Best Austin Neighborhoods: The Lake Travis Guide

Do you long for hill country living with all the modern amenities? Lake Travis may just be the perfect place to make your new home. Home to some of the city’s most scenic and luxurious neighborhoods, Lake Travis is located along the Colorado River and, as in the name, Lake Travis.

While Lake Travis certainly offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, it is also just 15 miles northwest of downtown, allowing you to enjoy all that Austin has to offer. (Though you may not want to leave with all the outdoor and lake activities to take part in!)

In this neighborhood guide, you’ll discover what makes Lake Travis a unique and popular place to live in Austin, TX.

Zip Codes

78734
78738

Average Home Price*

$ 1.05 M

Home Styles

Traditional builds, Mediterranean-style homes

Average Price/SqFt*

$351

Why Austinites Love Lake Travis

Lake Travis is a unique area of Austin because it provides a quiet, secluded haven without sacrificing luxury or amenities. It’s also the ideal neighborhood for those who love football and lake activities.

Hill Country + Amenities

Enjoy the best of both worlds—hill country living with all the comfort and convenience of modern luxuries. Living in Lake Travis allows you to enjoy a quiet life of seclusion with legendary views of the rolling hills while still being just a short drive from Downtown Austin .

The amenities in the Lake Travis neighborhood can’t be beat. Some neighborhoods feature clubhouses, pools, spas, game rooms, and more. There are also plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation like biking, hiking, or water sports.

(Pictured: The Beach Club at the Hollows On Lake Travis).

Football

Love the show Friday Night Lights? Well, if you’re in Lake Travis, you can live it. Whether you have a student-athlete in your family or just love the energy and excitement in the air at a high school football game, you can enjoy competitive high school football right in your own backyard.

The Travis Lake High School football team, the Cavaliers, was the first football program in the state to win five straight state championships. And NFL quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Garrett Gilbert both played on the Lake Travis High School football team.

(If you’re more a fan of the show than actually watching the sport, take a trip over to Kuempel Stadium at Pflugerville High School to see a game where the pilot episode was shot.)

Lake Activities

You can’t talk about the Lake Travis lifestyle without mentioning everything it has to offer. With miles of lake access, Lake Travis residents can swim, boat, sail, water ski, wake surf, and fish. Did we mention party barges? Yes, that’s a thing. (And we are here for it!)

If staying active is part of your lifestyle, you’ll enjoy all the different ways you can enjoy the lake with family and friends.

Lake Travis Real Estate

Before you start looking for your dream home in Lake Travis, here’s what you should know about the neighborhood and its real estate.

Neighborhood Ambiance

Don’t let the luxurious estates intimidate you. Lake Travis residents also enjoy the laid-back lifestyle Austin is known for. While the mood is casual, it’s still sophisticated—offering luxury amenities and hip restaurants for all to enjoy.

Architectural Styles

The area offers large, luxurious waterfront estates in diverse architectural styles. You’ll find traditional builds alongside Mediterranean-style homes—most with larger footprints than other areas in Austin.

The cove communities around the lake are naturally separated, making Lake Travis a neighborhood-driven area. From smaller, master-planned neighborhoods to gated estate-style communities, Lake Travis offers a little something for everyone.

Average Home Price

Lake Travis’s average home closing price is $1,052,762 or an average of $351 per square foot.

Walkability

Since you often have to maneuver around the Colorado River to get to where you want to go, the area is fairly car-dependent. While the individual neighborhoods may be walkable with clearly defined sidewalks and bike paths, moving from area to area often requires a vehicle.

The winding roads within Lake Travis allow time to relax and reflect while taking in the gorgeous blue waters. With many bike and walking paths, there is a true sense of community.

Schools

Exemplary schools make Lake Travis a popular place to live. Students living in Lake Travis are zoned for schools in the Lake Travis Independent School District.

They may be zoned for Lake Travis Elementary, Lakeway Elementary, Bee Cave Elementary, West Cypress Hills Elementary, Lake Pointe Elementary, Rough Hollow Elementary, Lake Travis Middle, Hudson Bend Middle, Bee Cave Middle, and Lake Travis High School.

Where to Eat in Lake Travis

When it comes to tasty food, Lake Travis has a few hidden treasures. Not to mention, you really can’t beat a meal with a view of Lake Travis.

The Oasis

Even if it’s a tourist hotspot, The Oasis is a must for every Austinite—at least one time. You can enjoy lunch or dinner at the restaurant with a beautiful view of Lake Travis. Whether you’re sitting out on the deck or indoors, you’ll enjoy a selection of chef’s specials and drinks with a spectacular view, especially at sunset.

The menu offers American cuisine and Tex-Mex favorites with a selection of wines, beer, margaritas, and specialty drinks. (We recommend sippin’ on an Oasis Sunset as you watch the sunset!) The Oasis does not take reservations, so if you visit during busier hours, there may be a bit of a wait.

Oasis Texas Brewing Co.

If you’re looking for a casual bite and local brew while you’re out at the lake, look no further than Oasis Texas Brewing Company. Located 450 feet above Lake Travis, Oasis Brewing offers one of the best views of the lake. The restaurant serves locally sourced tasty bites like the Pimento Cheeseburger.

Visit the taproom for a selection of craft brews with fun names. The Patio Pounder Light Lager is perfect for those 100+ degree summer days, but if you want something a little heavier when it’s nice out, the Redneck Yacht Club Double IPA is delicious. If craft cocktails are more your speed, they also have a barrel room where you can grab a frozen drink or barrel-aged cocktail.

Steiner Ranch Steakhouse

It probably comes as no surprise that Steiner Ranch Steakhouse is located on what was once 5,200 acres of ranch land. As a home base to the founders, livestock, and Steiner rodeo company, the land has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s.

Today, you can enjoy prime steak, an excellent wine selection, and beautiful vistas that give you a real taste of Texas. Of course, we recommend the steaks, but we can’t NOT mention the stuffed avocado appetizer or the chuck wagon cheesecake that really brings the whole meal together.

Frog & The Bull

While it may not be right on Lake Travis like some of our other picks, Frog & The Bull is an excellent date night spot with tapas, steak, seafood, and a great selection of wines. You can sit indoors or outdoors and may even catch some live music on Friday or Saturday evenings.

This really is a great spot, no matter how hungry you are. If you’re looking for a lighter bite, the restaurant has shareable Spanish tapas and charcuterie options. And for those who are Texas-hungry, there is steak! (And don’t even get us started on the all-you-can-eat brunch option.)

Things to Do in Lake Travis

While lake activities are certainly one of the main draws of Lake Travis, there are plenty of other things to do in the area outside of lake recreation.

Parks and Sights in Lake Travis

Hippie Hollow Park

As the only clothing-optional public park in Texas, Hippie Hollow Park is doing its best to keep Lake Travis weird. Hippie Hollow features a steep, rocky shoreline that gives you direct access to Lake Travis with designated swimming spots.

Due to the clothing-optional nature of the park, it’s only open to people 18 years and older. Pets are also prohibited, so leave the pups at home. When capacity is reached, the park is closed for the rest of the day, so if you’re going on a holiday weekend, you may want to get there early.

Mansfield Dam Park

Mansfield Dam Park is yet another place to take in the beautiful views of Lake Travis. Not only is it home to the largest public boat ramp on Lake Travis, but Mansfield Dam also features an extensive scuba diving park with underwater dive platforms at different lake levels. On the dive, you’ll see sunken boats and different geological points of interest.

Mansfield Dam isn’t just for scuba diving or boating. You can also swim in the secluded cove, catch some fish with the family, or settle in for a picnic and some playtime on the playground.

Flat Creek Estate Winery

Flat Creek Estate is the spot for experiencing Texas Hill Country wine. Nestled on 80 acres of land, Flat Creek has a full working vineyard and winery, a Tuscan-inspired tasting room, and a full-service restaurant. The restaurant, Ellera, features authentic North End Italian cuisine with a 3-course menu.

This is not your typical winery experience. It’s specifically designed to offer unique and memorable experiences with an 18-hole disc golf course, walking trails, and event spaces. The Pavilion area offers a shady place to sip your wine while listening to live music on the weekends, with a light bites menu available from The Bistro at Flat Creek.

Volente Beach

Volente Beach is a seasonal resort and waterpark with access to Lake Travis. You can enjoy not just the beach but also pools and waterslides. The park features a couple of larger waterslides with kid-friendly pools and playscapes. Wristbands are only available for purchase on-site. Parking and lockers are also available for a fee.

As with every area of Lake Travis, Zebra Mussels are present when you’re in the lake, so it’s best to bring your water shoes to protect your feet if you plan on enjoying the beach. And if you plan on bringing a cooler or food bag, the park charges a fee.

Outdoor Activities in Lake Travis

Lake Travis Zipline Adventures

If ziplining is on your bucket list, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the place to do it. Open for both day- and night-time zipline tours, it features ziplines from 250 feet to over 2,800 feet (the longest zipline in Texas!).

While waiting for your turn to zip, you can enjoy beautiful views of Lake Travis and the Texas Hill Country. When it’s your turn, you’ll get to experience a 3-hour tour which includes 5 ziplines and a boat ride.

Pace Bend

Pace Bend is another special spot to get killer views of Lake Travis while enjoying water recreational activities. You can swim on the beach and go boating, as well as hike, bike, or ride your horse on its trails.

Pace Bend is also a popular camping spot, giving you the opportunity to camp on the cliffs that overlook Lake Travis. The park offers both primitive campsites with the best views and improved campsites with access to water and electrical hookups, as well as showers and restrooms.

Muleshoe Bend

Muleshoe Bend Recreational Area offers miles of multi-use trails that give you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of Texas Hill Country. (In fact, it’s one of our favorite spots to peep the infamous bluebonnets!) You can even tent camp under the West Texas stars along the shore of Lake Travis.

You can hike, ride horses, mountain bike, and picnic at the park, as well as rent kayaks, fishing kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. The area also has a boat ramp if you've brought your boat.

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