Things to do nearLake Travis
Lake Travis is a sprawling reservoir in the Texas Hill Country outside Austin, celebrated for its clear blue water, dramatic limestone cliffs, and lively waterfront scene.
Lake Travis was formed in the late 1930s when Mansfield Dam was completed across the Colorado River, creating a reservoir that stretches roughly sixty miles through the limestone canyons of the Texas Hill Country. The dam was built by the Lower Colorado River Authority to provide flood control and a reliable water supply for Central Texas, and the resulting lake quickly became one of the most visited recreational destinations in the state.
On the water, visitors can swim, sail, wakeboard, and fish for largemouth bass, striped bass, and catfish. The lake's depth, which can exceed two hundred feet near the dam, keeps the water notably clearer than many Texas reservoirs. Coves tucked between the bluffs offer sheltered anchorages where families spend entire afternoons swimming off the back of rented boats. Paddlers favor the quieter upper reaches of the lake, where development thins and the shoreline returns to cedar and live oak scrub.
The communities along Lake Travis, including Lago Vista, Lakeway, and the area around Volente, have developed a relaxed waterfront dining and entertainment culture over the decades. Open-air restaurants and bars line portions of the shore, many with docks where boaters tie up directly for a meal. Live music, a Texas staple, drifts across the water on weekend evenings at several lakeside venues.
Lake Travis carries a genuine sense of place rooted in the Hill Country landscape, and its combination of natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and easygoing local character makes it a destination well worth the short drive from Austin.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Lake Travis
Visit during late spring or early fall when temperatures are warm but the summer holiday crowds have thinned, giving you more room on the water and at the boat ramps.
Try renting a pontoon or party barge for the day, as they offer a relaxed, stable way to explore the lake's many secluded coves and swim spots.
Bring water shoes, as many of the rocky limestone entry points along the shoreline can be slippery and uneven underfoot.
Arrive at Hippie Hollow Park early on weekends, since parking fills quickly and the park has a strict capacity limit during peak season.
Watch for sudden afternoon thunderstorms common in the Hill Country from spring through summer, and head to shore well before any dark clouds build to the west.
Top tours & experiences near Lake Travis
Cruise Lake Austin on a 12-Passenger Captained Pontoon
Cruise Lake Austin on a 12-passenger pontoon with a local captain
Cruise Lake Travis on a Captained Pontoon Boat
Cruise Lake Travis with a local captain on a 12-passenger pontoon
Cruise Lake Travis on a BYOB Sunset Boat Tour
Bring your own drinks and meet new people on a Lake Travis sunset cruise
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Pontoon Slide
Rent a 25-foot double-decker pontoon with slide and captain on Lake Travis
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Tritoon Slide
Rent a 32 ft double-decker tritoon on Lake Travis with a waterslide
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Party Boat
Ride a 14-passenger double-decker boat on Lake Travis with a slide and upper-deck lounges
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Party Boat
Ride a double-decker boat on Lake Travis with slides and upper-deck lounges
4-Hour Lake Travis Boat Rental & Party Bus Package
Ride a party bus to your Lake Travis boat rental
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Pontoon
Relax on a captain-led double-decker pontoon with a slide on Lake Travis
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Pontoon
Rent a 34-foot double-decker pontoon on Lake Travis with a slide and captain
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Tritoon & Slide
Rent a double-decker tritoon with captain, upper deck, and water slide on Lake Travis
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Tritoon
Charter a 30 ft double-decker tritoon on Lake Travis with slide and captain
Cruise Lake Travis on a 30' Double-Decker Party Barge
Rent a 30-foot double-decker party barge with two slides on Lake Travis
Double-Decker Pontoon Charter on Lake Travis
Swim, slide, and cruise Lake Travis with a licensed captain and room for up to 14.
Captained Double-Decker Pontoon Charter on Lake Travis
Swim, slide, and relax on Lake Travis with a licensed captain and fun amenities
Double-Decker Pontoon Rental on Lake Travis with Captain
Celebrate on a double-decker boat with captain, slide, and stereo for up to 16 guests
Rent a Double-Decker Party Boat on Lake Travis
Cruise Lake Travis on a double-decker boat with two water slides and a captain
Cruise Lake Travis on a 13-Passenger Pontoon
Charter a 13-passenger pontoon on Lake Travis with a local captain
Captain-Guided Powertoon Charter on Lake Austin
Cruise Lake Austin with a captain, Bluetooth sound, and a lilypad float
13-Passenger Pontoon Rental on Lake Travis
Rent a 13-passenger pontoon on Lake Travis with a lily pad and Bluetooth sound
Lake Travis Tiki Pontoon With Captain For 14
Enjoy a captained cruise with shade, Bluetooth sound, cooler, and a floating lily pad
Self-Captained Boat Rental on Lake Austin or Lake Travis
Captain your own boat on Lake Austin or Lake Travis for up to 8 people
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Pontoon
Rent a 2020 double-decker pontoon on Lake Travis with a captain
25' Tiki Pontoon Rental on Lake Travis
Cruise Lake Travis on a 25' tiki pontoon with captain for up to 14 guests
36' Private Yacht Charter on Lake Travis
Cruise Lake Travis on a private 36' Meridian yacht with room for 20 to relax, sun, and celebrate
Learn Wakesurfing on Lake Travis With a Champion
Progress from first ride to tricks in a Lake Travis wakesurf lesson
Cruise Lake Travis on a Friday Night Music Tour
Ride a captained pontoon to Shack 512 and Beachside Billy’s on Friday night
Cruise Lake Travis to Devils Cove Pontoon Charter
Charter a pontoon to Devils Cove with a captain for up to 14 people
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Party Boat
Double-decker Lake Travis charter with captain, slide, and Lily Pad for up to 16
Fly an Austin Night Skyline Helicopter Tour
See Austin’s skyline lit up on a 32-mile night helicopter flight
Lake Travis Pontoon Rental with Slide & Captain
Cruise Lake Travis with a captain on a double-decker tritoon with a built-in slide
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Party Boat
Charter a double-decker boat on Lake Travis with a slide and Bluetooth sound
Charter a Double-Decker Party Boat on Lake Travis
Cruise Lake Travis on a double-decker boat with slide and upper-deck lounges
Guided Heli Tactical Shooting Flight Near Austin
Take a guided live-fire helicopter flight with safety gear and instruction included
Fly a 32-Mile Austin Helicopter Tour Over Downtown
See Austin’s skyline from the air on a 32-mile helicopter flight
Fly Over Lake Travis on an 81-Mile Helicopter Tour
See Austin, Lake Travis, and Lake Georgetown on an 81-mile helicopter flight
Fly a 12-Mile Decker Lake Helicopter Tour in Austin
Soar over Decker Lake on a quick 12-mile helicopter ride
Helicopter Discovery Flight Lesson in Austin
Take the controls with a helicopter discovery lesson near Austin
Sunset Helicopter Tour Over Austin & Lake Travis
See Austin’s skyline at sunset on a 50-mile helicopter flight
Ride a 6-Hour Austin & Lake Travis Shuttle
Book a private shuttle for your Austin or Lake Travis day
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Boat With Slide
Rent a 32-foot double-decker tritoon on Lake Travis with a captain and water slide
Wakesurf Lessons on Lake Austin With Instructor & Captain
Learn to wakesurf with a champion instructor and captain on Lake Austin
Cruise Lake Travis on a Double-Decker Party Boat
Double-decker Lake Travis cruise with slides, lounge decks, and a captain
Private Sunset Air Tour Over Austin & Hill Country
90-minute private air tour over Hill Country lakes with a downtown Austin loop
60-Minute Private Austin Lakes & Landmarks Flight
Private 60-minute flight over Texas lakes, Hill Country, and downtown Austin
Sunset Scenic Flight Over Austin & Texas Hill Country
Private 60-minute Cessna 172 sunset flight for 2–3 people over Austin and Hill Country
Private Sunset Air Tour Over Austin & Hill Country
60-minute private sunset flight over Austin with luxury add-ons
Sunrise Guided Cruise on Lake Travis in Austin
Cruise Lake Travis at sunrise with a captain (small group or private)
Sunset Cruise on Lake Travis in Austin
Cruise Lake Travis at sunset with an experienced captain
Private Party Boat Charter on Lake Travis With Slide
Private double-deck party boat for up to 20 with slide and sound system
Private Wake Surf Boat Charter on Lake Austin
Charter a Nautique G23 surf boat with captain and wake gear
Charter a Double-Decker Party Boat on Lake Travis
Private double-deck party boat charter on Lake Travis with a slide