Barton Springs Pool
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Barton Springs Pool
Swimming hole in Austin, Texas · Spring
Barton Springs is Austin’s front-yard swimming hole: a three-acre, spring-fed pool right inside Zilker Park, where the water holds 68–70°F every day of the year.
Typical season: Year-round — the spring water stays 68–70°F.
About Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs is Austin’s front-yard swimming hole: a three-acre, spring-fed pool right inside Zilker Park, where the water holds 68–70°F every day of the year. Fed by Main Barton Spring — the fourth-largest spring in Texas — the pool feels more like a natural lake than a city pool, with a paved deck on one side and a grassy, tree-shaded hillside made for sunbathing and picnics on the other.
It works for every kind of swimmer. Lap swimmers and early risers get the quiet, free 5–8 a.m. session; families get guarded hours, a diving board and a bathhouse with changing rooms. The pool is also home to the endangered Barton Springs salamander, found nowhere else on Earth — a good reminder that this is a living spring, not just a pool.
Key facts
Highlights
- Three-acre spring-fed pool holding 68–70°F all year
- Fed by Main Barton Spring, the fourth-largest spring in Texas
- Home of the endangered Barton Springs salamander, found nowhere else
Access & fees
No reservation is needed — buy tickets at the gate kiosks, online, or through the ATXSwims app. Fees apply March through October during guarded hours: $5 resident / $9 non-resident for adults, less for juniors, children and seniors, with infants and honorably discharged veterans free. Early birds swim free: the 5–8 a.m. session costs nothing but is unguarded. The pool is open daily 5 a.m.–10 p.m., closing Thursdays 9 a.m.–7 p.m. for cleaning.
Stay safe
- Lifeguards are on duty only during guarded swim (8 a.m.–10 p.m.; Thursdays 7–10 p.m.) — the 5–8 a.m. period is swim at your own risk
- The water is a brisk 68–70°F year-round — ease in and supervise children closely
- The pool closes Thursdays 9 a.m.–7 p.m. for cleaning
- Follow all posted pool rules and lifeguard instructions
Map & location
FAQs
How much does Barton Springs Pool cost?
During guarded hours from March to October, adults pay $5 resident / $9 non-resident; juniors, children and seniors pay less, and infants and honorably discharged veterans are free. The 5–8 a.m. session is free.
Is there a lifeguard?
Yes — guarded swim runs 8 a.m.–10 p.m., and Thursdays 7–10 p.m. after cleaning. The early 5–8 a.m. period is unguarded.
Do I need a reservation?
No — buy tickets at the gate kiosks, online, or through the ATXSwims app.
Editorial review & methodology
Every listing is researched from official land-manager sources, including park, county and state pages, and each fact is re-checked against the named source before publication.
Each page shows its last-verified date, so you can see how recently the details were checked.
If you spot something out of date, corrections are welcomed via the contact page, and you can read more in how we verify.
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Photo: Todd Dwyer, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Fee$5 resident / $9 non-resident for adults; 5–8 a.m. free
Nearest townAustin
Best seasonYear-round
GPS30.264006, -97.771193
Nearby spots
- McKinney Falls State Park — ~6 mi
- Hamilton Pool Preserve — ~22 mi
- Blue Hole Regional Park, Wimberley — ~26 mi
Sources & updates
Last verified: 29 October 2026
Source: City of Austin
Researched by: Swim Hole Finder team
Methodology: How we verify listings →
Spotted outdated info? Send a correction →