Keeping cool in the pool is one of the best ways to deal with the heat during summertime in Texas. Thankfully, Austin has tons of pools and splash pads to choose from, some of them with extra features like water slides, toddler play areas, obstacles, and even lazy rivers! Head out and explore some of these fun spots that go beyond the basics.
Awesome Pools and Splash Pads
— Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs Rd.
First on the list, we have to start with one of the “crown jewels of Austin”. The pool measures three acres in size and is fed from underground springs keeping it nice and COLD with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees. It’s ideal for year-round swimming and people-watching. You can count on fun diving boards and a shallow entry on one side of the pool. (Water shoes would be helpful for the little ones, as it is slippery on the rocks.) Click here for the pool hours and admission fees and keep their Polar Bear Plunge in mind for something special to do on New Year’s Day!
— Bartholomew Pool
1800 E 51st St.
One of our favorites, this pool has a shallow, shaded pool with a mini slide for toddlers, a lily pad crossing obstacle, two big water slides (for kids 48″ or taller), a diving board, and lap swimming. Click here for more info on hours, admission, and season of operation.
— Deep Eddy
401 Deep Eddy Ave.
Like Barton Springs, this pool is made of natural spring water, keeping it cool at 65-75 degrees. It has a great shallow entrance (gradually getting deeper), making it ideal for families with little ones who can stick to the external side while big kids can swim in the deeper water. There’s plenty of grass to spread out and picnic, too. Parking is limited, but arriving early is helpful! Click here for hours and admission fees.
— El Salido Pool
11500 El Salido Pkwy
Anderson Mill’s pool has a fun toddler pool with sprinklers. It also has three diving boards in its bigger pool. You don’t need to be a resident of Anderson Mill to use the pool, and you can click here for pool hours and more info. The water here is heated to 82 degrees and the pool is open year round. Also check out Anderson Mill Pool, which is open in summer and has a slide and four lap lanes.
— Scott Mentzer Pool
901 Old Austin Hutto Rd, Pflugerville
This pool has a small lazy river, a toddler slide, and water slides (kids must be 48 inches to use the slides on their own – more info here). Please take note that this pool is closed on Mondays. Click here for pool hours, admission, and more info.
— Elizabeth Milburn Pool
1901 Sun Chase Blvd, Cedar Park
This pool has a 120 ft. slide, a water playground for young children, a lap swimming area, and a rentable poolside shade pavilion. This pool is adjacent to a playground, which is always a bonus. Click here for more info, admission, and pool hours.
— Veterans Memorial Pool
2525 W New Hope Dr, Cedar Park
This is an 8,300 sq. ft. activity pool with a drop slide, jumping platform, and water playground. Additional amenities include a family slide, cargo net log crossing, water basketball, and rentable poolside shade. Click here for admission info and pool hours. Veterans Memorial Pool is closed on Tuesdays.
— Micki Krebsbach Pool
301 Deep Wood Dr, Round Rock
This pool has a pirate ship that is 26 feet long and 23 feet high water adventure for all ages! The ship includes wet and wild climbing angles, and water cannons for major family fun. It also has water slides and a water crossing obstacle (kids must be 48 inches to ride the large slide and use the water crossing). Click here for pool hours, admission, and more info.
— The Quarry Splash Pad
3005 Co Rd 175, Leander
Built in 2011 in a former quarry, this impressive park is surrounded by natural rock, providing a unique, pretty atmosphere. There are fountains and sprinklers of all shapes and sizes as well as water cannons, a waterfall (awesome!), a little slide, a mini climbing wall, a sandbox, and plenty of picnic tables, too. Click here for a review and more details.
— Brushy Creek Splash Pad *temporarily closed for renovations – set to open late summer 2024!
3300 Brushy Creek Rd, Cedar Park
The Brushy Creek Splash Pad was once named by the Austin Chronicle, “Best Place to Play in a Fountain.” It’s free and open daily through Labor Day, then weekends through September! Hours are 9 am to 8 pm. Located at Brushy Creek Lake Park. Get updates on when this splash pad will reopen here!
Water Parks Near Austin
— Kalahari (Round Rock): With their recent expansion of an outdoor waterpark, you can visit Kalahari any time of year for a water-filled adventure with the family. You can buy day passes or stay the night for access to the waterparks.
— Rock’N River Family Aquatic Center (Round Rock): Run by the City of Round Rock, Rock’N River Family Aquatic Center features a huge “sprayground” with hose jets, tipping cone, water curtain, water guns, water slides, and net obstacles. Rock’N River also includes a 12-foot jumping platform, a rock wall, and a drop slide. We went here recently at 5 pm, and Rock’N River at Twilight is just $6 for youth and $7 for adults and our kids had a blast. Click here to read why we love this water park!
— Typhoon Texas (Pflugerville): Typhoon Texas Waterpark features water slides, a lazy river, a zip line, a ropes course, and concessions. Visit the website for a list of activities, admission info, hours, and more. Click here to read our review.
— Volente Beach Water Park (Lake Travis): Volente Beach Water Park is small, making it extremely manageable for the kids. You’ll find a cute pirate ship play area for young children, a handful of water slides, an obstacle to cross in the pool, a volleyball court, plenty of picnic space, and a restaurant. Click here for a review and more info.
– Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels): Schlitterbahn New Braunfels was voted the World’s Best Waterpark in 2015. Located on the banks of the spring-fed Comal River, it has 40 attractions on over 70 acres. Plenty of rides, slides, tube chutes, wading pools, and other water adventures for all ages. Visit the website for info about hours, tickets, and more. Click here to read our 10 favorite things about Schlitterbahn!
Have fun out there splashing and swimming!
