Whew! It’s hot out! The only way to get outside is to go super early in the morning OR make sure you’re always in the water.
Splash pads are a great water option, especially if your kids aren’t strong swimmers or you don’t want to supervise as closely as you would at a pool. And luckily, Austin and the surrounding areas have tons of fun splash pads (most are even free!).
Here’s your guide to splash pads around the area, so you’ll know when they’re open, if they’re working and which ones you’ll love the most.
In This Post
How to Find Out If a Splash Pad Is Working
No one wants to get ready, load up, and drive all the way to a splash pad only to find out it’s not working. So how can you know before you go?
The most up-to-date spot I use to find out if a splash pad is open is the Austin Splash Pads Facebook group. You can scroll through for updates from other parents or ask about specific splash pads. It is a private group, so you will have to request to join.
Check city websites. If cities are under water restrictions, most of their splash pads will be closed and there will be information about it online.
Look at social media pages for parks and recreation departments or the groups that run certain parks (like Pease Park Conservancy). A lot of them will post when splash pads are closed for repair and when they’ve been fixed.
Splash Pads in Austin
The splash pads in Austin are free of charge and should be open May 1 to October 31, 9 am to 8 pm.
Liz Carpenter Splash Pad in Central Austin
The best view of all the splash pads and it’s open year-round! This is the area of fountains in Butler Metro Park right next to Alliance Children’s Garden.
Ricky Guerrero Park in South Austin
Ricky Guerrero is a local favorite! It is a small splash pad but it packs a punch! There are lots of water features, lots of shade and a small wall that goes most of the way around the splash pad, so kids are better contained.
Mary Elizabeth Branch Park in Mueller
If you’re in Mueller for any of the other fun things to do (Mueller Lake Park, Thinkery, Alamo Drafthouse, shopping and eating out), stop by Mary Elizabeth Branch Park and play in the splash pad.
Bartholomew District Park in East Austin
This is a simple splash pad, but it’s shaded! It also has multiple playscapes nearby and a great public pool.
Clarksville Splash Pad in Central Austin
A cute splash pad in central Austin, with a nearby playscape. Clarksville has some shade sails over it to cover part of the splash pad in shade. The favorite element at this spot is the rainbow arches with spraying water.
Pease Park in Central Austin
I love Pease Park’s Kingsbury Commons and how lovely it is! This applies to the small splash pad too. It’s not flashy or painted in bright colors, but it has fountains and an area where the water pools.
Pease Park is open different hours than the other Austin splash pads: Mid-May to October, 8 am to 9 pm.
Skyline Park in East Austin
This big park opened in spring 2024 with fun unique playscapes and a splash pad. The splash pad has shade and low walls for parents to sit on. There are some fountains and lots of elements that mist instead of spray.
Bailey Park in North Central Austin
This spot has some big water features that pour from above! Great for kids who love to get all wet.
Metz Park in East Austin
Metz splash pad is small but fun and covered by a big shade. There’s a spraying flower, fire hydrant and small fountains.
Rosewood Park in East Austin
Rosewood splash pad is right next to the swimming pool (separated by fencing of course). It’s a great option if you and your kids can’t decide between a swimming pool and splash pad for the day — do both! There’s a tiny bit of shade and lots of water features.
Dick Nichols Park in South Austin
This tiny splash pad will still please the kids! There’s a dolphin and small fountains surrounding it. It’s great if you’re mostly wanting to play or swim because the public pool and playscape are great ones!
Splash Pads North of Austin
Some of the most impressive splash pads in the area are in the northern suburbs of Austin!
Lakewood Park
2040 Artesian Spgs Xing
Leander, TX
I’ll go out on a limb and say this is THE best splash pad in the area. And it’s free! Lakewood Park is pretty far north, but it’s worth the drive. The splash pad is huge; and the ground was replaced in 2024 so it’s nice and smooth and squishy. There’s an area where the water pools a bit so kids can keep nice and cool, and there’s a calmer side of the splash pad with smaller fountains that is good for toddlers.
Prete Plaza in Round Rock
221 East Main Street
Round Rock, TX
Perfect for a summer evening! This fountain is in downtown Round Rock and is lovely for the whole family. There’s turf around the fountain and big shade sails, so you can grab a pizza or coffee nearby and relax while the kids play in the water.
Garey Park
6450 Ranch to Market Rd. 2243
Georgetown, TX
Fee: Park entrance is $2 per person for Georgetown residents and $4 per person for nonresidents.
Garey Park’s playground and splash pad are all in the same (mostly) fenced area called the Play Ranch. The splash pad has wide open spaces with horse sprayers, a windmill fountain and a little stream around the edge. There are lots of covered picnic tables right next to the splash pad (but they are often being used for birthday parties!).
Falcon Pointe Splash Park
1813 Tranquility Ln.
Pflugerville, TX
This is a fun little splash pad in Pflugerville. There are a few shade covers, and lots of water features, including buckets that refill and splash over and over.
The Quarry Splash Pad
Fee: $2 per person
This paid splash pad is located within Williamson County Southwest Regional Park, and it’s a spot we visit at least once each summer! There is so much space — water falls, water cannons, fountains, and even an area with small water features that’s great for smaller kids (and set off from some of the wilder areas).
Brushy Creek Lake Park
3300 Brushy Creek Rd.
Cedar Park, TX
CLOSED FOR RENOVATION: Summer 2024
Robin Bledsoe Splash Pad
Kids can run around among in-ground fountains and overhead spray features at this Leander splash pad.
Stone Hill Park
1124 Town Center Dr.
Pflugerville, TX
I think this little splash pad is so adorable! It has a bit of a garden theme with big flowers spraying water and a little frog.
Rabbit Hill Park
1109 Blue Ridge Drive
Georgetown, TX
Kids will love the giant spider water feature at this Georgetown spot! There are also dumping buckets and sprayers.
San Jose Park Splash Pad
1707 San Jose St.
Georgetown, TX
This splash pad has so many fun features! There’s a spinning sprayer up high on a pole, an archway to run through, and more.
Splash Pads South of Austin
Buda City Park
This splash pad in the heart of Buda’s city park is a great stop for littles to run through the fountains and play on the playground.
Green Meadows Park
2357 Green Meadows Ln.
Buda, TX
Head to Buda’s Green Meadows Park for a colorful splash pad with water coming from the ground and lots of little sprayers (and a giant frog in the middle!).
La Verde Park
This awesome new park opened in 2023 and has such a fun playscape. Even better, it has a splash pad during the summer months — right next to a huge shaded pavilion where parents can sit and watch while kids get wet.
Steeplechase Park
The city of Kyle opened two new splash pads in 2024, and they are both amazing. Steeplechase has a big bucket that dumps water, water cannons and some cute water features.
Gregg-Clarke Park
This is a big splash pad with a water tower, hoops to run through and lots of sprayers all over.
Splash Pads West of Austin
Dreamland
2770 US-290
Dripping Springs, TX
If you’ve driven out to Dripping Springs, you’ve probably noticed this big property with brightly colored pieces of art and a giant pickleball arena. Stop by for the free, fenced-in splash pad.
Route 12 Filling Station
31560 Ranch Rd 12 #214
Dripping Springs, TX
Have you ever heard of a restaurant with a splash pad? What a great idea for Texas summers! Route 12 has both a splash pad and a playscape (and of course a full menu). The splash pad isn’t anything fancy, but it has a lot of fountains, so kids will have a great time.
When Are Austin Splash Pads Open?
Austin-area splash pads open for the season at different times, but all of the splash pads should be open between Memorial Day and Labor Day (unless there are maintenance issues or water restrictions).
Some of the suburbs’ splash pads open earlier in the season: Georgetown generally opens in early April!
Austin splash pads:
May 1 to October 31
9 am to 8 pm
Pease Park splash pad:
Mid-May to October
8 am to 9 pm
Round Rock Prete Plaza splash pad:
Open during a lot of the year
Georgetown splash pads:
April 1 to October 31
9 am to 8 pm (Garey Park hours may vary)
Lakewood Park splash pad in Leander:
Early May to late October
9 am to 8 pm
Robin Bledsoe splash pad in Leander:
First weekend in April to last weekend in October
9 am to 8 pm
Brushy Creek splash pad in Cedar Park:
This splash pad is closed for renovations and may reopen in late summer 2024
The Quarry splash pad in Williamson County:
Memorial Day to Labor Day
Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm
Buda City Park splash pad:
Mid-may to October 1
9 am to 8 pm
Kyle splash pads:
Mid-May to late September
9 am to 8 pm
Pflugerville splash pads:
May 25 to October 6
10 am to 8 pm
Need more ways to stay cool in the hot weather? Check out these area water parks. We’ve also got some great swimming holes like Krause Springs and Barton Springs.