Kids & Family in Austin, TX
25 places · 11 free · 5 indoor · Updated 2026-10-19
Mueller
Free Tue 3-7pm and Sun 3-5pm — outdoor water play area will soak them
Top-tier playground, splash pad, and lake loop — Thinkery right across the street
Zilker Park
Shallow wading end for toddlers, diving board for big kids — 68-70 degrees year-round
Always free — hawks, owls, and a fossil dig pit in Zilker Park
$6 train ride through Zilker Park — under 2 rides free on your lap
Real dinosaur footprints and koi ponds — $3-8
Downtown
Free everything — storytimes, rooftop garden, underground parking
Free first Sundays — the 4D theater is worth the extra cost with kids
Barton Springs
Open since 1946 — BYOB after sunset (cans only)
Old West Austin
Free splash pad that'll burn two hours minimum — pack a towel
West Austin
Free — peacocks just walk around, tail feathers out Feb-June
102 stairs to the best view in Austin — free, even small kids can do it
Oldest pool in Texas — spring-fed, wading area for toddlers, less crowded than Barton Springs
North Austin
Kids feed sharks and pet stingrays — plan 2-3 hours
University of Texas
Free Tuesdays — the Kelly chapel light show mesmerizes kids
Dinosaur fossils and a 40-foot pterosaur — free on the fourth Sunday
East Austin
Nature-themed playground with sound buttons — free trails along the Colorado River
Free garden built for kids — whimsical paths, planting areas, and exploration
22,000 sq ft free skate park with a beginner area — helmets required under 18
South Austin
Kids' exploration caves and water features in 284 acres of native wildflowers
12 miles of free trails with swimming holes and limestone cliffs
Southwest Austin
Rescue zoo with petting zoo and train ride — smaller and more personal
Pflugerville (North Austin)
Go-karts, mini golf, laser tag, and bumper boats — all in one spot
Dripping Springs (30 min from Austin)
Jade-green swimming hole under a 50-foot waterfall — book ahead, sells out fast
South Lamar
Free Sunday concerts on the lawn overlooking Lady Bird Lake