Austin Parks and Recreation

Person walking a dog on a paved trail by a river lined with trees

Zilker Metropolitan Park

Zilker Metropolitan Park, located 2100 Barton Springs Road, is Austin’s oldest metropolitan park. The park is located at Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake and comprises more than 350 acres of publicly owned land. The park serves as a hub for many recreational activities and includes Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin Nature and Science Center, Zilker Clubhouse, Girl Scout Lodge, Sunshine Camp, Beverly S. Sheffield Hillside Theater, Zilker Caretaker Lodge, Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, McBeth Recreation Center, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, and Barton Creek Trail. The park is home to large-scale events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Trail of Lights, and ABC Kite Festival. 

Explore Zilker: virtual tour of Zilker

Parking and Transportation

Zilker Loop

Runs Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from May 23 to September 7, 2026.

  • Park in the Stratford Lot and get a code for 2 hours of free parking
  • Regular weekend and holiday parking is $3 per hour
  • Pay or renew parking with the Park ATX App.
  • Hours: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. with extended hours during Zilker Summer Musical (July 10 to August 16, 2026)

The route includes four stops: (1) Stratford Lot, (2) Barton Springs Pool, (3) Beverly S. Sheffield (Zilker) Hillside Theater and the Violet Crown Trail Head and (4) Zilker Botanical Gardens. The vehicle will loop around picking up passengers and dropping them at designated stops about every 20 minutes or so. No pets or coolers are allowed on the vehicle. 

Parking Lots and Fees

Beginning each year on the first Saturday of Spring Break through Labor Day on Saturdays, Sundays and official holidays, a variable parking rate of $3 hourly rate per vehicle will be charged at pay stations or the Park ATX App. All the funds collected from parking at Zilker Park go directly to support maintenance and improvements in the parking lots at Zilker Park.

Plan your trip to the park!  The park system first and foremost suggests public transit and biking options.  All parking is first-come first-served. 

Parking and Transportation Options Map

 

Cap Metro's Trip Planner feature 

Bus 30 travels through the park. Buses 3 and 803 stop on South Lamar Blvd.

Park Features

Park Amenities Google Map

Access to Lady Bird is at select designated areas. Read about Lady Bird Lake access and laws/rules.

History of Zilker Park

Becoming Austin's First Metropolitan Park

Zilker Park is known as the crown jewel of the Austin parks system. Zilker Metropolitan Park, located 2100 Barton Springs Road, is Austin’s oldest metropolitan park and is named after Andrew Jackson Zilker who donated parcels of land to the city starting in 1917. Mr. Zilker came to Austin in 1876 to become a business man and a banker. He operated one of Austin’s first ice factories and was elected an Alderman (system of city governance prior to City Council). He also ranched a 40-acre spread with good water southwest of town. In three separate gifts in 1918, 1923, and 1931, Mr. Zilker gave his ranch, which included what is now known as Barton Springs, to the city in a way that benefitted the community and the schools. Zilker made a final gift to the city in 1934, the site of what is now the Girl Scout Clubhouse. That same year the park was officially named Zilker Park.

The park is sited at the juncture of Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake and comprises more than 350 acres of publicly owned land. A major era of park development took place in the 1930s through New Deal programs such as the Civil Works Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1997, Zilker Metropolitan Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the park includes many resources of historical, architectural, and archeological significance.

Today's Zilker Park

Today, the park serves as a hub for many recreational activities and includes major facilities and amenities including, but not limited to, Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin Nature and Science Center, Zilker Clubhouse, Girl Scout Lodge, Sunshine Camp, Zilker Hillside Theater, Zilker Caretaker Lodge, Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, and McBeth Recreation Center, the Butler Hike and Bike Trail, and Barton Creek Trail. The park is home to large-scale events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Trail of Lights, and Zilker Park Kite Festival.

Permits

The most common types of park permits are listed below. See the special events page for detailed information about permits, events, rentals and similar.

  • Concessions/sales are only allowed by permitted and contracted
  • Amplified sound and alcohol consumption are ONLY permitted at rental sites with a paid reservation.
  • Fitness groups/trainers:  The Department has a permit process, fees, and requirements for regularly scheduled activities that enhance the park experience at select sites.  Permits are required for all trainers/activities whether or not per fee classes are charged or not to a consumer.
  • Public Events, Alcohol and Amplified Sound Require Permits:  More information can be found on our special events page.
  • Filming/photo permits for any film/photography production.
  • Photo Sessions/Portrait Sessions:  See the photo session section on the special events page.
  • Commercial activity, sampling, product demonstrations/give aways ALL require review and approval (a permit) from the park system.

Contracted and Permitted Services/Amenities at the Park

Signature Park Events

Resources and Information

Download Zilker Park map (PDF, 22MB)

Reporting Issues

In general, all parks are open for public use each day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted. At times, access is limited or affected by events or maintenance issues. To report any park non-emergency issue, call Austin 3-1-1. Visit the Austin 3-1-1 website to submit a maintenance concern online. 

Call 9-1-1 for all park emergencies.