Things to do on Lake Travis
Lake Travis
The luscious 18,000-acre escape for Austin weekenders
Leaving the Austin city limits, spring breakers, young professionals who need to release a week of working at a desk, graduate students, and those simply looking for a good wander toward a common environment:
They end up at Lake Travis.
Its sprawling, winding topography is such an attraction that there are more than 40 unique party boat rental spots right on the lake. For those looking to explore from Austin and beyond, here are a few of the things to do at Lake Travis.
Devil’s Cove on Lake Travis
A plane flying overhead the Jonestown area of Lake Travis might see a medley of white specks – like a flock of giant bobbing seagulls. Fly lower and those dots become houseboats, powerboats, yachts, and Lake Travis party barges, lined together in rows as jet skis glide past, inner tubes swirl, and the thrum of bass echoes across the water.
Devil’s Cove on Lake Travis is the most significant party cove on Lake Travis, certainly the most attractive in Texas, and surely a contender for the top on-water gathering place in the entire United States. The cove exists near the Lake Travis north shore, like a stubby tree branch of water that juts up into a piece of Jonestown terrain. Northshore Marina’s ship store is the closest locale to resupply with fuel, drinks, and snacks. Party boat captains on Lake Travis may know Devil’s Cove better than their own bedroom, and visitors make memories that sometimes look like staring off into the lake horizon – a little hazy.
The cove swells during the major spring and summer holidays, and it requires no tickets to join a flotilla that would give the Navy a run for its money.
Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark
photo: volentebeach.com
So, the raucous, potentially debaucherous mass cannonball of splashing human beings at Devil’s Cove isn’t quite your speed? Maybe something a little more family-oriented.
The Volente Beach Waterpark and Resort is a dream day for a five-year-old, and hey, if you’re 40 and splashing gleefully under the cascading mushroom water fountains – nobody’s judgin’. The park is four acres of Lake Travis shoreline and melds a pirate-ship-festooned lagoon with waterslides, Beachside Billy’s Restaurant, weekly live music, and a bounty of cool shade.
There’s the saying, “Have your cake and eat it, too?” Beachside Billy’s holds wing and taco nights every week, so you get to have your waterslide and eat wings, too. The Bungalows at Volente Beach Resort have been voted “Best of Leander” six years in a row, and you can see why – they include eight spacious cabins and a four-bedroom lake house, accommodating up to 50 total guests, so your family reunion or corporate weekend can live right on the beach. The Volente Beach Waterpark and Resort is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Travis, an easy drive from Austin, and directly behind VIP Lake Travis Marina, which provides party boat and party barge rentals for those venturing out of the resort.
Lake Travis State Parks
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department oversees 15 parks on the borders of Lake Travis in conjunction with Travis County Parks and the Lower Colorado River Authority. Each park offers a unique opportunity to camp, hike, fish, or come out for a beautiful calm day on the shore with a picnic.
Eleven of the 15 parks offer camping facilities, and families coming out should remember that Hippie Hollow Park on the eastern Lake Travis shore is indeed, a nude beach. Explorers trying to find the right Lake Travis park for them can find deeper information from the Travis County Parks, Lower Colorado River Authority, or Texas Parks and Wildlife. Those making campground reservations can do so through Travis County Parks.
Visit Lake Travis responsibly
Many of the above things to do on Lake Travis – particularly Devil’s Cove – invite rowdy partying on a large scale. We encourage all visitors and boaters to have fun responsibly. Utilize a designated boat driver, have a life jacket on the boat for every person (as required by federal law), and know your boater right-of-ways when traversing through hundreds of party boats in a confined space. Visit Safe Boating Campaign for free resources on boater safety.
Once you’ve checked those boxes, have a great time!
About Lake Travis
Lake Travis was created as a reservoir on the Colorado River back in 1942 with construction of the Mansfield Dam. Spanning over 18,000 acres, it is a central hub for recreation and outdoor activities in the Texas Hill Country. Known for its clear blue waters, the lake is surrounded by rolling green landscapes, parks, trails, and picturesque limestone cliffs. Anglers find it attractive for its large population of largemouth and striped bass, as well as Guadelupe bass, white bass, and catfish. With numerous marinas, restaurants, and boat rental services, Lake Travis is a popular destination for both locals and tourists seeking adventure and relaxation in a gorgeous natural setting.