No matter what the calendar says, the temperatures outside are telling us that summer is here. Which in Texas means making a beeline for any place that has shade or water, hopefully both. Thankfully many splash pads in and around Austin are open now for the summer 2021 season, and they’re the perfect place to take kids when they need to run outside without melting in the heat.

From Georgetown to Buda, there’s a long list of splash pads to explore all summer long, including a few hidden gems you may not know about. Here’s your comprehensive guide to splash pads in the Austin area.

Georgetown Splash Pads

Garey Park

6450 Ranch to Market Rd. 2243, Georgetown
Open April 1-Oct. 31
Hours: 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (After Oct. 1, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)

splash pad at Garey Park in Georgetown, Texas

The huge splash pad in Garey Park has a ton of cool features to entertain kiddos. The splash pad itself is not shaded, but there are pavilions with picnic tables you can sit at while you watch your kids. An amazing playground is right next to it. Admission required.

San Jose Park

1707 San Jose St., Georgetown
Open April 1-Sept. 30
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

splash pad at San Jose Park in Georgetown, Texas

The splash pad in this cute neighborhood park occupied my kids for a long time. The adjacent playground is nice and has structures for older and younger kids. No shade over the splash pad, but there are benches with shade for parents.

Downtown Splash Pad

816 S. Main St., Georgetown
Open April 1-Sept. 30
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

This simple splash pad, with water jets erupting from the ground in a lovely brick courtyard, is a great way to cool off after exploring the charming and historic downtown area of Georgetown.

Rabbit Hill Park

1109 Blue Ridge Dr, Georgetown
Open April 1-Sept. 30
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Only a few years old, this well-kept splash pad features a unique towering spider that blasts webs of water over 2,000 square feet. The rest of the park includes a playscape and a trail system with a fitness loop.

Round Rock Splash Pads

Rock’N River Water Park

3300 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX
Opens May 28.
Hours: Noon-7 p.m. (unless otherwise noted, check website)

Photo via Yelp

Located in Old Settlers Park, Rock’N River includes a huge sprayground featuring 51 play features. There is a shallow pad for little ones and a multi-level area with slides. Admission required.

Prete Plaza Fountain

221 E. Main St., Round Rock
Currently open
Hours vary, check website for schedule

This interactive water feature is in the 14,000-square foot Prete Plaza in downtown Round Rock. There is a shade structure over it, with built-in seating, a grassy area, and a lounge area.

Leander Splash Pads

Robin Bledsoe Park

601 S. Bagdad Rd., Leander
Open now until end of September
Hours: 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

With a variety of water features, including ground sprays and overhead buckets, this fully fenced-in splash pad is especially great for little ones.

Quarry Splash Pad in Southwest Williamson County Regional Park

3005 County Rd. 175, Leander
Opens May 29
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed Mondays & Tuesdays)

The beautiful natural rock at this park provides a unique and beautiful setting for this splash pad, which is very large and equipped with different features like a waterfall, a little slide, and a mini climbing wall. Shade can be a hot commodity. After splashing around, hop on the Cedar Rock Railroad! Admission required.

Lakewood Park

2040 Artesian Springs Xing, Leander
Open now until end of September
Hours: 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Photo via facebook.com/LeanderLakewoodPark

Lakewood Park just opened last September, and this new park has a great splash pad set amongst beautiful rocks and landscaping. It also has a playscape, skate park, a dog park, a boardwalk, and a kayak pavilion.

Cedar Park Splash Pads

Brushy Creek Lake Park

3300 Brushy Creek Rd., Cedar Park
Opens May 1-end of September
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (after Labor Day, open weekends only)

A large splash pad that’s fully fenced in, which is always a plus! There is a lot to do at this park in addition to the splash pad—huge lake with kayak/canoe rental, playscape, sand volleyball courts, bocce ball, and trails.

Pflugerville Splash Pads

Northeast Metropolitan Skate Park

15500 Sun Light Near Way, Pflugerville
Currently closed; will open when Austin moves into Stage 2 of APH COVID-19 guidelines

A hidden gem, this is a smaller pad with ground jets and colorful rings to run through. It is next to the skate park.

Falcon Pointe Splash Park

1813 Tranquility Ln., Pflugerville
Open May 29-Sept. 6
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Splash Pads

Fun water features, shade canopies, and an adjacent playground.

Buda

City Park

204 San Antonio Rd., Buda
Currently open
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Small splash pad with several ground jets and stone bench seating. Park also has a playscape and sand volleyball courts.

Green Meadows Park

2357 Green Meadows Ln., Buda
Open for the season, but closed at time of publication for maintenance due to vandalism
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Splash Pads

This relatively new splash area has a variety of water features that are fun and colorful, with a playground right by it.

Dripping Springs

Route 12 Filling Station

31560 Ranch Rd. 12 #214, Dripping Springs
Currently open

Splash Pads

This family-friendly restaurant has great food, with everything from burgers to pizza to tacos. Eat at the covered patio right next to a playscape and splash pad.

New Braunfels

Fischer Park

1935 Hilltop Summit Rd., New Braunfels
Open March 12-Oct. 31
Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Splash Pads

Large, fun-filled sprayground with a variety of features. The park also has a playground, Nature Education Center, fishing ponds, and kayak rentals.

Bee Cave

Hill Country Galleria Interactive Fountain

12700 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave
Currently under repair, no opening date set

This fountain is a long line of ground jets that kids can run through. Lawn space and seating nearby.

Austin

Mary Elizabeth Branch Park (Mueller)

2006 Philomena St., Austin
Currently open

The interactive waterscape at this park is integrated into the playscape, so in winter it becomes another plaza. Kids can press buttons to operate bubbles and jets. Water then travels through a “stream” and spills out of limestone blocks onto a stone surface.

Bartholomew (East)

5201 Berkman Dr.

Chestnut (East)

1404 E. 16th St.

Metz (East)

2407 Canterbury St.

Liz Carpenter

201 Dawson Rd. (South)
Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (12 p.m.-10 p.m. on Mondays)

Check out the new Alliance Children’s Garden playground in between splashing!


The locations below remained closed. Many splash pads sustained damage from Winter Storm Uri and the city is working to repair them. The current status of all splash pads can be found on their website.

Bailey Splash Pad (North)
1201 W. 33rd St.
Currently closed

Lott Splash Pad (East)
1180 Curve St.
Currently closed

Rosewood Splash Pad (East)
2300 Rosewood Ave.
Currently closed

Clarksville Splash Pad (West)
1811 W. 11th St.
Currently closed

Eastwoods Splash Pad (West)
3001 Harris Park Blvd.
Currently closed

Pease Park (West)
1100 Kingsbury St.
Currently closed

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