Explore Austin, Texas on a Budget: Free and Cheap Attractions

I turned 40 last year and made a resolution to travel more. You see, I have four kids, and we generally take one big family trip a year, but as a travel editor and 40-year-old resolving to heed the call of her wanderlust, I wanted more. More trips, more adventures, more intentionality. And so I put an amendment to my original resolution: each year, I would take each of my kids on a 1:1 getaway, traveling to all the places in the US I’ve wanted to explore. With four kids, however, this needed to be done on a budget, something I kept in mind when planning a weekend in Austin, Texas.

Back to the trip: we both immediately agreed on Austin, citing Hamilton Pool, several parks and attractions, and a variety of vegan cuisine as our rationale. (These factors outweighed the sweltering temps that might give some pause to visit Austin in August, but we were steadfast: Austin or bust!) As a family of six, it’s essential I pay close attention to budget when planning a trip, and so, after striking gold in terms of awesome and affordable Austin Airbnbs, I set an ambitious challenge: 48 hours in Austin, Texas, on a budget of under $100 (lodging excluded). Could it be done? We set off to find out. Here is all that we did while traveling on budget in Austin, Texas:

Things To Do for Free in Austin

My hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio — a place touted for its low cost of living — so I’m a bit spoiled when it comes to access to free and budget-friendly activities. With a population of nearly a million, Austin is roughly three times bigger than Cincinnati, and I was a bit worried that the “bigger is better” mantra that Texas is known for would also apply to the cost of activities, attractions, and dining. Happily, not only did I find prices to be incredibly reasonable in Texas’s capital city, but I also stumbled upon tons of free things to do in Austin.

For those who enjoy art, Austin’s public art scene is unrivaled; you’ll find graffiti and large-scale murals on pretty much every main drag and side street. Mary and I were delighted by the plethora of public art: Wonder Woman on a downtown building, vibrant murals brightening up alleyways, and of course, the iconic “i love you so much” mural on Congress Avenue.

Speaking of Congress Avenue, not only is it *the* place for shopping and dining, but it’s also home to the beautiful Texas State Capitol, another must-visit in ATX.

Admission is free, and guided and self-guided tours are available. The grandeur of this building—which is actually taller than our nation’s capitol—is incredible.

Of course, Austin is known for its natural beauty and robust parks, and I was blown away by how many of these attractions were free. The Austin Nature & Science Center was an awesome gem we found while exploring Zilker Park (another free treasure worth exploring in full).

Also, the peacocks at Mayfield Park (and this glorious urban park in and of itself) stood out as a high point of the trip. Mayfield Park is home to a large flock of free-roaming peacocks known to strut their stuff and put on quite a show.

Speaking of avian species, ATX is also home to the world’s largest urban bat colony; the Congress Avenue Bridge houses an estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats who emerge each night, like the Dark Knight himself.

Best Inexpensive Attractions in Austin

I found lots of free activities in Austin and was delighted by the number of inexpensive options in this Texas town. Mary and I bounced from park to park and attraction to attraction — seemingly on a dime! Here are some of our favorite inexpensive attractions in Austin, Texas:

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Texas has an extraordinary parks system, and Travis County (where Austin is located) is no exception. For $12, Mary and I got access to all Travis County Parks for the day, including Reimers Ranch, a park with some of the most varied flora and fauna in ATX, from lush trees and bold flowers to prickly cacti and brush. There’s also a short trail that leads to a jaw-dropping view of the Pedernales River that’s worth the trip alone.

The Travis County Parks system includes over two dozen parks, the most famous of which, of course, is Hamilton Pool Preserve. This bucket-list destination is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful natural pools in the country, and I have to say, it absolutely lived up to the hype.

When visiting Hamilton Pool, you’ll want to make a reservation through the Travis County Parks website; you’ll select a spot in either the morning or afternoon “reservation times” — this ensures the pool doesn’t get too crowded. In addition to the day-use fee ($12), I paid $8 for my own entry — kids under 13 are free. Please note that the day-use pass can be pre-purchased online via credit card; however, the Hamilton Pool entry fee is cash only.

There’s a quarter-mile hike from the parking lot to the pool; it’s very steep and rocky at times, so definitely wear good hiking shoes. Depending on water levels and other conditions, swimming may or may not be allowed when you visit and/or only in designated areas.

An unexpected surprise when we visited Hamilton Pool was how many catfish were cruising around the shallow end. (Don’t worry — they were all very uninterested in us!) Because the water is so clear, you’ll be able to see all sorts of creatures that call this Texas oasis home.

What is the grand total for our Austin parks adventures? Just $20!

Cheap Eats in Austin

Austin is known for Tex-Mex cuisine, and you’ll find delicious taquerias on pretty much every corner of the city. With its warm weather year-round, this Texas town is also known for its food trucks, with large “pods” featuring multiple trucks and sidewalk singletons equally ubiquitous. Add in budget-friendly grub for the local college students, and you’ll find it’s really easy to dine on a budget in Austin, Texas.

After spending the afternoon at Hamilton Pool, Mary and I were starving for some classic Tex-Mex fare. We visited De Nada Cantina on the advice of our Airbnb hosts, and it didn’t disappoint. We ate our weight in homemade chips and salsa roja, grabbing a vegetarian taco and drinks (a world-famous margarita on the rocks for me and a watermelon aqua fresca for Mary) to round out our meal. Because we visited for an early meal during Happy Hour (read = discounted menu!), the grand total for this meal was $20 — quite a deal! De Nada Cantina is located at 4715 E Cesar Chavez St. in Austin.

Other on-the-cheap meals during our trip included a massive plate of black bean nachos from The Vegan Nom on E Cesar Chavez St ($13), Texas-size slices of cheese ‘za from Home Slice Pizza on Congress Avenue ($8.50), and the Vegan Crispy Taco Plate from Bouldin Creek Cafe on S 1st St ($10). We rounded out our meals with fresh produce and snacks from Whole Foods ($18), putting our grand total for food at $68. Not bad for traveling on a budget in Austin, Texas!

Budget-Friendly Places to Stay in Austin

Happily, Austin’s affordability extends to its accommodations; I’d booked us an adorable Airbnb in East Austin that was the perfect “home base” for our adventures, though I’d also researched hotels and other options for affordable lodging in ATX.

After browsing Airbnb and weighing our options, I booked two nights at Casa Plata, a sleek, new, modern casita-style guesthouse in East Austin.

This Airbnb in East Austin’s 11th & 12th Entertainment Districts was a steal at $113 per night. Inside this one-bedroom home was a laundry, full kitchen, full bath, and adorable outdoor patio that was absolutely perfect for our needs. The owners were kind and responsive and even provided us with a few provisions upon arrival. (They also had tons of great restaurant recommendations, all compiled in a cute coffee table book.)

Explore Austin, Texas on a Budget: Free and Cheap Attractions

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