The Best Itinerary to Seeing Austin in Just One Day
Headed on a day trip to Austin and not sure what must-see spots to hit up? I got you.
Recently I visited Austin for the first time to go to Austin City Limits (amazing festival by the way) and flew in a couple days early so I could explore Austin! I was visiting my friend who lives there and I asked for her to take me to some of the must-see and do spots around the city.
After having spent some time there, I have crafted the itinerary I would put together if I only had one day in Austin. This itinerary incorporates nature, shopping, barbecue, and dancing all into your Austin day trip so you certainly won’t be bored on your one day in Austin.
Grab your cowboy boots and let’s dive in!
Morning Kayak Ride on the Colorado River
To start off our 24 hours in Austin, we are going to grab our sunscreen and take a kayak ride on the Colorado River that runs right through the center of the city! This was one of my favorite things I did on my trip to Austin and think it is a must-do for anyone visiting.
There are several kayak companies that rent out kayaks. Most of them charge about $15-25/hour for a kayak. But if a canoe or paddleboard are more your speed, those are available at some of the rental locations as well!
My friends and I rented with Austin Rowing Club in downtown Austin. A single kayak was $15/hr or you have the option of renting a double for $20/hr. The staff got us set up in our boats quickly and everyone was very friendly.
The Colorado River offers great views of downtown Austin, you can paddle under the various bridges running over the river, and we even saw some turtles along the way!
Barbecue for Lunch
For lunch I highly recommend grabbing some authentic barbecue at one of Austin’s big barbecue spots.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the Texan barbecue scene (as I was on my first trip), you choose between one of the smoked/grilled meats and pair it with sides such as white bread, cole slaw, macaroni salad, potato salad, pickles- anything you would imagine being at a backyard barbecue!
My friends and I hit up Rudy’s Barbecue where I had some of the most delicious chicken I have ever eaten in my life. For my gluten free/Celiac readers, Rudy’s is definitely the option you want to go with. This was the only barbecue restaurant that I could find a clearly defined allergen list. I called ahead to the restaurant as well and they explained that they prepare the foods separate of one another so there should be little cross contamination. Upon arrival they changed their gloves and reassured me of their protocols. I had a lovely experience!
While I only had the opportunity to visit one barbecue restaurant, my friend who lives in Austin speaks highly of the following options as well:
- Franklin Barbecue – this is a little out of the way of where the kayaking spots are, however it is one of the most popular barbecue places in Austin.
- Terry Black’s Barbecue – This option is most convenient to the kayaking spots and where we are headed next on this itinerary.
Zilker Park and Barton Springs
After lunch we are going to head over to Zilker Park to walk around the park and take a dip in Barton Springs. Zilker Park is a city park that is comprised of over 350 acres and is home to a variety of different things to see. Some of these include:
- Austin Nature and Science Center
- Zilker Botanical Gardens
- Zilker Hillside Theater
- Barton Springs Pool
You can read more about these options here for more information on admission costs, hours, maps, and more.
Out of all that Zilker Park has to offer, I would definitely prioritize trying to hit up Barton Springs. The pool is huge and is fed from underground springs that keep the temperature hovering around 70 degrees year round. If you are visiting on a warm day, this will be a great way to cool off! But even on cooler days, this will be an enjoyable swim.
South Congress Shopping and Dining
Once you’re finished at Zilker park, the next stop on our day trip to Austin itinerary will be to head over to South Congress Ave which is a short drive or 30 minute walk from Zilker Park. Here you will find the mecca of shopping and dining in Austin.
Take a stroll and check out the many boutiques and shops. Among the things you can find include:
- Cowboy boots stores
- Jewelery stores
- Ice cream parlors
- Antique stores
- Live music
- Bars
- Pizza shops
You can find a more detailed guide to South Congress shopping and dining here!
This would be a great place to stop for dinner as well! Read on here for recommendations on where to eat.
For gluten free readers, I personally did not eat on South Congress Ave but checked out a place nearby called TLC Kitchen. This place was awesome. It is an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant where you seat yourself and order from the table so it is fairly laid back. There are beanbag toss games, a huge bar, and tons of tables to hang out and enjoy your food and drinks.
Bat Watching at Congress Avenue Bridge
Around sunset (so either before or after dinner depending on when you want to eat), head over to Congress Avenue Bridge for one of Austin’s coolest nature shows: the great bat exodus.
I had never seen or heard of anything like this before. Every night around sunset (from March through early fall), thousands of bats that have been hanging out under Congress Avenue bridge during the day fly out from underneath in swarms.
Tons of people gather on and around the bridge to watch this cool scene come to life. Though the idea of thousands of bats emerging from underneath a bridge in swarms may sound a bit intimidating, I promise they don’t get too close. This is definitely one of the coolest nature shows you can ask for, plus its free!
If you are interested, there are boat tours that go out on the water under the bridge as well so you can bat watch up close. I don’t think you need to purchase a boat tour since you can get a great view from above the bridge or on the ground below, but the boats looked like a fun and informative adventure as well!
Check out this website for more information on bat watching boat tours.
Get Your Country Dancing Boots on!
To wrap up your day trip to Austin, I recommend heading out to one of the city’s line dancing or two stepping bars! There is nothing more Texan than throwing on a pair of boots to go out dancing and drinking. If you haven’t been, don’t worry about your ability and go have fun!
My friends and I checked out Broken Spoke on South Lamar Blvd and it was one of the absolute highlights of my trip. There was awesome live music, cheap drinks, and tons of people having fun and dancing out on the floor!
For more suggestions on where to go country dancing, check out this list on all the best places in Austin!
Don’t Stop Exploring Here!
Check out my other itineraries for more travel inspiration!
- How Many Days in Venice is Enough? Itinerary + Recommendations for a 1, 2, or 3 Day Stay
- How Many Days in Rome is Enough? The Perfect Itinerary for 2, 3, or 4 Days
- Ultimate NYC 4 Day Itinerary
- San Diego in One Day: Ultimate Guide
Gluten Free like Me?
It’s uber important to always travel prepared! No matter where you are going, its important to always travel with some gluten free snacks on hand!
Click here to learn more about my favorite gluten free travel snacks!
Looking for more gluten free travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!
I need to to thank you for this good read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it. I have got you book-marked to check out new things you postÖ