Dive In Anytime: 5 Austin Swimming Pools Open Year Round

While nothing makes you appreciate Austin swimming pools like the Texas summer heat, lots of people like to swim year round. The City of Austin keeps five public swimming pools open all through the year. Three of these Austin swimming pools are heated. And one of them sits over an underground hot water spring!

Five Austin Swimming Pools Are Open Year Round

The City of Austin maintains over 40 aquatic facilities, but most of the Austin swimming pools are only open in the summer. If you are someone who loves swimming in any season, there are five outdoor public Austin swimming pools open all through the year. 

The City of Austin generally does not charge admission in the winter months at the Austin swimming pools open year round. While these Austin swimming pools are open for lap swimming, the water slides and most of the kids recreation areas are not available when it gets cold. The City of Austin also closes all aquatics facilities when the temperature in Austin is below freezing. 

Big Stacy Is One Of Austin Swimming Pools With Free Admission Any Time Of Year

1. Big Stacy Pool

Website, 700 East Live Oak Street, (512) 445-0304, 2 Miles from Downtown Austin

Big Stacy Pool never charges admission and is close to the South Congress Shopping District. Big Stacy is located in a green space in the historic Travis Heights neighborhood with big trees, a playground and walking trails. Many of the structures in Stacy Park are from the national public works program in the 1930’s.

There are often questions about Big Stacy Pool temperature because there is an underground hot water spring below Big Stacy Pool. However, Big Stacy Pool temperature does not vary greatly depending on the time of year. During the summer months, Big Stacy is filled with water from the City of Austin water source and recirculates like most other public Austin swimming pools. The Big Stacy Pool temperature in the summer is between 80 and 84 degrees. 

In the winter months, water from the hot spring on site is mixed with City of Austin water to heat the pool. Big Stacy Pool temperature in the winter is between 80 and 84 degrees, similar to the summer months. The City of Austin water cools the hot spring water to bring the water temperature down enough for swimming in the winter. But the hot spring water at Big Stacy is not used to fill the pool during the summer months according to the Aquatics Manager for the City of Austin and the Big Stacy Pool temperature is not hotter in the summer than any of the other public outdoor Austin swimming pools. 

There are six lanes for lap swimmers and a shallow side for just hanging out. There are also restrooms, changing areas and showers.

Barton Springs Is One Of Austin Swimming Pools With Dedicated Lap Swimmers All Year Round

2. Barton Springs Pool

Website, 2131 William Barton Drive,  (512) 974-6300, 3 Miles from Downtown Austin

Important Note: Beginning February 15, 2024, construction will begin on the remodel of the Barton Springs Bathhouse at Barton Springs Swimming Pool. Public parking on William Barton Drive near the entrance to Barton Springs Pool will not be available except for accessible parking. The anticipated completion of the Bathhouse project is Spring of 2025. Any changes to the parking lot closure schedule due to construction will be posted at austintexas.gov/parkclosures.

Barton Springs is the most well known of all the Austin swimming pools. Barton Springs Pool is located in Zilker Park close to downtown Austin. While the pool is man-made, Barton Springs is fed by natural spring water from an underground spring. The pool stretches over three acres with plenty of room for lap swimmers and a shallow end for wading. The water temperature at Barton Springs swimming pool is around 70 degrees all through the year.

Barton Springs Pool is not chlorinated. Because it is a natural water pool, Barton Springs Pool is home to aquatic plants and fish, as well as salamanders and ducks. Barton Springs Pool has restrooms, showers, and changing areas. If there is just one of the Austin swimming pools that you have time to check out, it should be Barton Springs! It is one of those places that is completely unique to Austin. 

Deep Eddy Pool Has One Of Most Interesting Histories Of Austin Swimming Pools

3. Deep Eddy Pool

Website, 401 Deep Eddy Avenue, (512) 472-8546, 3 Miles from Downtown Austin

Originally constructed from a swimming hole along the Colorado River west of downtown Austin, Deep Eddy opened as a City of Austin swimming pool in 1936. Deep Eddy Pool was the first public pool built in Texas. 

Of all the City of Austin swimming pools, Deep Eddy has the most interesting history. When it was privately owned the 1920’s, Deep Eddy was just as much an amusement park as a swimming pool. Besides a 70 foot slide that emptied into the pool, a flying trapeze over the water, and a 40 foot diving tower, there was a Ferris wheel and a diving horse act that performed regularly at Deep Eddy Pool. 

Deep Eddy Pool is 600 feet long and filled with natural spring water that is not chlorinated. The water temperature ranges between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. There are 11 lanes for lap swimming as well as restrooms, changing areas and showers. Next to Deep Eddy Pool is Eilers Park, a large playscape with picnic areas.

Bartholomew Pool Is One Of Five Public Austin Swimming Pools For Year Round Lap Swimming

4. Bartholomew Pool

Website, 1800 E. 51st Street, 512) 974-1650, 6 Miles From Downtown Austin

Just off IH-35 in the Mueller Shopping area is one of the heated City of Austin swimming pools available for lap swimming year round. When the pool is heated in the winter months, the water temperature at Bartholomew Pool is around 84 degrees. Bartholomew Pool is off of 51st Street across from the Mueller HEB grocery store in north central Austin. Bartholomew Pool has a 25 yard lap pool with four lanes. There are also picnic tables, restrooms and outdoor showers.

Springwoods Pool Is Only One Of City of Austin Swimming Pools Open Year Round In North Austin

5. Springwoods Pool

Website, 13320 Lyndhurst St, (512) 996-8978, 20 Miles From Downtown Austin

Springwoods Pool is in northwest Austin between Highway 183 and North FM 620. This neighborhood pool is the only swimming pool in northwest Austin that is open year round. Originally built as a neighborhood association pool, the pool is tucked away in a residential neighborhood. Springwoods Pool is heated to about 84 degrees during the winter months. There is a 25 yard lane section of pool with six lap lanes. Springwoods Pool has shade structures, picnic tables, restrooms and outdoor showers.