Dive into Barton Springs Pool

🏊🏻‍♂️🧘‍♂️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A natural oasis in the heart of Austin! Barton Springs Municipal Pool is hands down one of the best spots to cool off during those hot Texas summers. Fed by natural spring water, the pool stays a refreshing 68–70°F year-round, which feels amazing when escaping Austin’s heat. Whether you’re swimming laps or lounging under the trees, it’s always relaxing and peaceful. Surrounded by lush greenery and located right next to the Barton Creek Greenbelt, this place is perfect for a full day outdoors. The natural setting gives it a serene, almost hidden gem vibe. It’s both family-friendly and ideal for solo swimmers looking for calm. Do note that the entrance can be a bit confusing for first-timers due to construction and limited signage. But once inside, you’re rewarded with a unique experience that strikes a beautiful balance between nature and community recreation. The spring is cold (brace yourself!), and since it’s a natural bottom, some areas get deep quickly—so keep an eye on kids or weaker swimmers. Admission is affordable ($9), and it opens early at 5 AM. Located at 2131 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746, it’s easily accessible and well worth the visit. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Austin. Don’t forget to explore the upstream greenbelt trails for more hidden natural pools!

The entrance is chaotic, especially as a first time visitor. There’s not clear, large signage and the construction pathway made us question if we’d made a mistake in coming and if we were even in the right spot. But once we paid our entry fee and got beyond all the chaos, we discovered a pretty unique and beautiful treasure. A balance between natural spring and pool infrastructure - you can tell the city is trying to walk the line between serving the recreational wants of the community while still preserving its natural environment. Pretty cool. On that note, it’s a cold spring so be prepared for a “refreshing” boost of energy when you enter the water. While the rest of my group laughed at the shock of cold on a steaming hot day, my husband took about 30 minutes to get down the steps into the water. There was a mix of lap and recreational swimmers, and everyone seemed to have plenty of space. It’s a natural spring, so the bottom depths change quickly in certain areas. So be careful with the short folks who might not swim too well. All in all, a beautiful spot to enjoy the day. Definitely a more unique place to swim than a regular pool. I hope the construction finishes quickly, and the city maintains the natural beauty of the spring.

It was bit difficult to find the entrance with ongoing construction. However, it’s a lovely place. The backdrop of downtown Austin adds a neat feature to this unique natural pool. Definitely a place to visit when in Austin.

Went on a Monday. Not too busy but still a good amount of people. Went through the South parking lot side because the website said the North side was closed. Cash only at the booth. Paid $26 for 2 adults 2 kids. Lots of algae of the rocks and stuff so it's really slippery. Water shoes recommend just in case you slip but if you're careful and don't care about algae much you'll be fine without shoes. Water is freezing because it's a natural spring but one you get in and moving you're fine. Good to experience, but wouldn't go back.

Beautiful. What a gem of a place. Water is refreshing. Bottom is slippery. Lifeguards do a great job. The main changing area is under construction, but it should be wonderful once it gets finished.