15 Best Things To Do in Austin, Texas for the Outdoorsy Person
After years and years of hearing about how great Austin, Texas, was, I finally got a chance to visit in the spring of 2026. Living in Denver, it was a quick flight down south. With four days free, I got a chance to tackle my long list of things to do in Austin.
From hiking to paddleboarding to ziplining to barbecue, I was blown away not only by Austin’s atmosphere but also by the easy access to nature, hiking, and the outdoors.
Inside, let’s dive into what I found to be the best things to do in Austin during my trip, and a quick itinerary at the end.
What I found to be the best things to do in Austin from my trip
Buckle up! You’re in for a ride with some of the best things to do in Austin, Texas!
1. Westcave Discovery Center Grotto Tour
The West Cave Discovery Center was the surprising highlight of my trip to Texas.
This was sweet, and you wouldn’t have any idea it exists. To access the Grotto, you have to book a tour ($20 for adults), which lasts two hours. The hike is a relatively short one, maybe 1 mile each way, with a bit of elevation gain.
Once you get down, the area is transformed. It’s green and lush, with towering trees above. You can walk under and overhang to get a better look at the small waterfall, along with the unique rock formations. Then, there’s a cave you can go into.
I ended up with a private tour because of cancellations, so I got to ask all the questions that popped into my head. My guide was amazing and made for a fun afternoon. Truly a wonderful place to spend a couple of hours.
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2. Pedernales Falls State Park
The waterfalls portion of the state park was really nice. The hiking around Texas Hill Country was a bit underwhelming. I hiked about 1.75 miles on the Wolf Mountain Trail and decided to flip around. The trail felt like walking on a dirt road, and the views were meh.
But once I headed over to the falls area, it was far better. Even though the drought meant there wasn’t any running water from above (and no falls), the spring below was gushing.
This is the area of the park that I highly recommend visiting!
3. Lady Bird Lake Sunset Bat Flight Kayak Tour
This combines so many fun things into one tour!
Each night, from March through October, bats take off from below the Congress Bridge as the sun dips below the horizon. Watching it from kayaks on Lady Bird Lake is one of the coolest things to do in Austin.
What to expect:
- Get into your kayaks and paddle for 15-20 minutes towards Congress Bridge
- Learn about the history of Austin and the bats
- Watch the bats start to fly as the sunsets
- See the buildings along Lady Bird Lake light up
- Paddle back as it’s getting dark
The tour lasts around two hours. As the sunsets get later and later into the summer, the tour will end later in the day. For me, it ended around 8:15pm. I had a little trouble finding places to get food around 9pm, so pack a dinner to be safe!
As for the difficulty of kayaking, it’s pretty easy. I would estimate you paddle a mile to a mile and a half. But it also depends on which company you go with. Some will go further than others.
4. Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area
I’ll be honest, I only knew about this place because I accidentally clicked on Google Maps, and it happened to be in this area. It’s about 45 minutes or so from downtown Austin, so it’s a little far, but it’s one of the best places to see Bluebonnets in the area.
It is not a large area, but they pack a punch and were beautiful to photograph. All you need to do is drive to the end of the road, and you’ll see them.
- These tend to bloom in March and April.
- Entrance fees were $5 per car.
5. Exploring Rainey Street
Bars. Breweries. Restaurants. Rainey Street was a blast – and I was only there for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I’m sure it gets even more electric at night!
The area used to be residential, but over time, the houses were converted into bars and restaurants. Now, it’s one of the must-visit places in Austin!
Take a 4-hour brewery tour – no driving required
6. Hamilton Pool
This spot had so much potential, but unfortunately for me as a photographer, it was something of a bust due to natural forces beyond my control. But for anyone else planning to hang out at a natural pool and soak up the sun, you’ll have a great time.
It costs $12 to make a reservation (required) and then $8 per person after that. They want you to bring cash, but they do have a credit card machine.
The trail is short, but steepish for a quarter mile or so. Otherwise, it’s flat.
Now to why I was bummed out. Normally, there’s decent water flow, making for cool waterfall photos. Additionally, you’re usually allowed to walk under the overhang to get some cool shots. Unfortunately, that trail is closed due to falling rocks.
I ended up staying for about 5 minutes before going home because I didn’t bring a bathing suit.
7. Hiking Barton Creek Trail
Just outside of downtown Austin, the Barton Creek Trail is a nice way to stretch your legs and get miles under your belt. Typically, there’s water running alongside the trail with nice waterfalls. Unfortunately, it hadn’t rained in months, so the creek was dry and the couple of smaller pools were very low.
Still, I did over three miles right after arriving and got to see a local favorite!
8. Taking a tour of the Texas State Capitol
The Texas State Capitol is taller than the US Capitol, for perspective. It’s one helluva building, and the tour does a quick run through Texas history and shows off the State Senate and State House Chambers.
Tours are free, run every 15-20 minutes, and last about 45 minutes. All you need to do is walk inside and wait until a tour begins. There’s also a handful of statues and monuments on the grounds out front that are interesting and worthwhile.
Use this parking garage for free parking
9. Feasting on Texas BBQ
Oh man, there’s nothing like Texas BBQ! Anytime I’m in Texas, I make it a point to get barbecue multiple times. This trip was not any different.
I did my time and waited in line like everyone else for Franklin Barbeque. Some people wait 2-3 hours. I only did 90 minutes. Now, I’ll be honest, it was incredibly tasty.
But was it any more tasty than another BBQ spot around town? I can’t say for certain.
Still, the brisket at both places I went to melted in my mouth. It was incredibly delicious, and I miss it!
10. Going Ziplining at Lake Travis
What a fun day! I’ve done some great ziplining in Costa Rica and Rwanda, but I’ve never flown over a lake before. So that was unique. They say this is the fastest and longest zipline in Texas!
This was a 35-minute drive from Bee Cave (where my Sonesta Hotel was).
After checking in, your group walks down to the lake to board a boat. This will take you to the other side, where the ziplines are. From here, you’ll gear up and do a short uphill walk to the first of five ziplines.
Even though they market it as five ziplines, it’s really just three good ones. The first two are pretty meh and used as a warm-up. The last three are great! Especially the last one, which is a double-barreled approach, where you can race a significant other or another member of your group!
Overall, they say you’ll walk 1-2 miles. I think it was closer to 1.2 miles – most of it uphill, but nothing too challenging if you’re an active person.
- Costs: $155 per person (after tax), $129 before
- I recommend the earliest time, especially for summers in Texas
- You can use their dock to go swimming afterward
- They can only take cash tips
Click here to find tours to book throughout Austin, Tx
Things to do in and around Austin that look fun, but I didn’t get to do
These are a handful of things I had hoped to do on my four-day trip to Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, I couldn’t check everything off my wish-list. But that’s why return trips exist!
11. McKinney Falls State Park
Less than 15 minutes from the airport, I had hoped to swing by and see the waterfalls. It offers nice hiking without having to drive too far out of the city. If you need something to do before or after your flight, this is a perfect spot to stop!
12. Wild Basin Nature Preserve
Want to get out and enjoy nature? Wild Basin Nature Preserve is your spot. It’s a bird haven, so those looking to see birds and snap some photos will be stoked! Plus, it’s only 20 minutes from downtown.
13. Barton Springs Pool
I did technically go and see it. But I didn’t have time to enjoy it. It was packed to the rim with people, enjoying the mid-80s weather on a Friday afternoon. It’s a pretty amazing place to have available. I’m sure if I lived here, I’d visit a bunch.
It’s $9 for a non-resident to visit.
14. Zilker Botanical Gardens
Near the Barton Spring Pool, this area looks lovely and is a nice place to enjoy a sunny afternoon. This is great for those looking for a quieter day, but still want to get out and about.
15. Walk around the University of Texas-Austin
If you enjoy seeing college campuses, it might be worth an hour or two to check out UT-Austin. I’ve heard it’s a stunning campus, and it’s a football powerhouse in the SEC.
Where to stay in and around Austin
My itinerary took me out to Bee Cave, so I stayed at the fantastic Sonesta Bee Cave Hotel. It was recently renovated and was perfect for my solo travel. New rooms, an updated pool area, plus a rooftop bar and restaurant meant you had laid-back luxury throughout the hotel.
Check out the Sonesta Bee Cave Hotel
If you want to stay in Austin, here are a few suggestions that look great and have you in a fantastic location.
Budget Travel: Holiday Inn Austin -Town Lake by IHG
Mid Tier: Hampton Inn & Suites Austin Downtown
Luxury: Commodore Perry Estate
Quick Austin Itinerary to Help Plan Your Trip
Day 1 in Austin
- Landed in Austin around noon
- Grabbed BBQ for lunch
- Hiked 3+ miles on the Barton Creek Trail
- Cooled off at the pool
- Sunset with Blue Bonnet flowers at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area
- Dinner at Meridian 98 at Sonesta Hotel
Day 2 in Austin – Hiking and Outdoors
- Breakfast at the Hive at Sonesta Hotel
- Drove 45 minutes to Pedernales Falls State Park – hiked around
- Took a guided tour at West Cave Discovery Center (Easily one of the best things to do in Austin)
- Checked out nearby Hamilton Pool
- Dinner at Matt’s El Rancho
Day 3 in Austin – Explore DTATX
- Breakfast at the Hive
- Morning tour of the Texas State Capitol
- Lunch at Franlin Barbeque
- Explored Rainey Street
- Sunset Kayak Tour on Lady Bird Lake
- Food truck dinner downtown
Day 4 in Austin
- Ziplining at Lake Travis
- Lunch in Bee Cave
- Barton Springs Pool
- Dinner with friends
Day 5 in Austin
- Early AM flight back to Denver
Random things to keep in mind when visiting Austin, Texas
- Apparently, there are toll roads all over. I never encountered one, but keep that in mind, especially if you rent a car. Hertz offered to have me pay $15 bucks per day to cover tolls. Glad I didn’t do that.
- BBQ in Texas can be PRICEY! My meal at Franklin BBQ was over $35, and that was only for me. I honestly didn’t even get that much. (You can skip the coleslaw, by the way.)
- The Austin airport is super easy to navigate through (if not on a cra,zy wild weekend)
- Avoid the I-35 between Austin and Kyle during rush hour. Construction makes it a parking lot.
Final thoughts on the best things to do in Austin
I’m so glad I finally got the chance to explore Austin. It’s far different than what I normally do, which is in the mountains, but this was a perfect switch-up. The city is fun, the vibes are immaculate, and I really enjoyed the outdoor activities and things to do in Austin.
While the hiking isn’t the epic glaciated peaks and alpine lakes I love, I found the trails to be peaceful and unique. And that’s all you can ask for while in nature.
So, as you plan a visit to the Lone Star State, I hope this mini-guide gives you some fun ideas to make your trip memorable!
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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