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Congress Bridge Bats
Address : 220 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704
Phone : (___)-___-____
Currently Rated : 4 by 84 customer(s)
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About Congress Bridge Bats Austin
Austin Real EstateThe Congress Avenue Bridge spans Town Lake in downtown Austin and is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America.  The colony is estimated at 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats.   Each night from mid-March to November, the bats emerge from under the bridge at dusk to blanket the sky as they head out to forage for food.  This event has become one of the most spectacular and unusual tourist attractions in Texas.  The most spectacular bat flights are during hot, dry August nights, when multiple columns of bats emerge.  There are several points from which to view the event, and an information kiosk is located on the north bank of the river, just east of the bridge.


Bats Season is Mid-March to Early November

Three Cool Ways to View the Bats


1. Capital Cruises Bat Watching Tours
Capital Cruises Austin is home of the Largest Electric Paddle Wheel Boat in the Country and the now famous Sunset Bat Watching excursion. This tour fills up nearly every night during bat season some times a few days in advance.  Use this link to Capital Cruises Bat Watching and Sightseeing Tours for more info.  Prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for kids. You need to arrive about 30 minutes before sunset for this one and buying tickets in advance is frequently required.  This tour sells out almost every night during the summer, so we recommend you buy tickets in advance

2. Kayak Bat Watching Tours from Live Love Paddle
In the heat of the summer, watching the bats from a Live Love Paddle kayak tou is the way to go.  Tours start at Joe's Crab Shack on Lady Bird Lake where you kayak up the lake to see the bats emerge.  The minimum weight on bat-watching tours is 30 lbs and maximum weight is 275 lbs.  Tours start just before dusk and times vary with the season.  Prices are $38.50 per person and tandem boats are available.  Rumor has it the view from the water of Austin's downtown skyline is almost as amazing as the bats themselves.  These tours fill up, we highly recommend you make a reservation

3. Bike Tour from Austin Bike Tours and Rentals
Another cool way to see the bats is from an Austin Bike Tours and Rentals bicycle tour.  They mix in half day of downtown Austin activities. You get to choose from different activities that includes Frisbee golf at Pease Park, pitch and putt at Butler Park, a visit to Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park, and some biking around Austin's Lady Bird Lake. Talk about a tour of Austin's great outdoor lifestyle! Then they finish up with some good old fashion sightseeing with a stop at the Congress Bridge Bats. You may want to buy tickets in advance as space is limited to the number of available bikes. Prices are just $35 per person and you can learn more by visiting the Austin Bike Tours and Rentals

Where to Eat while Visiting the Bats


1. Zax Restaurant and Bar
Zax is a casual, upscale restaurant and bar located just south of downtown that caters to a range of clientele.  The ambiance of the dining room, with bright light, warm wood floors and vaulted wood ceiling, reminds one of a secluded lodge in the heart of the city.  Zax caters to all dining styles - with quaint indoor seating areas, an outdoor patio, and a copper bar that seats up to 20.  They're locally owned and operated.  Visit Zax Video City Guide listing to see a video review, pictures, and more.  We should mention there is no direct bat viewing from the restaurant but they do have free convenient customer parking about a block away from the bats. Remember the bats emerge at dusk and you may want to book a reservation at Zax to make sure you time it right to work in viewing the bats.

2. Shoreline Grill
Located across from the bats main departure point, Shoreline Grill offers a good view of the bats departure. It is locally owned and operated and they don't serve anything from environmentally unfriendly fish farms or politically controversial sea zones which highlights a little of Austin's green personality.  Shoreline is a very upscale establishment and their prices reflect the extra attention to detail.  Most fish entrees cost between $20 and $30 a plate and steak entrees are a little more.  They do have one of the best seafood menus in Austin.  Here's a link to Online Reservations if you need it.
Map to Congress Bridge Bats
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Congress Bridge Bats - 220 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704