Barton Springs Pool

Not a hot spring

Barton Springs Pool turns up in searches for Texas hot springs, but the water is cool. The springs feed the pool at an average of 68 to 70°F20 to 21°C, all year. On a hot August afternoon that is a shock, and a welcome one. On a cold January morning it can feel milder than the air, and regulars swim laps all winter. If you want a hot soak, the closest option is Camp Hot Wells in San Antonio, which fills tubs from a warm sulfur well, and the best-known natural hot spring in Texas is Big Bend Hot Springs on the Rio Grande (its access road has been closed until further notice since October 2026, so check before you go).

What to expect

The pool sits on Barton Creek inside Zilker Park’s 358 acres, about three acres of open water fed by springs from the Edwards Aquifer. It is not a tiled tank. The bottom is largely natural, depth runs from 0 to about 18 feet, and grassy lawns slope down to the water.

The springs are also habitat for the endangered Barton Springs salamander, and the city treats the pool as federally protected habitat. That shapes some of the rules and the regular cleaning schedule. The Splash! exhibit next to the bathhouse explains the biology of the springs and the aquifer.

The Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse has been under renovation since February 2024. Restrooms and showers partly reopened on October 28, 2025, but the main rotunda entrance stays closed, so you enter the bathhouse from the pool side. Ticket sales moved to the Zilker Cafe building in May 2024, and the entry point is east of the bathhouse until construction is done.

Getting there

The pool is in Zilker Park, just southwest of downtown Austin, at 2201 William Barton Drive.

• By car: there are two lots. The north entrance is at 2201 William Barton Drive and the south entrance at 1000 Azie Morton Road. Parking is free Monday to Friday. On weekends and holidays from March 1 to Labor Day it costs $3 an hour per vehicle. Season pass holders park free at both Barton Springs lots.
• By bus: CapMetro route 30 stops at Barton Springs (Zilker Park). It is about a five-minute walk from there.
• On foot or bike: the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake passes close by.

During big Zilker Park events, such as Austin City Limits in early October, Barton Springs Road and some lots close and the pool may be reachable only from Azie Morton Road. The city posts these changes on its park closures page.

When to go

Early morning is the local favorite. The pool opens at 5 a.m. for an unguarded, swim-at-your-own-risk session until 8 a.m., and it is quiet and cool.

Summer weekends are crowded from late morning, and paid parking applies. Arrive early or take the bus.

Winter is quieter. The water stays around 68 to 70°F20 to 21°C, which feels relatively warm on a cold day once you are in.

Thursdays are cleaning day: the pool closes from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a swim-at-your-own-risk window from 5 to 9 a.m. and lifeguarded swimming from 7 to 10 p.m.

After heavy rain the pool often closes while crews clear the water. In June 2026 it closed on June 15 for flooding and reopened on June 23 after crews pulled out large branches, cans and fishing hooks. Earlier in 2026 it was shut from late February into March for a skimmer bypass project. Always check the closures page after a storm.

Prices and booking

Admission (Austin resident / non-resident):

• Child 1-11: $2 / $4
• Junior 12-17: $3 / $5
• Adult 18-62: $5 / $9
• Senior 62+: $2 / $5
• Infants and honorably discharged veterans: free

Season passes run from $65 (child or senior, resident) to $190 for a resident adult and $280 for a non-resident adult. A family pass for two adults and two kids is $370 or $515. Passes work at all City of Austin pools and include parking at the Barton Springs lots.

Buy tickets online, in the ATXSwims app, at the kiosks, or at the cashier window, which is the only place that takes cash. Tickets are valid until the end of the day. There are no reservations.

Rules and etiquette

• Banned: glass, open containers of alcohol, smoking and all tobacco, pets, food, coolers and thermal bags, portable speakers, frisbees, hard balls and fishing gear. People caught smoking or drinking can be asked to leave.
• Inflatables are allowed only where the water is 5 feet deep or less.
• Lifeguards are on duty from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (7 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays). The early session is swim at your own risk.
• Respect the salamander habitat. Follow posted signs and staff directions around the springs.

Where to stay nearby

There is no lodging or camping at the pool. Downtown Austin and the South Congress and Barton Springs Road areas, both close to Zilker Park, have the closest hotels. Austin has accommodation at every price level.

Safety notes

• Cold water: 68°F20°C is cool enough to tire swimmers faster than they expect. Ease in, and do not let kids stay in until they are shivering.
• Depth: the bottom drops to about 18 feet in the deep section. Weak swimmers should stay in the shallow end, and children need close supervision.
• Footing: the natural bottom and wet steps can be slippery.
• Unguarded hours: the 5 to 8 a.m. session has no lifeguard. Swim with a partner.
• Sun: the open lawns get full sun at midday. Bring sunscreen and water.

Nearby stops worth adding

Zilker Park surrounds the pool, with the Zilker Botanical Garden, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and boat rentals on Lady Bird Lake nearby. Barton Creek Greenbelt trails start a short distance upstream.