For being a city, the parks in Austin are abundant. With plenty of spacious greenery for recreation or to escape the city, it can be hard to pick which park to visit. Depending on where you are in Austin, one of these parks is bound to not be far, so get ready to hop in your car and head to one!
Parks in Austin
Zilker Park
Zilker Park is probably the most popular park in Austin. After all, it is in the heart of downtown and is over 350 acres big. At Zilker, you can take part in a variety of recreational activities with a horizon view of the city. A few being sand volleyball or biking.
Where: 2207 Lou Neff Rd, Austin, TX 78746
McKinney Falls State Park
McKinney State Falls is a Texas State Park. There is a daily entrance fee. However, it’s not that expensive, and there are many things you can do, like hike, mountain bike, or even boulder off the rocky edges! This park is beautiful in the summer.
Where: 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin, TX 78744
Pease District Park
Located in central Austin, Pease Park is urban with rich cultural history. Pease Park often hosts community events like luminarium and squirrel fest. Both haven’t happened yet, so check out their website to learn more!
Where: 1100 Kingsbury St, Austin, TX 78703
Waterloo Greenway
Waterloo Park closed for a while for reconstruction. But, is now re-open and has free events and programs for anyone who lives in or visits Austin. Waterloo is a park that has art and trails in one space. It’s now one of the best parks in Austin.
Where: 1111 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
Walnut Creek Metro Park
Northeast of Austin is where you can find Walnut Creek Park. It’s one of the fun parks in Austin if you like to do a bunch of outdoor activities. There are paved hiking trails with nine creek crossings, better prepare a snack and water!
Where: 12138 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753
Red Bud Isle
Part of the Austin Parks Foundation, Red Bud is popular for being an off-leash dog park and area to go kayaking or canoeing. It’s one of the best parks in Austin to take your dog.
Where: 3401 Redbud Trail, Austin, TX 78746
Harper Park
This park in Austin has an upgraded playground area for the kids. While it’s not as big as the other parks in Austin, it still has plenty for people to do. For example, soccer fields, a trail, and sand volleyball.
Where: Harper Park Dr, Austin, TX 78735
Bull Creek District Park
Bull Creek is part of the Greenbelt in Austin. Its main focal point is the stream that passes through it. So it only makes sense that this park is most known for its recreation on the water and hiking trails. If you’re looking for a cool park to swim at it would be this one.
Where: 6701 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78731
Mary Moore Searight Metro Park
This metropolitan park in Austin is a local favorite. At Mary More, there are trails for hiking and even areas to go fishing. There are even horse trails if you feel up for the ride.
Where: 907 W Slaughter Ln, Austin, TX 78748
Mabel Davis District Park
Mabel Davis has a pool for the public, basketball courts, and is home to an Austin skate park. That’s right. Mabel Davis District Park rounds out this list by making sure that every park in Austin is as cool as the city.
Where: 3427 Parker Ln, Austin, TX 78741
As you can see, Austin parks offer many activities and a variety of fun for everyone. The parks in Austin are open, while the state parks require a reservation, the public Austin parks don’t. Whenever you feel like going outside, you can visit one of these parks anytime.
Do you prefer lake days? Check out the lakes in and around Austin here!
