There’s also a fun diving board in the middle! Lots of areas to sit and good vibes all around!

  • 4/5 Deirdre C. 6 months ago on Google
    Haven't been here in years it was good to be back enjoying the nice cool water in the evening. The first time howling at the moon at Barton Springs was an awesome experience. The water was amazing. Now I'm looking forward to the poor bear plunge.


Call +1 512-974-6300 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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