Austin, TX
Austin Aquarium
Hands-on north Austin aquarium where kids feed stingrays, touch sea stars in shallow pools and walk into a bird aviary with nectar cups.
- Aquarium
- Ages 2+
- ~2h
- Paid
Things to Do Under an Hour from Austin with Kids
48 kid-friendly adventures under an hour from Austin, nearest first.
- Under 1 hour (48)
- 1-2 hours (22)
- 2-3 hours (16)
- 3-4 hours (45)
About these times. Each estimate is a straight-line measurement from downtown Austin, padded by 17% for winding roads and divided by a 55 mph average — so “under an hour” means roughly that, not a routed time. Traffic, where in Austin you start, and the last few miles of park road can all move it by half an hour. Check a map before you load the car.
about 10 min drive
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Austin Bouldering Project
Indoor bouldering gym in south Austin with colour-graded routes, padded floors and day passes with rental shoes for first-time kids.
- Rock Climbing
- Ages 5+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Austin Yacht Club
Lake Travis summer sailing camps on Picos, Sunfish and Flying Juniors, with a published non-member rate. Paid. Ages 8 to 16.
- Sailing
- Ages 5+
- ~8h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Barton Creek Greenbelt
12 miles of creek trails with swimming holes and bouldering in Austin. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 5+
- ~3h
- Free
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Barton Springs Pool
Iconic 3-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park at 68 degrees year-round. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Blanton Museum of Art
UT Austin art museum whose Ellsworth Kelly stone chapel floods the floor with shifting colored light that kids instantly respond to.
- Museum
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Bull Creek Greenbelt
Shallow limestone creek pools perfect for toddler wading. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Dogs welcome. Easy going.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Free
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Bullock Texas State History Museum
Three floors of Texas history in downtown Austin anchored by a real 1686 shipwreck hull, plus an IMAX theater and weekend family days.
- Museum
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Emma Long Metropolitan Park
Sandy Lake Austin swimming beach and lakeside camping inside Austin city limits - entry $5-$10 per vehicle, campsites reservable online
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Lady Bird Lake
Kayaking and paddleboarding on calm water through downtown Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Easy going.
- Kayaking
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
McKinney Falls State Park
Two limestone waterfalls with wading pools inside Austin city limits. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Mount Bonnell
102-step climb to panoramic views over Lake Austin. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~1h
- Free
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Thinkery
Austin children's museum built for hands-on play, with water tables, a light and shadow lab, a maker studio and a baby-only zone.
- Science
- Ages 1+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 10 min drive
Austin, TX
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Peaceful woodland trails with a waterfall and nature programs. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Moderate effort.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~1h
- Paid
about 20 min drive
Pflugerville, TX
Lake Pflugerville Park
Free lake beach with swim area and 3-mile paved loop. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly. Dogs welcome.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Free
about 20 min drive
Cedar Park, TX
Brushy Creek Regional Trail
14-mile paved trail with playgrounds connecting Cedar Park and Round Rock. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours.
- Biking
- Ages 2+
- ~2h
- Free
about 25 min drive
Cedar Creek, TX
McKinney Roughs Nature Park
1,100 acres with horseback riding and river trails along the Colorado. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 25 min drive
Dripping Springs, TX
Hamilton Pool Preserve
A collapsed grotto with a 50-foot waterfall into a jade pool. Reservation required, and swimming is often closed after rain.
- Swimming
- Ages 5+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 25 min drive
Dripping Springs, TX
Reimers Ranch Park
Premier Central Texas rock climbing with 18 miles of trails. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Rock Climbing
- Ages 6+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Georgetown, TX
Cedar Breaks Park
Spacious lakeside campground with swim beach near Georgetown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Camping
- Ages 2+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Georgetown, TX
Garey Park
525-acre river park with trails and splash pad in Georgetown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.
- Hiking
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Georgetown, TX
Good Water Trail
26-mile lakeside trail with canyon overlooks and Hill Country terrain. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 5+
- ~3h
- Free
about 35 min drive
Georgetown, TX
Inner Space Cavern
Walk through an Ice Age cave 30 minutes from Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Easy going.
- Nature
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Georgetown, TX
San Gabriel Park
Award-winning playscape and river trail in Georgetown. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.
- Biking
- Ages 2+
- ~2h
- Free
about 35 min drive
Bastrop, TX
Bastrop State Park
Lost Pines hiking with swimming pool and Junior Rangers. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Bastrop, TX
Bastrop State Park Cabins
Historic 1930s CCC stone cabins among the Lost Pines east of Austin, among the hardest reservations in the Texas park system
- Lodging
- Ages 1+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Wimberley, TX
Blue Hole Regional Park
Spring-fed swimming hole with a famous rope swing under bald cypress trees in Wimberley TX - summer swimming requires advance reservations
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Wimberley, TX
Jacob's Well Natural Area
Crystal-clear artesian spring near Wimberley TX with three miles of free trails. Swimming is cancelled; the well overlook stays open.
- Hiking
- Ages 6+
- ~2h
- Free
about 35 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Grelle Recreation Area
Uncrowded Lake Travis cove with wooded trails and swimming. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Krause Springs
Spring-fed pools under ancient cypress trees with camping. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Easy going.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Krause Springs Camping
Camp above a spring-fed swimming hole and rope swing on a family-owned Hill Country property, with the water to yourself at dawn
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area Camping
Primitive lakeside campsites, family-friendly singletrack and a famous spring bluebonnet field on the upper end of Lake Travis
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Pace Bend Park
Rocky limestone coves and cliff jumping on Lake Travis. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 35 min drive
Spicewood, TX
Pace Bend Park Camping
Drive-up primitive camping right on the Lake Travis shoreline, with sheltered swimming coves on the east side of the peninsula
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 35 min drive
San Marcos, TX
Rio Vista Park
Crystal-clear spring-fed river with natural falls for floating and swimming. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.
- Swimming
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Free
about 50 min drive
Bertram, TX
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
Free federal refuge with birding trails and Junior Rangers. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.
- Hiking
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Free
about 50 min drive
Johnson City, TX
Pedernales Falls State Park
Dramatic tilted limestone falls and river swimming in the Hill Country. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 50 min drive
Johnson City, TX
Pedernales Falls State Park Camping
Shaded campsites and walk-in tent sites under some of the darkest night skies within an hour of Austin, beside the Pedernales River
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 50 min drive
Johnson City, TX
Pedernales Falls Trammel Crossing
Historic river crossing with natural wading pools away from the crowds. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 50 min drive
Johnson City, TX
Pedernales River Nature Park
Quiet Pedernales River swimming with limestone wading pools. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Dogs welcome.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 55 min drive
Canyon Lake, TX
Canyon Lake Gorge
Guided tours through a limestone gorge with dinosaur tracks and fossils. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.
- Hiking
- Ages 6+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 55 min drive
Blanco, TX
Blanco State Park
Small-town river swimming and tubing perfect for young children. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 55 min drive
Blanco, TX
Blanco State Park Camping
Compact CCC-era campground under pecan trees on the Blanco River, one of the gentlest first camping trips in the Hill Country
- Camping
- Ages 1+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 55 min drive
Burnet, TX
Inks Lake State Park
Spring-fed lake swimming and cliff jumping at Devil's Waterhole. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 55 min drive
Burnet, TX
Inks Lake State Park Camping and Cabins
Waterfront campsites and small cabins on a constant-level lake with pink granite shoreline and the Devils Waterhole swimming cove
- Camping
- Ages 2+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 55 min drive
Burnet, TX
Longhorn Cavern State Park
Kid-friendly guided cave tour near Burnet TX - walk a mile through cathedral-sized underground rooms formed by an ancient river, great for ages 4+
- Nature
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 55 min drive
Burnet, TX
Reveille Peak Ranch
Granite bouldering and mountain biking near Burnet. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day. Moderate effort.
- Rock Climbing
- Ages 5+
- ~5h
- Paid
about 1 hr drive
New Braunfels, TX
Comal River Tubing
Gentle spring-fed tubing on the 2.5-mile Comal River in New Braunfels TX - tube rentals with shuttle service run about $15-25 per person
- Tubing
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Paid