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Lake Travis is Austin's big lake: a long, winding reservoir on the Colorado River northwest of the city, lined with limestone cliffs, coves and marinas. It is close enough for a day trip and big enough to fill a weekend. It is also spread out enough that you really need a car. Rideshare out to the parks is unreliable, and getting a ride back from a lake park at sunset is harder still.
Here is how to plan a Lake Travis weekend: which parts of the lake suit which kind of day, the roads that get you there, the rules at the parks people ask about most, and which vehicle makes sense.
The three roads to the lake
Almost every Lake Travis trip from Austin uses one of three roads:
- RM 620: the main road along the east side of the lake. It crosses Mansfield Dam and connects Lakeway, Hudson Bend and the Four Points area. Busy on weekends, especially around the dam.
- RM 2222: a winding, hilly road from central Austin out to the lake's east shore, toward Comanche Trail, the Oasis and Hippie Hollow. Scenic, but take the curves slowly.
- SH 71: west through Bee Cave toward Spicewood and Pace Bend Park. Wider and faster, with the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave for a last supply stop.
From downtown, the closest parts of the lake are about 30 to 35 minutes away without traffic. Pace Bend is about 50 minutes. On summer and holiday weekends, add time for RM 620 near Mansfield Dam.
Pace Bend Park: the big day at the lake
Pace Bend Park is a Travis County park on a peninsula in Spicewood, reached from SH 71. It has miles of shoreline, coves for swimming, limestone cliffs, and campsites. It is the best choice if you want a full day outdoors rather than a lake bar.
- Entry: recent Travis County rates were about $5 per person for day use, with lower rates for seniors and children 12 and under free. Camping is extra.
- Payment: bring cash. The entrance booth does not take cards.
- Timing: on summer weekends, arrive early. County parks can close the gate when they reach capacity.
The marinas: boats, rentals and lunch on the water
If you want to get on the water, a marina is your starting point for boat, pontoon and jet ski rentals.
- Lakeway Marina: in Lakeway, reached from RM 620. Convenient if you are staying in Lakeway or Bee Cave.
- Emerald Point: on the Hudson Bend side, off RM 620, and close to Devil's Cove, the lake's best-known party cove.
- Volente: the small lakeside community on the north shore, reached from RM 620 via FM 2769. VIP Marina is there, across from the Volente Beach water park.
Book boat rentals ahead for summer and holiday weekends. Lake levels on Lake Travis rise and fall a lot from year to year, which affects which ramps and coves are open, so check with the marina or Travis County before you go.
Lakeway and the Oasis
Lakeway is the easiest base for a lake weekend: a small city on the south shore with hotels, vacation rentals, groceries and restaurants, about 35 minutes from downtown via RM 620 or SH 71.
For sunset, the Oasis on Comanche Trail is the classic stop, a huge terraced outdoor restaurant above the lake. The view is the draw, so get there well before sunset on weekends if you want a table near the rail.
Where to stay for a lake weekend
You have two choices. Stay in Austin and drive out each day, which works if you also want a night on South Congress or Rainey Street. Or stay at the lake: Lakeway, Bee Cave, Hudson Bend and Spicewood all have hotels and vacation rentals, many with lake views, and you skip the RM 620 traffic in the morning. Lake rentals often sit at the end of steep, narrow driveways, which is one more reason to bring a vehicle with some clearance.
Hippie Hollow: the rules to know
Hippie Hollow is a Travis County park on Comanche Trail with a steep, rocky shoreline. It is the only clothing-optional public park in Texas, and the rules are firm:
- Adults only: entry is restricted to people 18 and older.
- Fee: recent rates were about $8 per person, with a lower senior rate.
- Cash only: the booth does not take credit or debit cards.
- Hours: limited daytime hours that can change by season. Check the Travis County Parks site before you go.
The shoreline is rocky and steep, so bring water shoes. If anyone in your group is under 18, pick Pace Bend instead.
Wrangler or SUV for the lake?
The Jeep Wrangler Sport or similar at $164 a day is the lake car. It is a 4x4 with high clearance, comfortable on gravel park roads and steep ramps, and it does not mind wet towels and sandy feet. It seats five but fits only two bags, so it suits a couple or a small group that packs light.
The Hyundai Santa Fe or similar at $131 a day is the practical pick: five seats and room for four bags, plus coolers and chairs. It is quieter on SH 71 and better for a family weekend with luggage.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar at $147 a day sits between them: the same four-bag space with a more substantial feel on the hilly roads. Our SUV rental in Austin page compares the SUVs side by side.
For more lake and beach ideas around Texas, see our Jeep Wrangler guide to Texas lakes and the Hill Country.
A sample Lake Travis weekend
- Saturday morning: pick up the car at your hotel or the airport, supply stop in Bee Cave, then Pace Bend for swimming and a picnic.
- Saturday evening: check into Lakeway, then sunset dinner at the Oasis.
- Sunday: a boat or pontoon rental from a marina in the morning, lunch on the water, back to Austin by late afternoon.
If you have a third day, add a winery in Spicewood or continue west on SH 71 and US 290 into the Hill Country. Our Hill Country day trips guide covers routes to Fredericksburg and beyond.
A few practical notes
- Cash: carry small bills for park gates.
- Heat: Texas summer afternoons are hot. Shade a parked car and keep water in it.
- Driving after drinking: RM 2222 and RM 620 are curvy, dark at night and busy on weekends. Pick a driver before the boat day starts.
Get the car for your lake weekend
We deliver free anywhere in Greater Austin, including hotels and rentals in Lakeway and Bee Cave, and the AUS arrivals curb. Every vehicle is recent and automatic, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and drivers 21 and up pay no young-driver surcharge. Reserve the Jeep Wrangler rental in Austin, see the rest of the fleet on our economy car rental in Austin page, or call or text 512-851-0490.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Lake Travis from downtown Austin?
The closest parts of the lake are about 30 to 35 minutes from downtown without traffic. Pace Bend Park, on the far side in Spicewood, is about 50 minutes.
Do Lake Travis parks take credit cards?
Not at the gate for Travis County parks like Pace Bend and Hippie Hollow. Bring cash. Recent day-use rates were about $5 per person at Pace Bend and about $8 per person at Hippie Hollow.
Can kids go to Hippie Hollow?
No. Hippie Hollow is clothing-optional and limited to people 18 and older. Pace Bend Park is the better choice for families.
Should I rent a Jeep Wrangler or an SUV for Lake Travis?
A Wrangler Sport or similar suits a couple or small group that packs light and wants a 4x4. A Santa Fe or Grand Cherokee or similar fits four bags plus coolers, which is better for families.
