The Best Swimming Holes in San Antonio
Cool off this summer with these local spots for splashing around!
A hidden gem on San Antonio’s West Side, Elmendorf Lake Park offers a peaceful urban escape with scenic lake views, shaded walking trails, and a variety of family-friendly amenities. The park features a public swimming pool and a splash pad, making it a great spot to cool off during the summer months. With its proximity to Our Lady of the Lake University and its serene atmosphere, Elmendorf Lake Park is perfect for a relaxing day outdoors.
Entrance Fee: Free
Hours: Open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Directions: Located at 3700 W. Commerce St., just west of downtown San Antonio, adjacent to Our Lady of the Lake University.
Pro Tip: The splash pad operates daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the season. The swimming pool is open during the summer season, typically starting mid-June. Be sure to check the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation website for the most current pool hours and seasonal updates.
Set along the banks of the Comal River, Hinman Island Park is a beloved New Braunfels destination for tubing, swimming, and soaking up the sun. With easy water access and shaded picnic areas, it’s the perfect place to start or end a float. The park’s lush setting and proximity to downtown make it a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike looking to cool off in the river.
Entrance Fee: Free
Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight
Directions: Located at 200 Hinman Island Drive, the park is right next to the Prince Solms Tube Chute and Landa Park.
Pro Tip: Arrive early during peak season to claim a shady spot. Bring water shoes for the rocky riverbed, and keep in mind that alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.
A classic summer destination in New Braunfels, Landa Park Aquatic Complex offers three distinct pools set against the scenic backdrop of Landa Park. The historic spring-fed pool stays a crisp 72 degrees year-round and features a rope swing, water slide, and climbing net for thrill-seekers. Younger swimmers will love the zero-depth pool with its splash-pad style features, while lap swimmers can take advantage of the Olympic-sized pool.
Entrance Fee: Varies by age and residency; free for moms on Mother’s Day and dads on Father’s Day when visiting with family
Hours: Open Memorial Day through Labor Day — Sunday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Directions: Located at 350 Aquatic Circle, inside Landa Park in New Braunfels. Free parking is available in front of the complex and throughout the park.
Pro Tip: Each pool has its maintenance schedule, so check ahead to make sure your favorite is open. You can bring in coolers, snacks, and lawn chairs, but skip the glass, grills, and canopies.
The Guadalupe River has it all with endless spots to swim, wade, tube, canoe, and just enjoy a hot summer day. While the river can get low during really dry months, you can almost always count on the water being a brisk 68 degrees and high enough to swim. Guadalupe River is about a 45-minute drive from San Antonio.
Entrance Fee: $7 for adults, free for kids
Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Directions: Take I-10 West to Ralph Fair Rd/Farm to Market Rd 3351, then turn right onto TX-46 E, then turn left onto St Park Rd P31, and continue onto St Park Rd P31.
Pro Tip: If you're looking for some of the best tubing in Texas on the Guadalupe River, check out Lazy L & L!
This is the second-oldest park in the United States and a favorite spot for locals looking to cool off. It’s also just 2 miles from Downtown San Antonio. There is a natural spring located next to the massive pool, and the massive trees surrounding it help you combat the summer heat. The area is full of history, as Native Americans used to swim in the natural spring, Spanish explorers camped here, and the U.S. Army had stables here. Today, families and anyone looking for a cool spot to swim for free can enjoy lounging by the water. In 2012, the Texas Recreation and Parks Society named San Pedro Springs Park a Lone Star Legacy Park, recognizing its cultural significance.
Entrance Fee: Free
Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Directions: Head northeast to San Pedro Springs Park from Downtown San Antonio.
Blanco State Park is a beautiful park with a lush, scenic river, perfect for enjoying a day away from the city during the summertime. Since the water comes from the Blanco River, you can almost always count on it being a brisk 70 degrees. Though not as popular as the San Marcos River or the Guadalupe River, you can rent tubes and canoes to take down the river if you're looking for a little more adventure!
Entrance Fee: $5 for adults, free for kids
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Directions: This one will take you about an hour outside of San Antonio. Take I-35/US-281 N/I-37 N, continue on US-281 N, then turn left onto Main St, another left onto Park Rd 23, right on State Hwy P23, and Blanco State Park will be on the left.
Pro Tip: If you're looking for some quality reflective time, the western part of the park is usually nowhere near as crowded as the rest of it.
Lady Bird Johnson Swimming Pool
Named after the influential former First Lady, this outdoor pool is located in Lady Bird Johnson Park. The park is a popular spot for families and has a paved bike path, basketball courts, baseball fields, and more.
Entrance Fee: Free
Hours: They vary, so call ahead at (210) 599-0122
Directions: From Downtown San Antonio, get on I-37 N, then continue onto US-281 N, merge onto I-410 E and exit toward Nacogdoches Rd.
Union Pacific Railroad Splash Pad
While not technically a pool or a swimming hole, this beloved splash pad at Hemisfair Park is a great place to splash around and get a break from the heat. Union Pacific Railroad Splash Pad in Yanaguana Garden closed during the pandemic, but it’s open again! You can also enjoy the rest of the park or check out nearby local businesses like Lick Honest Ice Creams and Paleteria San Antonio.
Entrance Fee: Free
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Directions: Head East from Downtown San Antonio, just a mile to the park.
Pro Tip: This is most popular among kids and families, though it’s a fun day trip for everyone.
This pool is part of the 62-acre Woodlawn Lake Park, next to the man-made lake that has drawn visitors for more than 100 years. People enjoy the walking trail and fish from the boating dock, and you can also kayak and canoe on the lake. To cool off, you should head to the public outdoor pool.
Entrance Fee: Free
Hours: Daily noon to 8 p.m., closed Monday and Wednesday
Directions: From Downtown San Antonio, take I-10 W/US-87 N to exit 568A toward Cincinnati Ave.
Pro Tip: Dogs are allowed at the park but not the pool.
An oasis in the city, this popular neighborhood pool in Alamo Heights has been a beloved swimming destination for more than 70 years. It has an Olympic-size swimming pool with continuous lap lanes, a separate diving pool with a 10-foot slide, a shaded kiddie pool, a snack bar, a volleyball area, a playscape, and plenty of picnic tables. The pool also offers private and group swimming lessons.
Entrance Fee: Season passes start at $395
Hours: Hours vary by month and season, so see website
Directions: Follow US-281 N, then take the E Basse Rd exit, then turn right onto E Basse Rd, turn right onto Jones Maltsberger Rd, then turn right onto Viesca St.
Pro Tip: There is no daily admission; you must buy a season pass to swim.
If you’re considering heading to Guadalupe River State Park, you could make a weekend out of it by camping at Bergheim. This campground offers rentals of kayaks, canoes, and tubes so that you can make the most of your time floating on the Guadalupe River. The trip plan when you rent a tube lasts 3-4 hours.
Entrance Fee: See website for costs, depending on your rental
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Directions: Head northeast, then get on I-10 W, then take exit 550 toward Ralph Fair Rd/Farm to Market Rd 3351, then turn right onto Ralph Fair Rd, and finally turn right on White Water Rd.
Pro Tip: Dogs are not allowed during day use or overnight camping. You can’t bring in outside tubes, and you have to rent them.
The Comal River is one of the state's most popular swimming and tubing spots. If you haven't spent a day tubing down the Comal, you really can't call yourself a Central Texan. New Braunfels is the most popular point from which to embark on the Comal River, and several tube rental companies offer tubes, rafts, river shuttles, and more. Check out Texas Tubes, Landa Falls, and Corner Tubes for specific rates and tube rentals!
Entrance Fee: No entrance fee, but tube rental is dependent on the tube company.
Hours: Depends on the tube company
Directions: The majority of the tubing is done in Downtown New Braunfels. Once you're there, you'll easily be able to navigate to your desired tube outfitter.
Pro Tip: Go with a large group and bring your own tubes. You'll save money by not having to rent. After a relaxing and fun ride, there are plenty of places to eat and drink in New Braunfels.
Get to Camp Huaco Springs early because this prime stretch of the Guadalupe River is a very popular place for swimming, tubing, trout fishing, and kayaking, though you might have quite a few tubers to contend with. Located just outside New Braunfels, Camp Huaco is well-run and offers about a mile of riverfront for sunbathing and relaxing.
Entrance Fee: Call for current information: 830-625-5411
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Directions: Take I-35 south toward New Braunfels and take exit 190B. Take a right on Post Rd, another right on Gruene Rd, a left onto Common St, and the first right onto TX-46E. After about a mile and a half, turn right on River Rd, which forks right after about two miles. Camp Huaco is roughly a mile after the fork on the right.
Pro Tip: There are a couple of places where it's easy for swimmers to be swept downriver or for tubers to get flipped from their tubes, so be sure to ask for some guidance on how to avoid that and hang on to your beverage!
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