12 Best Playgrounds In Austin (Ranked By My Kids)
Austin has some of the best playgrounds in Texas, and lately the city has been busy giving a few of them major upgrades. The Parks Department has poured millions of dollars into places like Pease Park, Walnut Creek, and Circle C Park. We're talking bigger play structures, more shaded areas, and safer play spots in Austin!
My kids ranked the best playgrounds in Austin so you can find one near you to visit.
The Best Parks And Playgrounds In Austin
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.
1. Alliance Children's Garden (top pick!)
The Alliance Children’s Garden is, in my opinion, Austin’s crown jewel: a two-acre playground with climbing walls, cement slides, a water feature, a giant rope gym, tunnels, turf hills, a sand pit, and more. My kids love it - it's one of the only parks where they consistently DON'T EVER want to leave, haha!
It’s right near downtown with skyline views, making it one of the top things to do in Austin with kids.
PARKING INFO: Paid parking is available at the Dougherty Arts Center lot (100 Dawson Rd, 78704), but it fills up fast on weekends. Additional paid parking can be found at the Palmer Events Center garage (about a 5-minute walk). For a free option, try street parking in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood along Dawson Rd.
1000 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
2. Skyline Park (Southeast Austin)
For families in southeast Austin, Skyline Park in Easton Park is a must-visit!! The star attraction is the epic 3-story slide, but you’ll also find a zip line, half-mile biking loops, a splash pad with shade and misters, plus plenty of swings and climbing structures.
One thing I always tell my friends: This playground is in a new development with little tree cover, so it gets VERY hot in the summer afternoons. I always try to bring my kids in the mornings, evenings, or during cooler months.
PARKING INFO: There’s a small dedicated lot, but it fills quickly on weekends. Free street parking is available around the park, though you’ll likely need to walk up a long hill to reach the playground. A stroller is a lifesaver if you’ve got little ones!
7800 Apogee Blvd, Austin, TX 78744
3. Pease District Park (Central Austin)
Probably the most Instagrammed playground in Austin, the 84-acre Pease Park recently underwent a $15 million renovation—and it shows!
The star is the “Treehouse,” a steel-and-rope seed-pod structure with inclusive design features, including wheelchair access around the rim so everyone can enjoy the view. "Malin," the Pease Park troll, is also pretty popular.
You’ll also find wooden climbing structures, a life-size chess board, walking trails, a basketball court, and a pavilion with picnic tables. The historic Tudor Cottage has even been restored as an event center.
PARKING INFO: Weekdays are your best bet for snagging one of the few free spots in the lot on Kingsbury Street. Free street parking is also available along Parkway under the 15th Street bridge.
1100 Kingsbury St, Austin, TX 78703
4. Waterloo Park (Downtown Austin)
This super cool downtown spot is one of Austin’s newest parks! Waterloo Greenway is a 1.5-mile park system that will eventually span 35 acres. For now, the highlight for families is the playground near the amphitheater, featuring climbing areas and a HUGE (and fast!) cement slide. Pack a picnic and enjoy lunch on the grassy lawn right by the stage.
PARKING INFO: Guests get 2 free hours at the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage (1201 San Jacinto Blvd). There’s also paid street parking on the roads around the park.
500 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78701
5. Play For All Abilities Park (Round Rock)
This epic space is designed for all ages and abilities, and Round Rock really went above and beyond! Highlights include a mini “village” with storefronts, traffic lights, and roads, plus a speedway for scooters and bikes. My kids are obsessed with riding their Woom bikes around those kid-sized roads.
You’ll also find a sensory pod, inclusive playscapes and swings, and plenty of picnic tables and restrooms nearby—making it a perfect weekend destination.
PARKING INFO: Free parking is available in the adjacent lot.
151 N A.W. Grimes Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78664
6. Walnut Creek Metro Park (north Austin)
The first thing your big kids will spot at Walnut Creek Metro Park is the sky-high slide—it’s fast, tall, and feels like something out of a water park! Beyond the playground, the park also has miles of trails if you want to add a family hike to your outing.
Originally developed in the 60s and 70s, the playground got a major upgrade in May 2021. Today it features that epic slide, a soft turf play area, a treehouse-themed structure, and a separate playscape just for little ones. Here's a little bit more info that I wrote about this cool park, if you're interested.
PARKING INFO: free parking in an adjacent lot
12138 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78753
7. Circle C Metro Park (south Austin)
Circle C Metro Park recently got a fantastic renovation, and it’s a win for both kids and parents. The playground has two separate playscapes—one for younger kids and one for older ones—with soft, squishy ground that’s easy on toddler tumbles (and mom’s knees). Most of the area is shaded by trees or shade structures, making it a solid summer choice.
Kids will love the musical garden with drums and a xylophone, the gravel pit (a cleaner alternative to sand), swings, climbing structures, and a ground-level merry-go-round.
PARKING INFO: Free parking is available in the Circle C lot, but it gets very crowded on Saturday mornings during soccer games.
6301 W Slaughter Ln, Austin, TX 78739
8. Ramsey Neighborhood Park (Central Austin)
Ramsey Park is a neighborhood gem tucked into Rosedale in north/central Austin. It’s a favorite among my local friends who live in this neighborhood, but also perfect for a weekday adventure if you’re looking for something fun to do with kids in central Austin.
The playground features a giant turtle, slides, a great playscape, and plenty of open space to run. The standout is the huge climbing structure for older kids—a funky mix of ropes and steel pieces that create a one-of-a-kind adventure.
PARKING INFO: Free street parking is available.
4301 Rosedale Ave, Austin, TX 78756
9. Roy G Guerrero Park (Southeast Austin)
The first two words you need to know about this Austin playground: FENCED IN. If you’ve ever chased two toddlers in opposite directions, you know how priceless that is!
Beyond being safe, Roy G. Guerrero Playground sits on a huge green space, away from traffic and noise. It has multiple separate playscapes and is usually less crowded than some of the newer parks on this list—perfect for a relaxed outing. The shaded splash pad here is one of our favorite summer spots!
PARKING INFO: Free parking is available in the adjacent lot.
400 Grove Blvd, Austin, TX 78741
10. Katherine Fleischer Park (Wells Branch)
Whether you live in Wells Branch or not, this playground is a great kid-friendly destination. It’s right next to the historic Gault Homestead, where little ones can peek through the windows while they play.
The playground is heavily shaded and features a 3-story green playhouse that my kids absolutely love, swings, multi-level playscapes, a climbing structure, and a central shaded pavilion with benches for parents to relax while keeping an eye on the fun.
PARKING INFO: Free parking is available in the adjacent lot.
2106 Klattenhoff Dr, Austin, TX 78728
11. Zilker Park Playground (Central Austin)
The Zilker Playground is one of Austin’s older parks—not my personal favorite (I usually head across the street to Alliance Children’s Garden!)—but it’s worth mentioning since it’s so central. The highlight is the Zilker Eagle Train, a 20-minute miniature ride that kids love for just a few dollars.
The playground sits on either side of the train track, with a safety fence in the middle. It’s fun for older kids, though toddlers can get a little confused running from one side to the other! Being next to Barton Springs, the lot fills up fast in summer, but it’s a great spot in winter.
PARKING INFO: Paid parking is available in Zilker Park.
2201 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746
12. Lost Creek Neighborhood Park (west Austin)
Lost Creek Neighborhood Park is a FENCED-IN gem in west Austin—parents of toddlers everywhere will breathe a sigh of relief! Bonus: no sandbox here, so you don’t have to worry about sand getting all over the car.
The park has two large playscapes—one for younger kids, one for older—and plenty of shaded benches for parents to relax. There’s even a charming wooden playhouse filled with fun Texas facts, from the state bird to the state food.
PARKING INFO: Free parking is available in the neighborhood.
1305 Quaker Ridge Dr, Austin, TX 78746
Clearly I love Austin playgrounds! I've spent hundreds of happy hours with my two boys at these epic playgrounds. We love going to a cool Austin playground and then stopping by a kid-friendly restaurant in Austin for a full afternoon of fun in ATX. I hope you find a new-to-you playground that brings you joy. Have fun!
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Pease Park is spelled with a “s.” It’s not “Peace” Park.
Pease is the family name of a former Texas Governor.