The Coolest Pools in Austin, TX

Spring is upon us! With such pleasant weather, it’s hard to imagine the sweltering temperatures heading our way in the next several months. Get prepared for the heat ahead of time by scoping out the best public pools Austin has to offer. Austin also has some beautiful hotel pools as well, for those times when you just need an escape, in or out of town.

For the most current opening and closing dates, fees, hours, and locations check the City of Austin’s website.

North: Northwest Hills, Allendale, Shoal Creek

Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest Municipal Pool is located in the park of the same name, near the intersection of Burnet Road and Greenlawn Parkway. It is a large pool with lanes for lap swimming, a more shallow open swimming area, and a wading pool for the little ones. There are shaded picnic tables in the pool area, as well as a playground, picnic tables and grills, and a small pond just outside the pool.

South: Rollingwood, Zilker, Travis Heights

Barton Springs Pool is located in Zilker Park, near the intersection of Barton Springs Road and Mopac. It is arguably the most famous pool in Austin, given some of its unique features. It is a manmade pool that is directly in the path of Barton Creek, and so it is filled with water from the Main Barton Spring. The water temperature is a chilly 68-71 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the season. It is one of the few public pools open year-round in Austin. Make note however as it is closed every Thursday for cleaning. There are countless amenities around the pool – plenty of open space to lounge, a concession stand, and playgrounds, soccer fields, and even a children’s train (the Zilker Zephyr) on the park grounds.

Big Stacy Pool is located in the Travis Heights neighborhood, near the intersection of Live Oak and Congress. Big Stacy is another Austin public pool that is open year-round, and another nice bonus is that there’s no entrance fee. Like Barton Springs, it is spring-fed, and the water is heated in the winter by an underground well. There’s both lap lanes available and open swimming, and plenty of open grass to lounge on, as well as some communal showers. It is also just a short walk from Little Stacy playground.

East: Mueller, Windsor Park, Cherrywood

Bartholomew Pool. (RESHMA KIRPALANI / AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Bartholomew Pool is located in Bartholomew Park on East 51st Street, near the intersection with Berkman Road. It was recently renovated and has transformed from a standard neighborhood pool into an aquatic wonderland. Bartholomew Pool now includes a pool for smaller children, with fountains and a small frog slide. It is covered with shades, and only reaches a depth of 2’ 6”. There’s also a pool for taller kids that is shaded and has a lily pad bridge for adventurous kiddos, a lap pool and several waterslides for children who are at least 4’ tall. There are picnic tables available as well as a grassy area for sunbathing, and Bartholomew splash pad and park are not far away.

West Austin: Tarrytown, Old West Austin, Market District

Steve Hopson / Stevehopson.com

Deep Eddy Pool is located just west of the intersection of Lake Austin Boulevard and Mopac. Neat fact – it is the oldest swimming pool in Texas and was home to a lavish resort in the 1920’s, which was later destroyed by flooding of the Colorado River. Like Barton Springs and Big Stacy Pools, it is spring-fed as well. It features both a lap swimming pool and a children’s wading pool. During the summer, the Deep Eddy hosts nighttime movie-viewings in the pool, with an inflatable screen and lots of floaties.

Austin’s Hottest Hotel Pools

Austin also has no shortage of beautifully designed hotel pools. Plan your getaway this summer and spend some quality time swimming in (or lounging by) any one of these sleek swimming pools.

The Hilton Austin’s Downtown location offers an elegant, angular pool, set in the middle of the downtown skyline. The lighting at night gives it a club-going feel.

Hotel San Jose hosts a small, narrow pool, surrounded by a natural bamboo fence. The bamboo fence provides a sense of privacy in the middle of the busy SoCo neighborhood.

Hotel Ella’s pool is a narrow, symmetrical rectangle, with identical steps into the pool on each end. Fountains also shoot from the edges into the pool. The pool is surrounded by a 2-story patio, reminiscent of Los Angeles apartment complexes.

If you’re already getting pampered at the W Hotel in downtown Austin between Mondays and Thursdays, you can access the ‘wet deck’ pool located on the 4th floor of the building.

Sometimes, you need a break from the city hustle. Just down the road from Lake Travis is Travaasa Austin, which houses a beautiful infinity pool that overlooks the Texas Hill Country. You can sit back, relax, and breath in the country air pool-side, and you don’t even have to travel more than 30 minutes outside of the city.

Is your pool everything you dreamed of?

Having your own pool may seem like a lot of fun, but it is also a lot of work. ABC can assist with maintaining your pool, so you can relax and enjoy your oasis. ABC provides regular cleaning services, checking the pH balance of the water, and routine inspections of pool hardware. We can also repair faulty equipment so your pool can get back to regular functioning, and you can get back to relaxing.