After living in the area for over 20 years, I can say Austin is the FUN capital of Texas. From Lady Bird Lake to the Austin Zoo, Austinites love to spend time outdoors. With its university in the center of town, it offers lots of activities, especially outdoors. Plus, with about 300 days of sunshine a year, rain won’t get in your way either. Here are the top outdoorsy things to do in Austin, Texas.
21 Outdoorsy Things to Do in Austin
Paddle Lady Bird Lake
See the Bats
Check out a SOCO Mural
Visit Laguna Gloria
Stroll through the Austin Nature Center
See the Art at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Visit McKinney Falls State Park
Head to Zilker Park
See the Peacocks at Mayfield Park
Head to Auditorium Shores
Swim at Barton Springs Pool
Cool Off at Deep Eddy Pool
Splash Around at McKinney Falls State Park
See the Sunset at Mount Bonnell
See the Japanese Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden
Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Tour the Inner Space Cave
Hop the Zilker Eagle Train
Attend Austin City Limits
See a Performance at the Zilker Hillside Theatre
Attend an Event at Circuit of the Americas
Top Weekend Austin Itinerary from a Local
Paddle Lady Bird Lake
It’s a lake, but really it’s the Colorado River that runs through Austin. It’s a top Central Texas paddling destination.
Along the banks of Barton Creek in Zilker Park, visitors can rent a boat or SUP board. The creek features calm water and lots of turtles and birds to see.
Since Barton Creek feeds into Lady Bird Lake, turn around at the entrance with inexperienced paddlers. Larger boats navigate Lake Bird Lake.
See the Bats
Bats! Central Texas is home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats. From caves to highway underpasses to bridges, visitors celebrate the swirling nighttime exodus of the bats.
In downtown, the best place to see one of Austin’s bat colonies is near the Congress Avenue Bridge. Visitors can see the bats on the bridge, along the shores of Lady Bird Lake and even on kayaks and SUP on the water.
SOCO Murals
Take a mural selfie on South Congress and find Willie Nelson. SoCo is Congress Avenue after it passes Lady Bird Lake. It’s a vibrant area with restaurants, boutique shopping and lots of public art.
Top Things to Do Along South Congress
The Contemporary–Laguna Gloria
An art museum for art and nature lovers, it features an outdoor contemporary sculpture garden where kids can roam while adults enjoy art. Set on a Lake Austin estate, the museum is also open to the public.
Located in West Austin, Mayfield Park is close by.
Austin Nature Center
Learn about environmental science in an indoor/outdoor space. See native animals in rehabilitative care. Take the Forest Trail to see native trees. Then, hike to the overlook to see the Austin skyline.
Best of all, the Austin Nature Center is free.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum
Walk through a landscaped garden featuring Charles Umlauf’s bronze sculptures. This is a nice combination for parents who appreciate art and kids who get bored in indoor museums.
The Umlauf is located next to Zilker Park, off Barton Springs Rd.
Guide to Best Museums in Austin
McKinney Falls State Park
Hike along the shore of Onion Creek to see waterfalls and a swimming area. There’s hiking, and many of the native plants are labeled.
McKinney Falls State Park is the closest to downtown Austin, minutes from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Yet, it feels miles away.
Zilker Park
Zilker Park is Austin’s backyard and is located just across Lady Bird Lake from downtown. In total, this 361-acre parcel is home to many outdoor activities, including the Austin Nature Center and the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
There’s plenty of space to run around. Better yet, hike or bike to Zilker. It is free to enter; however, parking is offer charged.
Mayfield Park
Mayfield Park is like two parks in one. The central area is a formal, landscaped water lily garden with a vintage cottage. The show-stopper is the flock of peacocks that roam the property, perching in the trees.
Outside the landscaped area, find an additional 21 acres of wilderness area to explore. Best of all, it’s free.
Auditorium Shores
If you’re looking for the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, this is where it is. This green space is a popular place for festivals too.
Located across from the Long Center, that’s where you’ll find the parking.
Top Places to Go Camping in Central Texas
Barton Springs Pool
With three acres of spring-fed water, swimmers can jump off the diving board, walk in the zero-entry rock entrance, or swim laps for exercise. Barton Springs Pool is a must for first-time visitors.
Inside Zilker Park,
Deep Eddy Pool
A local favorite and just a few miles away from the more popular Barton Springs Pool. Fresh spring water is pumped into the pool every other day.
Upper Falls at McKinney Falls State Park
in the shadow of Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Austin’s state park is a favorite swimming hole too. The upper falls area of Onion Creek is deep enough for a cannonball.
Worth noting, water levels fluctuate with rainfall. This area includes a beach area.
Guide to Texas Swimming Holes
Mount Bonnell
Head up the rock stairs for some of Austin’s best views and the best place to watch the sunset. This 5-acre park also offers a view of the downtown Austin skyline in the opposite direction.
At the top, find a pavilion that looks down on Lake Austin below. Located in West Austin and free to visit.
Zilker Botanical Garden
Austin’s 28-acre botanical garden is a favorite place to enjoy landscaped gardens. Located on the south bank of the Colorado River in Zilker Park, visitors will find the Taniguchi Japanese Garden a personal favorite for decades.
There’s also a rose garden and the Hartman Prehistoric Garden.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The project of the former First Lady, with 284 acres to showcase Texas native plants. It is a favorite during the springtime wildflower season.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center features more than 900 species of native Texas plants. It offers a super fun natural playground too.
Best Texas Wildflower Drives
Inner Space Cave
Discovered by the Texas Department of Transportation, Inner Space Caverns is located in Georgetown, north of Austin. The DOT found the cave when drilling for Interstate 35.
It offers several cave tours. It the closest cave tour to Downtown Austin.
Zilker Eagle Train
The all-new electric train honors the 60-year tradition of mini-trains in Zilker. The Zilker Eagle train runs along the playground and next to Barton Creek.
It’s a favorite with families.
Austin Zoo
As a rescue zoo, the Austin Zoo is located in Southwest Austin and covers 20 acres. It is home to 300 animals representing over 100 different species.
Visitors can feed a zoo animal, ride its train and picnic. It’s been a family favorite for years.
Top Zoos and Wildlife Safaris around Austin
Austin City Limits
For two weekends in October, Zilker Park transforms into one of the top music festivals in the country. Inspired by the longest-running music show on PBS.
Attendees will see headliners from several genres. Each weekend offers different acts too. Find Austin-based food in the concessions are too.
Zilker Hillside Theatre
Across from the Barton Springs Pool, enjoy Broadway classics under the stars during the summer. For over 60 years, visitors have thrown down blankets and packed picnic baskets for dinner and a show al fresco.
Shows on Thursday to Sunday evenings during the summer season. Free to enjoy.
Circuit of the Americas
Home to Formula 1 Grand Prix Racing and MotoGP in Austin, Circuit of the Americas is also an outdoor concert venue: When the Rolling Stones performed in Austin, they played at Circuit of the Americas.
It also hosts holiday events, like Peppermint Parkway.
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