Congress Avenue Bridge
Viewpoints · Austin

Congress Avenue Bridge

Photo: LoneStarMike, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The bridge crosses Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin. Visitors watch Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the structure at dusk. The colony grows to over one million bats from spring through fall.

On day 2 of Austin, San Antonio and Houston in 7 Days

Good to know

Tickets
Free
Time needed
30 minutes
Best time
Dusk from March to October
Getting there
Walk or drive to downtown Austin

Itineraries with Congress Avenue Bridge

Day 2 of Austin, San Antonio and Houston in 7 Days

Austin outdoors

How Congress Avenue Bridge fits into a day.
  1. 9:00Barton Springs PoolAustin
  2. 12:00Umlauf Sculpture GardenAustin
  3. 15:00Lady Bird LakeAustin
  4. 20:00Congress Avenue Bridge batsAustin
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Congress Avenue Bridge questions

When do the bats emerge?

Bats leave the bridge at sunset. Timing varies with weather and season.

How many bats live under the bridge?

The colony reaches over one million Mexican free-tailed bats in summer.

Can you walk across the bridge?

Yes. Pedestrians use the sidewalks on either side for viewing.

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