Austin has so many great parks, and the playgrounds just keep getting better! New ones are being added and old ones are being updated every year (hurray for more shade structures!), and they just get bigger and more inventive.
If you’re looking for a quick answer on the best playgrounds in Austin and the surrounding areas, here are my top 5. These playground parks have plenty to do and have areas for all ages.
- Play for All Abilities in Round Rock
- Alliance Children’s Garden in Butler Park
- Walnut Creek Metro Park
- Lakeline Park in Cedar Park
- Skyline Park in Easton Park (East Austin)
In This Post
Central Austin
If you’re planning a day in the middle of Austin or if you’re visiting and don’t want to stray too far from downtown, these playgrounds are the perfect outing.
Alliance Children’s Garden in Butler Park
Alliance Children’s Garden is definitely a favorite among Austin locals, and it’s where I take out-of-town visitors to show off the city.
It’s in Butler Park and has a great view of the skyline, as well as plenty of space for a picnic, so the ambiance is perfect. The playground itself has lots of different things to do, making it great for different ages.
My kids love the turf hills with tunnels through them, climbing on the salamander statue, and the section of slides (and lots of different ways to climb to the top of them). There’s sand, a big rope structure, instruments, climbing walls, and a splash pad/fountain that’s open a lot of the year.
Parking is mostly paid here, either at the small lot by the Dougherty Arts Center or in the Palmer Events Center parking garage. The bathroom situation isn’t great (either really gross or totally closed) and nothing is fenced in, so you have to keep an eye on where your kids are.
Kingsbury Commons at Pease Park
This park is one of the coolest places in Austin. It’s so charming and has a unique wooden playground, splash pad, treehouse and Malin the troll.
There’s a big wooden climbing structure that is great for bigger kids to navigate and a smaller section that’s perfect for preschoolers. My kids love the playscape, and the absolute coolest part is the big treehouse. You can hang out underneath it or on top of a giant hammock-like net.
The park has a walking path along the creek, and we could spend an hour throwing rocks into the creek at the creek crossing just north of the tree house.
Plus, the Thomas Dambo troll sculpture that was constructed in 2024!
The bathrooms at Pease Park are right by the splash pad and are normally in pretty good condition!
There is a tiny parking lot and some street parking on Parkway, but if it’s all full, you can also park for free daily at the Austin Rec Center (1301 Shoal Creek) and for free on weekends in the ACC Rio Grande garage.
Waterloo Park
This is a beautifully designed park right in the middle of downtown. It’s perfect for a day in the heart of the city.
The playground itself isn’t large, but my kids spend so much time go up the rocks and down the slide that it doesn’t really matter. There’s a grilled cheese food truck and the most beautiful landscaping around.
You can pay to park in the Capitol parking garage across the street.
Whole Foods
I wouldn’t say the Whole Foods playground is the BEST playground, but it is such a great playground option for a day downtown. You can grab food in Whole Foods and then take it to the rooftop to play.
There are lots of tables, turf around the playground, and a gate that sounds an alarm when it opens, so a kid can’t sneak out.
Central Market
One of my favorite easy outings in Austin, Central Market on North Lamar is a great place for kids to run around, families to listen to live music, and parents to grab a drink or a few groceries! I love that I can get coffee or alcohol here, we can order from the cafe or we can get snacks from the grocery store.
There’s a great small playground for toddlers, and the big playground has a bridge, a couple slides, monkey bars, and several spots to climb up.
The playground area is not fenced in, so if your kid wanders, you need to keep an eye on them.
Zilker
There’s so much to do at Zilker Park, including this fun playground with an old fire truck. It’s right by Barton Springs. There are different playscapes and swings for various ages, and the mini train, the Zilker Eagle, passes through the area.
It’s a great addition to a trip to Zilker Park, though I think it could use an upgrade (as long as they keep that fire truck)!
North Austin
Walnut Creek Metro Park
This park is so fun and also well shaded. It has this big playground with the awesome slide for bigger kids, but it also has a little merry-go-round, dinosaurs, swings, a unique little playground (low enough so you don’t have to worry about your toddlers falling off) and even an old Fortlandia fort (a fairy house) surrounded by stumps to climb on!
Walnut Creek is also a great place to go for a hike and play in the creek, so you could make a full day of it! It’s a very dog-friendly park and has a pool as well.
The bathrooms by the pool (which is right by the playground) are sometimes open, but sometimes locked. There are also often portapotties somewhere in the area, since this is a big biking spot.
Balcones District Park
My kids and I love Balcones District Park. The big playground is still too big for my 5-year-old to fully access (you have to climb up some alternating ropes to get to the very tallest slide), but he and the 3-year-old can both get halfway up. There’s just room to grow!
The playground for small kids has lots to do, so you can spend plenty of time here.
The pool is nearby and the bathrooms are often open.
Katherine Fleischer
Two playscapes, both easy enough for little kids but still fun for bigger kids. The best part is the multi-story green playhouse. It’s a magical place for kids!
Check out the homestead while you’re here. It has old buildings and a taxidermied buffalo.
Loewy
Loewy Family Playground is very small, but that makes it very manageable if you’re out alone with kids. It’s fully fenced in and basically all visible at once. It’s better as part of another outing for bigger kids.
Great Hills
Great Hills Park has a sand pit with digger, big spiderweb rope climbing structure and a playscape. We like to come here and go hiking and play on the playground on each end of the hike!
South Austin
Circle C
When I’m in South Austin, Circle C is my favorite playground stop. Lots of different little areas to play, including climbing structures, small and big playgrounds, merry-go-round, and a sand pit. No bathrooms though — sometimes nearby portapotties!
Dick Nichols
I like that the Dick Nichols playground is one long playscape so it’s easily accessible for everyone, including little kids and parents. Everyone can find something to do here, and there’s a little paved walking trail to get even more energy out.
Little Stacy
This is a VERY shady playground, so it’s perfect for summer. There are several different little playscapes, including a small one perfect for toddlers, and a very cool slide on the side of a hill. Little Stacy feels like what a neighborhood park should feel like.
North Suburbs
Play for All Abilities Park in Round Rock
Play for All Abilities Park is definitely one that comes up time and time again when you’re talking about playgrounds. I think the variety of things to do here is why it’s such a popular attraction.
Our favorite part is the race track for scooters and bikes and the tiny town complete with Chick-fil-A and car wash. We normally start there, then park the scooters and make our way around the rest of the playground. There are multiple playscapes, a sand pit, a nature play area, an accessible tree house, musical instruments, and on and on.
There are bathrooms in the playground area, as well as in the tiny town, and they’ve been pretty clean when I’ve used them. This place can be tricky with multiple kids, though. If they want to run in different directions, it’s impossible to keep eyes on them all. It’s all fenced in, but it’s a pretty large area, so it’s still stressful if you’re chasing children.
If you’re hungry but not done playing, it’s not far from one of my go-to restaurants with a playground — Hat Creek Round Rock. Multiple times, we’ve met friends for breakfast here and stayed through past lunch. (For more restaurants with playgrounds, check out my complete list here!)
Garey Park
Head to Georgetown for this huge playground. It’s got big slides, a smaller playground, lots of spots little ones can play, zip lines, swings, and a splash pad that’s open more than the City of Austin splash pads. Bring lunch because you’ll here for hours and hours.
You can also go on hikes and access the San Gabriel River here. The downside (or maybe upside because it keeps it less crowded?): it costs money to get in. Me and my 2 kids are $8.
Creative Playscapes
Another Georgetown playground, Creative Playscape is really cute and unique. It looks like a little town, has a Georgetown history wall, and multiple playscapes. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore here.
If I could change one thing here, I’d make it shadier for sure.
Champion
I love Champion Park — it got me through some of those early pandemic days where we needed to get out but didn’t want to be anywhere crowded. It has dinosaurs to climb on, a huge dino dig pit, a rock playscape and a small playscape perfect for small kids. There’s also just tons of space to run around and it connects to the Brushy Creek trail.
West Austin
Lost Creek Neighborhood Park
This is a great playground for little ones, ages to 2-5, especially. It’s fully fenced in so you can feel safe that you’re kids won’t run off.
East Austin
Richard Moya
Right across from the airport’s South Terminal, it’s a good option to know about if you’re flying out of that terminal where there aren’t a ton of entertainment options.
Check out a splash pad after your playground adventure with these awesome splash pads around Austin. Or if you’re ready for fall, go to one of these fall events.