Best Beaches Near Austin
Spring weather in Austin has most residents dreaming of upcoming summer beach days. While Texas’ capital city isn’t known as a beach town, there are still plenty of great places to catch some rays while enjoying sandy shores. From state parks to lakeshores, there is something for everyone. So break out your sunscreen and beach towel as we have rounded up seven of the best beaches near Austin.
1. Emma Long Metropolitan Park
Address: 1600 City Park Rd, Austin, TX 78730
Hours: 7:00am-10:00pm
For Austin residents dreaming of a beach day, Emma Long Metropolitan Park is the perfect answer. Spend the day soaking up the sun with your toes in the sand and a cold drink in hand when you visit this metropolitan park, which was named after Austin’s first female mayor in 1984. Known for its clear, cool waters, Emma Long is the only swimming hole in Austin city limits with a true beachfront. Open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, the park offers picnic tables, grills, a boat entry, campsites, hiking trails, and restrooms. Experts recommend arriving early to beat the crowds.
Distance from Lakeside at Tessera – 27 miles
Distance from Downtown Austin – 13 miles
2. BOB WENTZ PARK AT WINDY POINT
Address: 7144 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732
Hours: 8:00am-6:00pm
Bob Wentz Park is a favorite spot among locals for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying a relaxing day on its shores. Located in the basin area of Lake Travis, the shoreline includes a sandy peninsula (known as “The Point”) and includes covered picnic tables, two sand volleyball courts, restrooms, a shoreline path, and plenty of space to build sandcastles. Parking around this Lake Travis Beach area is limited so it is recommended you arrive early.
Distance from Lakeside at Tessera – 23 miles
Distance from Downtown Austin – 25 miles
Escape to Nature’s Paradise:
3. Pedernales Falls State Park
Address: 2585 Park Rd 6026, Johnson City, TX 78636
Hours: 8:00am-10:00pm
Pedernales Falls State Park has everything you are looking for in a great Austin beach. A sandy beachfront, beautiful scenery, plenty of family activities, and refreshing cascades. Though you will be less than an hour away from the hustle and bustle of Austin, you will feel like you are on a retreat worlds away. This 5,212-acre park is located along the Pedernales River and its waters are ideal for swimming, wading, canoeing, tubing, kayaking, and fishing. Once you have had your fill of the water take some time to fully explore the park. Pedernales offers plenty of hiking and biking trails that wind through Texas mountains and along small creek canyons and range in difficulty. If you are looking to extend your stay, the park offers plenty of well-maintained campsites so the fun doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down.
Distance from Lakeside at Tessera – 58 miles
Distance from Downtown Austin – 42 miles
4. HAMILTON POOL PRESERVE
Address: 24300 Hamilton Road Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Hours: 9:00am-12:30pm & 2:00pm-5:30pm
Hamilton Pool Preserve is one of Austin’s more historic swimming holes. This treasure is just a ¼ mile hike from the parking lot along Hamilton Creek leading to a 50ft waterfall that spills over the natural overhang into the pool below. Surrounded by slabs of limestone, the jade green grotto is home to a diverse collection of wildlife and lush plant life. Due to its popularity, reservations are required for this Austin beach and nature preserve. Reservations are available for morning or afternoon sessions and require a fee per vehicle and per person.
Distance from Lakeside at Tessera – 51 miles
Distance from Downtown Austin – 31 miles
Explore Hidden Gems:
5. Secret Beach
Address: Secret Beach, Austin, TX 78741
Hours: 5:00am-10:00pm
This gem is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for a beach day without the crowd. Located within Roy Guerrero Colorado River Metropolitan Park in Southeast Austin, this beach is an easy 10-minute walk from the park’s entrance. Visitors will be in for a treat when the trail dead-ends into a wide-open sandy beach. Because it is located on the Colorado river, swimming here is prohibited, but you can bring a lawn chair and wade in the waters around Austin’s Secret Beach. Bonus: pets are welcome!
Distance from Lakeside at Tessera – 41 miles
Distance from Downtown Austin – 3 miles
6. Sandy Creek Park
Address: 9500 Lime Creek Road Leander, TX 78641
Hours: Sunrise-8:00pm
Nestled into the basin area of Lake Travis, Sandy Creek Park is the perfect Austin beach for swimming, fishing, camping, nature walks, or just a lazy day soaking up some sunshine. This Lake Travis beach is surrounded by a serene, wooden environment tucked away from the heavy boat traffic found on other parts of the lake. Entrance fees can be paid online with a credit card or in-person with cash.
Distance from Lakeside at Tessera – 18 miles
Distance from Downtown Austin – 26 miles
Embrace the Unconventional:
7. Hippie Hollow Park
Address: 7000 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732
Hours: 9:00am-8:00pm
While Hippie Hollow Park doesn’t have the sandy beaches you typically think of when you consider a beach day, it is too legendary not to mention. If you are looking to get a tan without the tan lines, Hippie Hollow is the only legally acknowledged clothing-optional beach in Texas and you must be 18 years of age to enter the park. Situated on one of the most beautiful parts of Lake Travis, the park features a rocky shoreline where visitors can enjoy swimming as well as sunbathing.
Distance from Lakeside at Tessera – 22 miles
Distance from Downtown Austin – 17 miles
Additional factors to consider when choosing a beach near Austin, Texas:
Lakeside at Tessera
Living at Lakeside at Tessera in Lago Vista, Texas is the perfect way to ensure you can have a beach day whenever you please. Located close enough to Austin to enjoy big-city amenities, but far enough away to feel like you are away from it all, Lakeside at Tessera offers the best of both worlds. Contact us today to schedule a tour of your dream home.