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Austin is the Texas city that does not feel like Texas. At least not the Texas most people picture.
It is a college town, a tech hub, a live music capital, and the kind of place where you can eat world class barbecue at 10am and be swimming in a natural spring fed pool by noon. For families, that combination is hard to beat.
The outdoor access is what sets Austin apart. Lady Bird Lake runs through the middle of downtown. Barton Springs Pool stays 68 degrees year round. Zilker Park is massive and free. You can kayak, paddleboard, hike, and bike without ever leaving the city limits.
And then there is the food. Austin runs on breakfast tacos, smoked brisket, and Tex Mex. Your kids will eat well here.
✈ Austin · Trip at a Glance
• • •
🌎 Region: Central Texas, United States
📝 Language: English
💰 Currency: US Dollar ($)
☀ Best Months: March through May & September through November
⭐ Family Rating: ★★★★★
Getting Around
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is about 15 minutes from downtown. Ride shares run $15 to $25 depending on the time of day. Most major airlines fly direct from hubs across the country.
Inside the city, you will want a car. Austin has a bus system (Capital Metro) and a light rail line, but the city sprawls. If you are staying downtown and plan to stick to Lady Bird Lake, South Congress, and Zilker Park, you can get by with ride shares. If you want to hit the Hill Country or any of the swimming holes outside town, rent a car.
Parking downtown can cost $15 to $30 a day. South Congress has metered street parking and a few free lots if you time it right.
Austin Bergstrom Airport (AUS)
15 minutes from downtown. Ride share to downtown $15 to $25. Rental cars available at the terminal.
Capital Metro — Bus and light rail. Single ride $1.25, day pass $2.50. The Red Line runs from downtown north to Leander.
Where to Stay
Most families do well staying downtown or in the South Congress (SoCo) area. Downtown puts you walking distance to Lady Bird Lake and the trail system. South Congress has the shops, restaurants, and murals that make Austin feel like Austin.
Hyatt Regency Austin
Right on Lady Bird Lake with a pool and lake views. You can walk to the Congress Avenue Bridge for the bats and be on the hike and bike trail in seconds. Around $220 per night.
Hotel San Jose
Boutique hotel on South Congress with a courtyard pool. Small rooms but the location is perfect for walking to everything on SoCo. Around $280 per night.
Driskill Hotel
Historic hotel on Sixth Street, built in 1886. The lobby alone is worth a visit. Bigger rooms, central location, and a lot of character. Around $350 per night.
Hampton Inn Austin Downtown
Solid budget pick near the Convention Center. Pool, free breakfast, clean rooms, and an easy walk to Lady Bird Lake. Around $160 per night.
What to See
Lady Bird Lake & Zilker Park
Lady Bird Lake is the center of outdoor life in Austin. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail runs about 10 miles around it, and on any given morning you will see runners, strollers, cyclists, and families with dogs. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at multiple spots along the shore for about $15 to $20 per hour.
Zilker Park sits on the south side of the lake. It is 350 acres of open green space with playgrounds, a miniature train (the Zilker Eagle, $4 per ride), and the Zilker Botanical Garden. The Barton Springs Pool is inside the park. It is a three acre, spring fed pool that stays around 68 degrees all year. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids.
From March through November, 1.5 million Mexican free tailed bats live under the Congress Avenue Bridge. They fly out at sunset every evening and the show lasts about 20 minutes. It is free and the kids will lose their minds.
South Congress
SoCo is the strip that gives Austin its reputation. It runs south from the Congress Avenue Bridge and is lined with independent shops, food trailers, restaurants, and murals. The famous “I Love You So Much” mural on the side of Jo’s Coffee is here. So is the “Greetings from Austin” postcard mural.
Walking South Congress with kids is easy. The sidewalks are wide, the pace is slow, and there are enough ice cream shops and candy stores to keep everyone happy. Perla’s for seafood, Home Slice Pizza for a quick lunch, and Amy’s Ice Creams for dessert.
First Thursdays on South Congress (March through December) bring live music, food trucks, and street vendors out until late. It is a good evening with older kids.
Museums & Culture
The Bullock Texas State History Museum downtown covers the full story of Texas across three floors. The IMAX theater and the special effects show are hits with kids. Admission is $13 for adults and $9 for kids.
The Thinkery is Austin’s children’s museum and it is one of the better ones in the country. Interactive exhibits, a water play area, and a maker space. Best for ages 2 to 10. Admission is $14 per person.
The Blanton Museum of Art on the UT campus is free on Thursdays. The outdoor installation, Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin,” is a freestanding stone chapel with colored glass. Worth a stop even if you do not go inside.
What to Eat
Austin is one of the great food cities in the country. The barbecue gets the headlines, but the breakfast taco game is just as strong, and the Tex Mex is everywhere. This is not a city where you will struggle to feed your family.
Smoked Brisket
The signature dish of Central Texas barbecue. Low and slow over post oak for 12 to 16 hours. Franklin Barbecue is the famous one (expect a 2 to 3 hour wait). la Barbecue and Interstellar BBQ skip the line and are just as good. $25 to $28 per pound.
Breakfast Tacos
Flour tortilla, scrambled eggs, cheese, and your pick of bacon, potato, chorizo, or beans. Austin runs on these. Veracruz All Natural and Tacodeli are the two I hear about most. $3 to $5 per taco.
Tex Mex
Cheese enchiladas with chili gravy, queso, and sizzling fajitas. Matt’s El Rancho has been serving it since 1952. The Bob Armstrong Dip (queso with guacamole, taco meat, and sour cream) is legendary. Entrees $14 to $22.
Kolaches
Czech pastries stuffed with sausage, cheese, or fruit. Central Texas has a big Czech heritage and kolaches are the breakfast of choice on road trips. The Czech Stop in West, TX (90 minutes north) is the classic, but Batch Craft Soda + Kolaches in Austin is excellent. $3 to $5 each.
Nicole’s Perspective
Austin is one of those cities I keep sending families back to because it works for every age. A toddler can splash at Barton Springs. A teenager can eat their way through South Congress. And the parents get great food and live music without needing a babysitter.
The outdoor piece is what I love about it for families. So many cities, you are bouncing between museums and restaurants. In Austin, the default activity is being outside. Lady Bird Lake, Zilker, the Greenbelt, Hamilton Pool. The city is built around water and green space.
I tell my clients to skip the Franklin Barbecue line and go to la Barbecue or Interstellar instead. Same quality, fraction of the wait. And get breakfast tacos every single morning. Veracruz All Natural at the South Lamar trailer is my go to.
If you have three or four days, add a day trip to Fredericksburg. The wine, the German bakeries, and Enchanted Rock are a full day that feels completely different from Austin. That is the Hill Country experience and it is worth the drive.
Day Trips
Fredericksburg
About 90 minutes west in the Hill Country. A German heritage town with Main Street shopping, over 50 wineries, and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area for hiking. The Nimitz Museum (National Museum of the Pacific War) is excellent for older kids.
San Antonio
About 80 minutes south. The River Walk, the Alamo, and the San Antonio Missions (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Pearl District has great food and a weekend farmers market. You could do it in a day but it deserves an overnight.
New Braunfels
About 50 minutes south on I-35. Schlitterbahn Waterpark is one of the top water parks in the country. The Comal River and Guadalupe River have tubing runs that are perfect for families with older kids. Summer only.
Hamilton Pool Preserve
About 45 minutes west. A collapsed grotto with a 50 foot waterfall and a jade green swimming hole. Reservations are required (book well in advance through the Travis County Parks website). One of the most beautiful natural swimming spots in the state.
Practical Tips
Heat
June through September is HOT. Triple digits are normal. If you visit in summer, plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings and hit the pools and springs during the middle of the day. Spring and fall are ideal.
Traffic
Austin traffic is real, especially on I-35 and MoPac during rush hours. Avoid driving between 4pm and 7pm if you can. Weekend mornings are your easiest window to get around.
Sunscreen & Water
Bring both, always. The Texas sun is no joke, even in spring and fall. Every outdoor activity should start with sunscreen and a full water bottle per person.
Reservations
Book barbecue reservations where you can (la Barbecue has online ordering). Hamilton Pool requires advance reservations. Barton Springs and Zilker do not require them but arrive early on weekends to avoid crowds.
How Many Days
Three days covers Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park, Barton Springs, South Congress, and enough meals to hit the highlights. Four days gives you a day trip to Fredericksburg or San Antonio. A long weekend works perfectly.
Common Questions
Is Austin a good city for young kids?
When should we visit Austin with family?
Do I need a car in Austin?
Is Austin expensive for families?
Can I combine Austin with San Antonio?
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