Over the past decade, Austin has swelled into one of America’s fastest-growing cities, it shows up on nearly every list as one of the best places to live in the U.S., hear live music, start a business — you name it. With 300 days of sunshine, plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, amazing food, music, art - and a lot of these activities are dog friendly - this capital of the Lone Star State is one to add to your dog friendly travel wish list.

Austin has become a cultural mecca for always finding a place with casual vibes, friendly people, and great food. Which is exactly how it stole our hearts several years ago when we first visited.

Best time to visit Austin

The best time to visit Austin really depends on what you’d like to do when visiting. Because you’ll be visiting with your dog, we recommend going September to November or March to April, when 70s and 80s are the anticipated daytime temperatures. As temperatures climb into the mid- to high 90s with high humidity, the Texan summer (May through August) is barely tolerable for visitors. We’re even from the Midwest and after four years of living in California, we could barely stand the heat when we visited in May.

Something else to consider is if certain activities you might be interested in occur at certain times of the year. If you want to hunt for blue bonnets, plan for a spring visit. If you want to catch a huge colony of bats fly out from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge then you should visit between March and October. Lodging can also be expensive and hard to come by if you’re visiting when a large festival is happening like ACL or SXSW, so start with a little research about your key activities and happenings in Austin during the time of your visit to land on the best time to plan your trip.

Where to stay in Austin that’s dog friendly

There are plenty of options when it comes to dog friendly lodging in Austin. Whether you prefer a hotel or a home rental, we’d recommend picking your lodging based on the location of your activities and the vibe of the neighborhood you’re looking for. We prefer home rentals or long term stay hotels with home-like amenities, and having a backyard or a grass area near by. We’ve stayed in the South Congress, Bouldin Creek and Zilker areas. We really enjoyed this rental and our stay at the Colton House Hotel that came with a living space, kitchenette and designated pet relief area.

Dog friendly things to do in Austin

When you plan a trip to a city that has so much to do, it can be hard to pick and choose what lands on the itinerary. We’ve rounded up all our favorite dog friendly activities that we’ve enjoyed during a handful of visits to Austin, and hope it helps you decide what activities will make your visit a memorable one.

EXPLORE SOUTH CONGRESS

The bustling SoCo neighborhood is fun for a little shopping or a bite to eat. Embracing the “Keep Austin Weird” mentality, you’ll find a variety of eclectic boutiques, shops, and bars in this neghborhood. There are also some don’t-miss restaurants: Jo’s Coffee if you’re looking for a snack and the infamous “I love you so much.” mural, Home Slice pizza for slices as big as your head, Sunlife Organics for the best smoothie you’ll ever drink, Torchy’s Tacos for the best queso and fried avocado tacos or Guerro’s if you’re looking for more authentic Mexican, and Vinaigrette for tasty salads. Just be sure to save room for Amy’s Ice Cream.

As you’re exploring don’t forget a photo with the Austin Motel sign. They change their sayings frequently, so hopefully you can catch a fun one. This one was just too perfect for us! <3

SOAK IN THE SUN IN ZILKER PARK

Park hangs are one of our favorite activities and we’d say Austinites agree. Zilker Park is probably Austin’s most beloved park and it’s famous for the huge “Great Lawn” that hosts everything from the Kite Festival to ACL Music Festival. With room for literally hundreds of pick-up games, off-leash dogs, people lounging on blankets, and musicians, Zilker is the heart of Austin. So grab a blanket and enjoy the sunshine with some snacks and friends. You can even get to the park from our favorite trail Ann & Roy Butler Trail, but more on this trail below.

There are several parking lots scattered around the park that are metered hourly. We typically park in the south end lots that you can see from Barton Springs Road. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and someone will kindly give you their paid ticket if there’s time left. If this does happen, make sure you pass it on! It’s such a small thing, but can totally make someones day and is one of our favorite things to do.

If you’re a nature lover, you also won’t want to miss Zilker Botanical Garden. With six themed gardens covering 31 acres, you can easily spend a couple hours strolling the paths and trails, and it’s all dog friendly! The pre-historic garden was our favorite (You can walk where there once were Dino tracks!), while the butterfly garden was a little sad due to the minimal butterfly spottings. There is a small entry fee and parking is available on-site.

TASTE TEST ALL THE local austin food

If you follow us on Instagram, you know every time we come to Austin we eat way too much and it’s always a delicate balance of trying new places and revisiting our favorites. In all honesty, we’ve liked everywhere we’ve eaten. I don’t think a bad meal exists in Austin, but in case they do, here’s a list of some our favorite restaurants from fast-casual to a bit more upscale, but still casual and the must-try menu items. All restaurants have dog friendly patios, obviously.

Torchy’s Tacos: I know you are probably sick of seeing me talk about Torchy’s, but the queso is that damn good. I promise. And if you’re a vegetarian, or even if you’re not, the fried avocado taco’s are bomb. This a meal that also must be enjoyed at the restaurant. The tacos aren’t quite as good when you get them to-go.
Josephine House: My new favorite brunch spot. Not only is this place a total vibe with more patio seating than there is inside, every item on the brunch menu is to die for. We tried the lemon ricotta pancakes, avocado toast and juevos rancheros and shared amongst the table because it was all so delicious. Don’t sleep on their Bloody Mary. They make their own mix and it’s got a kick. A reservation is recommended for this spot.
Bird Bird Biscuit: The BEST biscuit breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had and if you don’t believe me, Yelp! agrees.
Better Half Coffee & Cocktails: This restaurant has a solid menu, but whatever you get make sure you add a side of cauliflower tots. This place also gets busy, so show up at opening if you plan to visit for brunch. The front patio is concrete and the back is mulch so bring a blanket for your pup just in case.
P-Terry’s: P-Terry’s quite possibly trumps In-n-Out. Yes, I said it. They may not have cheese fries, but they won me over with heir delicious, homemade veggie/black bean burger. There are several locations around Austin and most have patios. If you’re visiting a location near the lake, prepare for it to busy at dinner whenever is leaving the water from the day and famished.
Patrizi’s: Proclaimed to have the freshest homemade pasta in Austin, Patrizi’s did not disappoint even after an hour and a half wait. Patrizi’s is located in the Vortex, which is a food truck style complex. Plan for there to be a long line to order your food and then a bit of a wait from there to get it. Make sure you order some starters because those will come out first to hold you over until the main course.
Vinaigrette: My new favorite salad spot in Austin. The La Pepita (no chicken for me) was delish.
Sunlife Organics: As I already mentioned, Sunlife Organics is a delish smoothie spot. Juiceland below is the resident fav, but I think there’s room for both. Try the Shroom.
Juiceland: Another great smoothie and juice spot, Juiceland is all about finding the right drink for you. My go-to is the Wundershowzen + strawberries and my families fav was the Honey Beary.
Terry Black’s: I may be a vegetarian, but my family isn’t and they swear by Terry Black’s (yes, over Franklin’s!). For you veggies, their Mac n’ cheese is tasty, so waiting in line with your friends/family isn’t a total lost cause. We recommend getting here early to beat the line that will start to weave through their parking lot shortly after opening hours.
Home Slice: Tasty New York style pizza where the slice is literally as big as your head. Great to pair with a salad from Vinaigrette.
Easy Tiger: Easy Tiger is known for their huge pretzels accompanied with a variety of dipping sauces. Some of their locations have also incorporated a bakery and their sugar cookie latte was amazing.
Gati: Tasty vegan ice cream that could be a better alternative to Amy’s if you’re dairy free. The ice cream is made with coconut milk, so if that flavor is a turn off for you, then don’t add this one to your list.

HIKE OR BIKE ANN & ROY BUTLER TRAIL around lady bird lake

Ann & Roy Butler Trail is a 10-mile loop that encircles Ladybird Lake and offers a unique perspective of downtown Austin, without car traffic. Bikers, walkers, runners, and dogs on leash all enjoy this tree-lined gem. Some parts of the trail can be a bit crowded, especially on the weekends. The trail is more shaded on the downtown side, but you can connect to Zilker Park from the trail on the southside.

You can find free and hourly parking at the west end of the trail near the MoPac Expy overpass. You can also use AllTrails if you need help picking up the trail from where you decide to start. Make sure your dog stays on leash while exploring the trail and beyond. Make sure you don’t let your dog enter the lake if the temp is above 75 degrees. A blue algae grows in the lake as the temps rise in Austin and can be toxic to dogs if ingested.

hit the water at LADY BIRD LAKE in a retro boat

Kayaking and SUPing Lady Bird Lake are popular activities, but a more unique way to explore the water is renting a vintage boat from Retro Boat Rentals. Retro Boat Rentals has a fleet of rare classic fiberglass runabout boats from the jet-age era (1958-1963) that are electric and the pink boat Gidget is their dog friendly ride. You do not need a boating licensing to operate one of their rentals. You just need to be 21+ and sign an online waiver. We did our rental for an hour and half and that gave us plenty of time to leisurely cruise the lake from one end to the other. It’s recommended you bring your own beverages, but they do provide a bluetooth speaker if you need one.

There is no parking directly at the Waller Creek Boathouse dock where you’ll check in for your reservation, but Retro Boat Rentals did recommend the Mexican American Cultural Center. This is an hourly parking lot and you should park towards the back of the lot to pick up the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail to walk. It can be easy to miss as you’re driving through the lot (we did and parked in the front), but the entrance is in the back left corner. From here, it’s a quick 5-minute walk on the trail to the boathouse. You’ll take the stairs on the left down to the dock and check-in at the Retro Boat Rentals stand.

go back to where it all began at an austin food truck park

One of the many endearing aspects of downtown Austin is its variety in food trucks. Although they can be found in every city they play a starring role in Austin’s social hour and act as a metaphor for the laid-back Austin culture that has welcomed so many. Many brick and mortar restaurants that are staples today in Austin started out as food trucks.

There are several food truck park’s scattered around the city and you can check the Thrillist’s exhaustive food truck park guide for all the details. The Picnic was one of the first food truck parks we experienced in 2016 when we first visited Austin. Some of our fav food trucks have since changed locations, but are worth noting if you want to seek out specific food trucks: Burro Cheese Kitchen, Little Lucy’s, Gourdough’s Donuts and Churro Co.

WALL CRAWL AROUND austin neighborhoods

Austin may be known as the live music capital of the world but it’s also home to several iconic murals that can be found sprinkled all over every neighborhood. Everyone knows about the popular I Love You So Much wall, You’re My Butter Half mural and the Greetings From Austin life-size postcard, but there are so many more to find.

We’ve assembled an Austin wall crawl guide of some of our favorites that are very instagram-worthy. Take a morning to find a few and strike a pose!

TAKE IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART AT LAGUNA GLORIA MUSEUM

Walking through the gates of The Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria you feel like you’ve been transported far from the city to a Parisian chalet —although you are only five miles from downtown. Venture through the grounds to discover art by contemporary artists from around the world that ranges from larger than life sculptures to quiet moments with art in nature along meditative wooded pathways and the water. This is a great spot for a quiet morning walk.

Dogs are allowed to walk the grounds, but cannot enter the building and cafe. There is parking along the side of the museum and you do not need to pay to park or to walk the grounds.

explore downtown austin

There’s a lot to explore within downtown Austin day or night, but this typically isn’t where we spend most of our time when visiting Austin. As you can tell already, there’s a lot to do and see!

There are a handful of districts that make up downtown and offer everything from shopping, good eats, galleries and the Capitol building. While we haven’t spent a lot of time around downtown, we always like to pop into Rainey Street and sometimes 6th Street to see what new restaurants have popped up or if the cute bungalow home establishments are still around. Plan to spend just a few hours walking around these areas when it’s not too busy or grabbing a bite to eat at one of the dog friendly restaurants.

Rainey Street

Bungalow home bars make make Rainey Street unique. This tucked away street is littered with bars and restaurants and a food truck park that’s fun to visit day or night. Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden is a popular choice with a large dog friendly patio and 100+ beers on draft. For a late night treat (or any time of day or night really), donuts are the right choice. Find the sweetest versions at Little Lucy’s Mini Donuts.

6th Street

6th Street is one that you either love or hate. It’s always been described to me as where the college kids hang out, which usually translates to the party spot, probably a bit dirty and not really where I want to take my dog. In my opinion, you should at least visit during the day, when it’s not party time, to see the Driskell (the most haunted spot in Austin), the original Easy Tiger that has outdoor ping pong tables, and see if you can hear any music streaming out to the streets.

Around Downtown Austin

As you’re exploring downtown, make sure to stop at the butterfly bridge pictured below. It’s a great spot for photos and and there’s a trail that runs along the creek below it.

We also usually wouldn’t put a grocery store on our itinerary, but if you’re a fan of Whole Foods like we are then it’s worth a visit to the flagship store where this ATX sign can be found for another quick photo op.

get a 360 view of Austin

If you’re interested in seeing some brag-worthy views of West Austin and Hill Country beyond the 360 Bridge - also known as the Pennybacker Bridge - then head to the Lake Austin/360 Bridge Overlook Trail for a rocky hike up. This is only a short, 5-minute hike, but it is a bit rocky and slippery. There’s not much to do at the top besides take in the amazing view, so bring your camera. While the view is amazing all day long, nothing beats the golden glow over Austin at sunset.

There is parking located on the west side of the road, north of the bridge. The easiest way to get to the parking area is by heading south on Loop 360. There are multiple spots to pull into. Several reviews on AllTrails mentioned vehicle break-ins at the parking on the side of the road. We were a bit hesitant, but parked there anyways and nothing happened. Expect a lot of teenagers to make the trek up at sunset. There’s also a bit of trash to be mindful of.

WAIT FOR THE BATS AT THE CONGRESS STREET BRIDGE

In Key West, people celebrate sunset at the end of each day. In Austin it’s the flight of the bats. At dusk from March through October, you’ll see people congregating on the Congress Street bridge. They’re waiting for the largest urban bat colony in North America to depart for their nightly hunt. The bats can emerge anytime between 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

On the Southside of the bridge across from the Yeti store is “Bat Viewing Parking” in a paid lot with a trail that will take you to the edge of the lake or up to the Congress Street Bridge. We parked around 9 p.m., made our way up to the bridge, and saw the bats fly out 30 minutes or so later. It’s not as dramatic as you’re probably picturing, but when you look towards the red lights setup near the area, you will see hundreds of small bats flurrying out from under the bridge.

DO YOGA AT AUSTIN DOGA

Austin Doga offers virtual sessions or private 45-minute in studio classes for you and your dog. The sessions are ran by founder Nicole Vykoukal who is a yoga teacher and psychotherapist.

We opted for an in-person private session while we were in town visiting. The session is held at Nicole’s house in East Austin. Her beautiful studio is an ADU in her backyard.

During the session, my mom and I did yoga stretches aligned to our intentions, and practiced mindfulness techniques that encourage physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Ruby found her comfortable spot and laid there most of the time, but when she did join me on the mat, she got plenty of massages and belly rubs.

This was the perfect afternoon activity to be the heat during our visit.

grab a coffee AT the instagrammable REVIVAL Coffee

If you’re looking for a fun, local cafe to enjoy a cup of coffee at then look no further. Revival Coffee is one of the most instagrammable coffee shops we’ve ever been too! Serving up specialty coffee and matcha drinks, teas and pastries, Revival is sure to have something for your morning palette. I tried an iced fruity pebbles (matcha, lavender, oat milk) and absolutely loved it. You’ll want to explore every square inch of this cafe and enjoy the decor, with photo-worthy spots even in their parking lot.

CATCH A SUNSET AT MOUNT BONNELL

While part of the allure of Austin includes more than 300 days of sunshine per year, those visitors with more urban experience might find themselves intimidated by the unbelievable variety of outdoor activities that the city has to offer. Whether you're here for the day or plan on sticking around for a while, Mount Bonnell is a great place to get your outdoor adventures started and witness some of the incredible views the city has to offer.

When you reach the top of the 102-stair climb (don’t let this intimidate you - it’s very easy), you can rest at the view deck and pavilion before making your way back down. There is free parking along the base of the steps and the trailhead. If you’d prefer the trail over steps, it’s .5mi roundtrip and also very easy. Located in Covert Park, Mount Bonnell is one of the highest points in Austin at 781 feet.

SHOP AT THE DOMAIN

If South Congress triggers your urge for more shopping, head up north to The Domain. This outdoor shopping center is dog friendly and has more than 100 upscale and mainstream stores and restaurants to explore. Don’t miss Barkin’ Creek for some shopping for your furry friend.

TAKE A DAY TRIP TO SAN ANTONIO

If you have an extra day in your itinerary, take a day trip to San Antonio. It’s only an hour south of Austin and you can walk the River Walk, take in the history at the Alamo and the culture at the Historic Market Square. On your way, stop at Best Quality Daughter and try their boozy boba. We also enjoyed their brussel sprouts - the tangy, soy sauce and nut combo was chefs kiss.