An aqua playground.

Just a short drive from the hustle and bustle of Austin’s city life, Lake Travis offers a seemingly unending list of recreational activities for young and old alike. Created in 1942 with the completion of Mansfield Dam, the lake is actually part of the Colorado River. The south shore of Lake Travis encompasses the small towns of Lakeway and Volente. Further away from Austin, the north shore is enjoying a boom in development as land on the south shore becomes scarcer. Many Austinites are choosing to move to communities such as Lago Vista and Pointe Venture and commute into Austin. On either shore there's always plenty of places and activities to keep you busy on Lake Travis.

Hiking, camping, boat access...oh my!

Lake Travis boasts a bevy of multi-use parks. Many feature a host of activities to keep boaters and non-boaters occupied for endless excursions—from swimming, sunbathing, scuba diving, volleyball, hiking, camping, horseback riding and more. Below is a guide to the LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) parks and recreation area, giving you plenty of ideas on where and how to play on Lake Travis. For even more ideas, clubs, and activities, see the More to Do page. Whether you live on the lake or are just visiting, have fun responsibly. 

Choose your own Austin adventure...aqua edition.

You may be a land lover on a rare water outing or a lake rat who can't let a day pass without a splash. Either way, there's a place for you on Lake Travis, whether you have a boat or not. From private clubs that become an extended family to one-day jet ski rentals for some quick thrills, and drive-up, shoreside lounging. Below is an ever-growing list of places to visit, clubs to check out, and things to do on Lake Travis. For a detailed list of the lake's parks and their ameneties (including boat ramps), check out the parks page of this section.

The Oasis' famous decks

Shoreside and area restaurants surrounding Lake Travis.

A day on the lake is sure to provide fun...and build a hearty appetite. A cold beverage is often the appetizer of choice after a sun-filled outing. Beyond that, the options become wide open. From instant gratification pub grub to intricately prepared fine dining, Lake Travis has become a top notch dining scene. Read below for a smattering of the restaurants that await you. (Listings marked with * denote they are accessible by boat.)