How Many Days Do You Need in Austin With Kids? (My Perfect 4-Day Itinerary)

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 2, 2025

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I live in Austin and have tried pretty much all of the “kid-friendly things to do in Austin.” If you’re planning a family vacation here, you might be wondering: how many days in Austin do you really need with kids?

Long story short: 4 days (a long weekend) is the perfect amount of time.

Here’s my suggested Austin itinerary for families with kids.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest cities in Texas. For more insider tips on the capital city, check out her bestselling travel book, Austin Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time.

Day 1: Thursday Evening – Arrive in Austin

Arrive & check in: Fly in, grab your rental car, and check into your hotel or Airbnb. I recommend Travis Heights, Zilker, or Dawson neighborhoods, and here's why.
Dinner: Choose one of Austin's kid-friendly restaurants with a playground so kids can run around while you eat:
- Home Slice Pizza (North Loop)
- Fast Friends Beer Co. (brewery + playground + pizza!)
- Fresa’s South First (no playground, but a huge outdoor patio).
Evening activity:
- If you’re visiting in warm months, see the famous Congress Avenue Bridge bats. It’s magical when they fly out at dusk.
- If you’re visiting in cooler months, check for seasonal events like Trail of Lights at Christmas or a Halloween walk.

(Pro tip: if your kids are like mine and wired on the first night of vacation, this is the best night for a late evening activity!)

Day 2: Friday – Zilker, Tex Mex, and Breweries

Breakfast: Cook at your VRBO or head to a kid-friendly spot like Kerbey Lane or Toasty Badger. Parents, grab a latte from one of my favorite south Austin coffee shops. Also, here are a few Austin coffee shops with playgrounds.

Morning: Zilker Park + Barton Springs

Ride the Zilker Eagle Mini Train
Walk near Lady Bird Lake
Swim in Barton Springs Pool (open year-round at a refreshing 68°F!)
Not up for a swim? Play a round at Peter Pan Mini Golf, an Austin landmark since 1948. It's down the street from Zilker Park.

Lunch: Tex Mex in Austin

Polvos (my favorite, great quality Tex Mex)
Matt’s El Rancho (legendary and huge, serving Austin since 1952)

Afternoon: Jester King Brewery in Dripping Springs

This is the perfect kid-and-parent combo stop, and it's one of the most iconic Austin breweries. They've won so many big awards over the years! My husband and I have taken our boys here so many times.

Goats + goat walk
Pizza
Beer for the adults
Playground for the kids

Day 3: Saturday – Playgrounds, The Thinkery, and Movies

Morning: Playgrounds or Chill Time

My kids often need a slow morning on day 3 of a vacation, so maybe let the kids relax at your Airbnb.
Or if you want to explore, Austin has incredible playgrounds with skyline views:
- Alliance Children’s Garden
- Pease District Park
- Here’s my guide to 12 Great Austin Playgrounds.

Afternoon: The Thinkery Children’s Museum

Good options for hot or rainy day
Reserve tickets in advance!
One of the best kids’ museums I’ve ever visited.

Evening: Relax with a Movie or More Adventure

Option 1: See a movie at Alamo Drafthouse (walk there from The Thinkery, and food and drinks delivered to your seat = genius for parents).
Option 2: If you have more energy, check my list of family-friendly activities in Austin for more ideas.

Day 4: Sunday – Wrap Up

Morning: Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It’s sweet, interactive, and a beautiful goodbye to Austin.
Afternoon: Pack up, grab a quick bite (I recommend Loro Asian Smokehouse on South Lamar!), and head to the airport.

Things to Skip (and What to Do Instead)

Austin Zoo: Often listed as kid-friendly, but honestly, it's underwhelming compared to bigger zoos. Good for locals, but not a destination zoo.
Wildflower Center vs. Zilker Park: Both are wonderful, but if it’s your first Austin trip, I would prioritize Zilker Park and then go to the Wildflower Center on your next trip.
BBQ with kids: Austin BBQ is world-famous, but the lines can be long (not fun with toddlers). Pro tip: pre-order Franklin BBQ and enjoy it at your Airbnb instead.
The Domain: Great for shopping (yes, there’s a Chanel store), but it’s not uniquely “Austin.” Stick to downtown and South Austin for a more Austin-y experience.

Final Thoughts: How Many Days Do You Need in Austin With Kids?

I always tell people that four days is the perfect amount of time for a family trip to Austin.

You’ll hit the highlights (Zilker Park, Barton Springs, The Thinkery, Wildflower Center).
You’ll enjoy Austin’s food scene without overwhelming your kids.
And you’ll have enough downtime to keep the trip fun, not stressful.

If you’re planning your Austin family vacation, use this itinerary as your starting point! Just add in whatever seasonal events line up with your trip. Don't forget to grab a copy of my book Austin Food Crawls, a neighborhood guide to Austin's best restaurants.

FAQ: Visiting Austin With Kids

Is Austin kid-friendly?
I mean, YES, duh! It's one of the main reasons we're choosing to raise our kids here. Austin is one of the most kid-friendly cities in Texas. Between outdoor parks, splash pads, playgrounds, Barton Springs Pool, and The Thinkery children’s museum, there are tons of activities for families. Plus, lots of Austin restaurants and breweries have playgrounds or outdoor spaces where kids can run around.

How many days should I spend in Austin with kids?
Four days is ideal. It gives you enough time to see Austin’s highlights, try the food scene, and fit in both outdoor adventures and relaxing downtime. If you only have 2–3 days, you can still see the main family attractions (Zilker Park, Barton Springs, The Thinkery) but it will be a bit more rushed.

Do I need a rental car in Austin with kids?
Yes, you need a car in Austin. Austin is spread out, and public transportation sucks (which is one of the biggest downsides to Texas cities.) Having a rental car makes it much easier to get to parks, playgrounds, breweries, and kid-friendly restaurants.

What’s the best age to bring kids to Austin?
Any age! I've found lots of stuff to do with babies in Austin and there's obviously plenty for older kids, too.

Toddlers: Playgrounds, splash pads, Barton Springs shallow area, and kid-friendly restaurants.
Elementary kids: The Thinkery, Zilker Park train, mini golf, and the Wildflower Center.
Tweens/teens: Barton Springs, hiking trails, Alamo Drafthouse, and outdoor music events like Moody Amphitheater.

When is the best time to visit Austin with kids?
Spring (March–May) and fall (October–November) have the best weather for outdoor activities. Not gonna lie, summer can be brutally hot (especially August!!), but that’s also when Barton Springs and splash pads shine. Winter is mild, with seasonal events like the Trail of Lights in December.

As a local, November is my all-time favorite month in Austin for the weather. I'm outside every single day.

If you want more inspiration for your family trip to Austin, just click around! I've written so many guides for families in Austin. You can see all of my kid-friendly posts here. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants In Austin

Austin Breweries With Playgrounds

27 Fun Things To Do In Austin With Kids

Kid-Friendly Hotels In Austin