This review is for the dog area of the pool. First it's free. Secondly it's probably my preferred side as everyone was just chilling and enjoying themselves. There were people swinging off of the rope into the spring. Definitely wear swim shoes as it was slippery trying to walk over the hard rocks and the moss covering them. I also saw some small fish in there as well. Definitely a beautiful place to cool off with your furry friends. read more

Barton Springs Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is a must stop if you are visiting Austin Texas especially in the summer heat as the water is always a cool 68 Degrees! Very large swimming areas with crystal clear fresh water plus a diving board which is amazing for the kids. Entree fee is only 9$ for the entire day Note:No alcohol allowed read more

Barton Springs Pool - Barton springs - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

BUY A TICKET ONLINE BEFORE COMING! if you do not buy a ticket online you will have to stand in an unshaded area at the singular ticket machine that is faulty at times and takes forever. be aware that the lifeguards are quite strict here. i got yelled at for having a pool noodle in a 5ft deep area and for hanging on to my boyfriend's back a la twilight bella/edward spider monkey. if you bring food there WILL be a lifeguard that comes and tells you to put it away. no alcohol is allowed but lots of people were vaping/smoking weed. the water is super cold and the pool floor is quite slippery and can have sharp rocks at times so don't be reckless and bring water shoes if needed. overall, barton springs is a great place to beat the heat as long as you come prepared. read more

Barton Springs Pool - sunday afternoon crowd - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

Ya'll, I got bit by a bass fish swimming in the pool this morning! I go every Sunday rain or shine. Today was the first day I've ever encountered the wildlife. It won't keep me away from this magical place as I always leave feeling rejuvenated and balanced. Best place in Austin hands-down read more

Great place to cool off on a hot summer day in Texas. On our way from Waco we stopped by to swim in these cold spring water pool. So refreshing. You pay a fee to get in and can stay all day if you like. Some green areas to lay down and relax. There are bathrooms nearby and most important .....lifeguards .... My family and I had a great time here for a few hours. It sure was a hot day in Austin. I love how you could see the city building while swimming here... read more

Public swimming pools are not the kind of places that generally appeal to me, unless it's Barton Springs Pool. This is a whole different category. You have to experience this living organism to understand. An Austin gem. read more

I hate to say it, but our last trip to Barton Springs was such a disappointment. I've lived in Austin for almost a decade now and it's always been a joy to visit this natural, spring-fed swimming pool, but my latest trip has me reconsidering if it's worth it to deal with the lines and the parking on a weekend. We arrived around 10:30 an on Sunday, July 16th to find all but one of the parking meters broken. The line to pay for parking (an all-day fee for $7) was almost 30 minutes long in the direct sun, with no shade. The City of Austin offers a parking app for easy payment, so I'm shocked that these lots and meters aren't connected to the app for easy and quick payment. Once we finished paying for parking, we headed to the next line to get in. Think we'd avoid the line by purchasing our tickets online, it was definitely frustrating to find that there was really no benefit to buying tickets in advance - you still have to wait in line. And the line was around 40-50 groups deep.... So more waiting in the sun with no shade. I'd honestly recommend at least installing misters for people waiting in line. It wouldn't be nearly so bad with shorter lines and a bit better management, but the heat coupled with no shade was almost unbearable. Once we were inside, we were immediately hit with a foul smell. It seemed to die down once we were on the other side of the pool, so I'm not sure what the smell was coming from. Things were significantly improved once we were actually in the cool, refreshing water, but I'd highly recommend coming in the early hours to avoid the hassle of obscene lines in direct sunlight. Texas is just too hot to not have shade! In looking at previous pictures, I found a few from July 2021, which I've included for reference. You can even see a clear difference in the vibrancy of the grass, the water.... These pictures show a stark difference in this area and I almost think Barking Springs is a better choice than Barton Springs these days. read more

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I already want to come back. The water is of course very cold but so refreshing. The life guards are definitely attentive and on duty. Lots of shade all around. Your not allowed to have alcohol ,ice chests , food ,or animals and a number of other things. But by the smells of it they don't mind you being discreet with those of you rolling up.We parked about .5miles away parking was about $7 for about 7 hours worth of time. $10 per adult. There is one food tick outside the park. read more

Barton Springs Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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 read more

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To clarify, The overall experience of the facility like an old Midcentury public facility. I don't know the origins of this place so don't hold me to that. It just feels sort of warm, worn, and historic. There is a cover price to get in, which will give you access to the locker room/shower area and swimming area which has active lifeguards on duty. We went during the solar eclipse in April 2024. So take my experience with a grain of salt - but the event brought out all sorts of rowdy young folks that lacked self awareness about their behavior impacting others' experience. The vibe was chill and quiet except for then blasting Miley Cyrus over the swimming area, twerking, and shouting loudly about (I kid you not) charging their anuses with the eclipse sun. It made me laugh some at the time. But they were also just really drunk and swimming into my friends. I think on any other day it would have been a pleasant experience. The guests ruined the vibes. Also don't expect to swim comfortably in April...the water was very cold. read more

If you want to find a place to people watch in a balmy 108 F afternoon - go. It is fun watching people frolic in the waters but there are many, it is very crowded. Be forewarned. There are 2 sections - free entrance area (you literally see a wired fence) and the paid section, both are busy, maybe a bit few people on the paid side. The benefits of paid section is the green grassy patch along the waters and a very popular spring board. If you have time go do the kayaking - you just don't go into the waters. You can explore the whole area. read more

Barton springs is always amazing. Definitely getting way too crowded lately, but hey what can you do with all the CALIFORNIANS moving here... definitely respect the rules and do not bring food or drinks like Ford Sanders because someone will yell at you lol read more

A Hippie-Watching Paradise! Barton Springs Pool was a blast! While the water was chilly, the real entertainment was watching the laid-back hippies soaking in the sun and the fearless souls taking wild jumps into the pool. It's the perfect spot for some chill vibes and a good laugh! read more

With how hot it is in TX this is THEEE SPOT to beeee at! Love this place , it's large so much space to just hang out and chill for the day. Also there's a diving board here which is pretty cool read more

Barton Springs Pool - 9.8.23 - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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In my opinion, Barton Springs Pool, and Zilker Park in general, should be on the list of attractions for anyone visiting Austin or the Hill Country in general. This is something you rarely see: a beautiful, natural swimming pool. You also feel as if you're stepping back in time while visiting here. It's an inspiring place I really miss sometimes. read more

THE BIG: Gorgeous natural spring pool in the heart of Austin. Right next to Zilker Park. THE BLACK AND WHITE: I didn't get the hype of Barton Springs pool until I recently went and now I get it. Natural pool with no chlorine and the water is fed from an under water spring that keeps the temperature very cool! (~68-70 F) There are shallow ends ~5 feet and then deeper ends ~9 feet. You can also bring your floatie if you want to float instead of treading water. Floaties have their own special area near the end of the pool. Lifeguards are on-premise which is great in case of accidents and for those wanting to do some gnarly tricks, there is a diving board, which always has a queue. THE FINAL BAMBOO: $10 entrance fee for non-Austin residents ($5 for local Austinites). There's a free section right outside of the pool but imo dirtier. read more

Come for the pool, but be wary of rules and Karens. No food allowed. No carrying another person on your back or shoulders, including babies and children. No football throwing in the pool - it's dangerous. What?!?! Perhaps pee extra just to stick to the rules and the Karen enforcers. read more

Great place to hang out on those hot summer days! There's large grassy areas all around the pool with plenty of trees to shade you. The water is definitely pretty cold when you first get in, but you'll acclimate quickly! There's varying depths to the pool, so make sure you pay attention to the signs as it can change quickly. Be prepared when swimming over to the shallower end, you'll be going through moss and other water foliage. It surprised some of us as we made our way over! Overall, huge and refreshing natural springs with a nice view of the city. One of the many natural beauties Austin has to offer. Entrance fee is $9 for non-residents. You can purchase your tickets online ahead of time to avoid waiting in a line at the kiosk. read more

Barton Springs Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I love this pool. Some swimmers think it's too cold but honestly if you get in and stay for 5 minutes your body acclimates (i.e., goes numb). Be careful if you cannot swim; with the natural bottom, the pool depth can change quickly. read more

Barton Springs Pool - Swimmers getting their morning laps - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

Barton Springs Pool will take your breath away, it is so beautiful. I'm thankful for the "See Austin" website for recommending Barton Springs as one of the top places to visit in Austin. We arrived early in the morning, parking was hard too find. Thankfully after going around the park twice, we found a spot not too far from the pool. You pay to enter the pool and you can get a hand stamp so that you can return anytime that day. I fully intended to return so I stamped the burnt orange butterfly on my hand. I never got back but the butterfly stained my clothes a few times. The water was cold yet we ventured in up to our knees. Some people were doing laps. The bottom is a bit slippery so be careful. Thankfully we didn't fall and there was a railing to hold on. If I go back, I want to spend more time at this natural spring pool. read more

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One of Austin's iconic places is Barton Springs. Which is a must in the summer. The water is always a cool 70 degrees--but feels amazing when it's 100 degrees out. It's so close to downtown too! Parking can be tricky, but totally worth it once you're floating in those spring-fed waters. read more

this is such a beautiful spot. the water is pretty and there are various cool fishies in there. the lifeguards are extra. within an hour time there were roughly 10 callouts for folks using floatation devices of various styles ranging from pool noodle to blowup tubes. there was no visual signage or indicator within view of the pool noting that flotation devices were not allowed within a given boundary. anyone approaching with a floatie in the pool was only a matter of a minute before they had to get out though they were not made aware. the only way to re-enter the pool area was by stamping a very strong dye on one's hand. the parking costed $3 per hour roughly half a mile walk away from the pool, and for non austin residents $9 each to enter. there were no special salamanders present. read more

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Looooove Barton Springs Pool. Going for a swim here is perfect on a hot summer day. I remember when it used to be $3 admission when I started college only a few years ago, and now it's $5. This price is for Austin residents, but they don't check if you're a resident (at least in my experience), so don't pay for the non-resident ticket. The water is cool, there is a good amount of algae, and it's just a very fun place to relax or tire yourself swimming around in this huge pool. You can't bring any outside food or alcohol, but you can stamp your hand and eat at the tables right by the entrance then reenter. read more

Barton Springs Pool - A beautiful day in Austin - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

Came here for the first time with my family. Do some research before coming here. We originally didn't plan on coming here. This was kind of a past second add on. We came around 2pm and the parking lot was packed with a line. The line moved smooth, but just plan to either go in circles or just park farther and walk. It's $7 for parking all day. Please check the picture I'm also posting for what items are prohibited such as coolers, pets, etc. It's basically a large fresh water pool that have large rocks that you can stand on, kelp and algae growing. Stairs and ladder leading into the water is a bit slipper so be careful. The water is initial ice cold, but you of course, adapt to the temperature so it's not too cold. There are parts of the water that looks pretty gross, but for the most part, it's great. There are a lot of lifeguards on duty. The staff are fast, but they don't seem like the friendliest. More about speed than a friendly customer service. It's $5 for Austin adult residents or $9 for non resident. Fresh water is constantly flushing out so at least you know it's not too gross lol. There were little turtles as well. Just outside the little dam, are where people who don't wanna pay goes to party. They played loud music, brought their coolers and drank alcoholic drinks, but there's no pool and lifeguard so partake at your own risk. There are little kiosks outside the main entrance where you can buy your entrance ticket and walk right in, otherwise, you have to pay at the window with CASH ONLY. Judt ou read more

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So much fun!!! $5 for locals, $10 for out of state, and free from 9-10pm. It is the best place for a night swim! Lively, fun, and the water feels perfect during the hot summer. A must visit! read more

Barton Springs Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I didn't know what to expect of Barton Springs pool. I came with a few girlfriends to explore Austin. We wanted to be out in nature and we decided on the pool. The view is extraordinary and a perfect place for people who appreciate nature. I could have sat out there and read a book forever if my skin wasn't burning lol. It's also a great place to people watch if you're into that kind of thing. Because I know I looked a FOOL getting into the pool. INSIDER TIP: wear water shoes/sandals. The bottom of the pool is coated in algae. It's not easy to walk at all. The water is also pretty cold but really nice when it's hot out. The only down side is that you can't bring coolers or food. Because of that we kept our visit short and went to lunch afterwards. read more

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I loved this! The water was cold but it felt so good on a hot day. I recommend going on a weekday so it isn't super crowded! Beautiful views of the Austin skyline & a small hiking trail that takes you all the way around the pool. read more

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AVOID AT ALL COSTS, TOTAL SCAM! This place is an actual scam. We got there, paid $18 to get in (which is crazy because its a natural spring and tix should not be that much) and they closed the pool 5 min after we got there early. They refused to give us a refund and we had to eat the $18 cost for literally nothing other than a walk to and from the car on a 100 degree Austin day. This place does not deserve business and I recommend finding somewhere who values the experience of their customers and not a scam. read more

Definitely the jewel and heart of Austin, Texas!! This amazing spot is the one thing the California transplants can't take from us! As someone who gloriously lived in Austin in the 90s this is one of the only places that hasn't changed (except the price!) Tell them you're a local and get in for $5 cash. In the past it was a New Years Day tradition to jump in for a year of good luck and that ritual served me well! Now I prefer it on a scorching hot Texas summer day! Definitely one of the top 5 things about Austin....a must! read more

Amazing experience. Water refreshing! Clean! Great for all ages! Get there early for a flat spot!

SWIM how cool you can swim with nature! I didn't get in and swim because I'm from California and a wuss when it comes to cold. But I watched and definitely would've swam if the weather was warmer. Seems like people swimming knew each other. I imagine it's a tight community that routinely swim here on a daily basis. I ended up walking here from the park. There's a big grass park area surrounding the area. Big parking lot. I was eating an empanada I had bought from the food truck right outside the entrance and a worker told me I can't eat there because they don't want ants. Which is kinda strange because it's all outdoors but anyway rules are rules. read more

Barton Springs Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

We came here at 9:30am on a sunday and it was perfect! Super chill, easy to find parking, no line, and already decently hot out. We loved jumping in, swimming, hanging out on the grass and then doing it all over again. We stayed until 2pm and by then there was a lot more people but not crowded. When walking out, the line was wrapped around the building. Just a note for people to remember: no food, alcohol or coolers are allowed in the pool area. Parking is $5 in the lot and then it's $5 per adult to get in the pool. read more

We love Barton Springs, but here's what you need to know ahead of time to set your expectations right: - Parking/traffic near the springs is difficult. Plan an additional 15 minutes or so of driving around looking for a space before you find anything that someone else isn't already taking. - There is always a line to get into Barton springs. It's usually about 20 minutes or so (even if you buy your tickets online/through the app). - You will likely have a bit of a walk from where you parked to actually get to the pool and the car line to get to Barton is not worth sitting in to do a drop off. - You are not allowed to bring in any food or alcohol. They do not check bags but if they see you with anything prohibited you will have to throw it out and could be kicked out. I recommend one person parking while the rest of the group goes and gets in line. That way some of time waiting can be cut. Now that that's out of the way, GO TO BARTON! It's very well kept and such a nice oasis in the ridiculous Texas heat. It's $5 to park and $5 per person to get in (if you are an Austin resident). It is $9 per person if you aren't an Austin resident, but I've never seen them check an ID for something like this. Definitely worth going if you have a weekend trip to Austin or if you live here and are looking to escape the 100 degree weather. Wear sunscreen as the pool is not shaded at all. read more

Barton Springs Pool - Grassy area to lay out + float area of the pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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There is NOTHING better on a hot, summer Texas day than jumping into Barton Springs Pool. PRO TIP: 5AM-8AM& 9PM-10PM it's free to get into the pool! My favorite is early in the morning, no traffic, ample parking and watching the city come to life. Jumping in early offers a chance to start your day in the healing waters of Earth. I feel revitalized! Connected & embodied. It's $5 for the day which is a steal. read more

disaster construction everywhere and absolutely no signage directing you where to go also the automated ticket kiosks must have sunstroke heatstroke cause they dont work no collers allowed in scorching texas heat horrible no food allowed horrible everyone is pissed and angry trying to find a way in no signs to advise on where to go staff is belligerent do better tax grifting austin government read more

Barton Springs Pool - CONSTRUCTION HORRIBLE AUSTIN GOVT - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

One of the highlights of our trip to ATX! Barton Springs is a fun, inexpensive way to spend the day. You do leave your stuff unattended so I would think about what you want to bring in but there's so many people around, we felt safe keeping an eye on it from afar. The water feels amazing and there are different depths. We really enjoyed watching people on the diving boards. There are bathrooms there. I will say ubering out was very difficult, there are certain areas Ubers can't go in Austin so we had to walk a decent distance before we were in the clear. Great time for anyone and everyone! read more

Barton Springs Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

The water is so cold. Definitely an experience. It was busy when we got there Sunday afternoon and we lucked out finding a parking spot. There was no signs how to get to the actual pool from the lot so we just followed other people. Buy your tix on the app to avoid waiting at the kiosks. Limited space on the lawn. The pool floor is slippery and the groves don't make it any easier not to fall. The changing area is very reminiscent of old time bath houses. Can't be shy there. I'd like to go back in the summer. read more

I don't think enough people talk about this, but Barton Springs is probably the best, most natural cure for a hangover. If you can muster up the energy to get there, do a quick plunge. No matter the temp outside, it'll straighten you right out! Worth the effort required to get yourself off the couch so you don't waste away the day. Free entry through Feb 2022. read more

Sacred Gem of Austin TX! Morning Dips has a difficult culture and paid area only! Summer time is amazing to escape the ((Heat.)) read more

Parking is ridiculous. Highly recommend Uber/Lyft to get dropped off. The pool is huge. The water was slightly cold, but you'll get use to it. There are shallow and deep ends. They also have diving boards for people to jump off and life guards to save you. There are bathrooms inside, but few stalls. Please be courteous and change outside in the changing area, and not the bathroom. They have changing area for a reason. I see why people love hanging out here, a good place to stay cool from the heat. read more

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