Austin's beloved natural swimming pool — a three-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park fed by underground springs that maintain a constant 68°F year-round. The social and spiritual heart of old Austin.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
Barton Springs Pool is the most democratic institution in Austin — a 900-foot-long spring-fed swimming pool in Zilker Park where the water emerges from underground aquifers at a constant 68°F regardless of whether it is February or August. The pool has been the swimming and social hub of Austin since at least the 1840s, and the culture around it — dogs on the lawn, live music on summer evenings, the Hippie Hollow naturist beach nearby — captures something essential about Austin's outdoor and communal spirit. The aquifer is clean and the swimming is glorious on a 100-degree Texas afternoon. The lawn around the pool is free; the pool has a small entry fee.
What Stands Out
- Three-acre spring-fed pool at constant 68°F — cold and glorious on a Texas summer day
- Zilker Park setting — bring a picnic and spend the day
- Operating since the 1840s — the social heart of Austin
- Free lawn access · Small entry fee for the pool
- Dogs allowed on the surrounding lawn