Barton Springs Municipal Pool

While most people visit Austin, Texas for its delicious food, music festivals, and roller derby, some prefer outdoor adventures, such as the Barton Springs Municipal Pool. Created from damming multiple springs, Barton Springs hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

Originally used by the Tonkawa Native American Tribe for purification rituals, Barton Springs received its name after the incorporation of Austin in 1837. When William Barton settled into the area and discovered the 4 different springs, he named one after his family and the other three for his daughters. With his steadfast promotion, Barton Springs became a well-known place to soak.

In 1918 Barton Springs was deeded to Austin, and the city soon took on a massive construction project to expand the area. They damned up the springs, built sidewalks around it, and created a much larger swimming area. In 1947, a bathhouse was designed by Dan Driscoll and still stands today for all to enjoy.

Natural Springs Pool

Image of people gathered at Barton Springs Pool in Austin, Texas — Barton Springs Pool in Austin, Texas is a favorite place among locals to cool off during the summer. Photo by: David Ingram

The 900-foot pool at Barton Springs is a great place to swim year-round, as the water stays comfortably between 68°F and 75°F. Filled from the fourth largest natural spring in Texas, the Main Barton Spring is clean and clear, flowing at 31 million gallons per day!

Open to the public from 5 AM – 10 PM, Friday through Wednesday, there is ample time to swim in the clean waters that fill this man-made pool. During operational hours, the floodgates are closed and the pool is filled to a maximum depth of 18 feet.

Lifeguards are on-site throughout the day, starting at 8 AM, so for swimmers that arrive before then it is “swim at your own risk”. The area around the pool features lush grass on a large hill, beckoning visitors to enjoy a relaxing afternoon swimming and cloud gazing. There is a small admission fee to enter the park and swim in the pool and can purchase summer passes which are good to use from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Note: There are no food, alcohol, or pets allowed on the premises.