Hippie Hollow on Lake Travis is the only legally recognized clothing-optional public park in Texas, and it sits about 30 minutes northwest of downtown Austin. That combination, a conservative state with a federally permitted nude public park, makes it one of the more genuinely unusual places in American recreation.
What Actually Happens at Hippie Hollow
Visitors come to swim, sunbathe, and socialize along a steep, rocky shoreline on the western edge of Lake Travis. Clothing is optional everywhere in the park, not just on the water. The terrain is rugged, with limestone outcroppings dropping down to the lake, so expect to scramble a bit to find a good spot.
The park draws a diverse crowd, though it has historically been popular with Austin's LGBTQ+ community and has maintained that identity for decades. Families with children are not permitted. The park enforces a strict adults-only policy: entry is limited to visitors 18 and older, no exceptions.
Is Hippie Hollow Still Open in 2026?
Yes. Hippie Hollow Park remains open and is operated by Travis County Parks. As of 2026, the park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during peak season, with reduced hours in winter months. The entrance fee is $15 per person for non-Travis County residents and $10 for county residents, paid at the gate.
Parking is limited to roughly 200 spaces, and the lot fills fast on summer weekends. If you arrive after 11 a.m. on a Saturday in July, plan on waiting or being turned away. Travis County added a reservation option in recent years for peak-season weekends, and using it is now effectively mandatory if you want a guaranteed entry window.
The park sits at 7000 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732. It is not accessible by public transit, so you will need a car.
The Rules Are Enforced
A few things that trip up first-time visitors. Photography and video recording are prohibited throughout the park. This rule is taken seriously and violations result in immediate removal. Alcohol is not permitted, either brought in or consumed on site. No glass containers of any kind.
Dogs are not allowed. Neither are drones. Cell phones can be used for calls and music, but pointing a camera at other visitors, even accidentally, is grounds for removal by park staff. The culture of consent at Hippie Hollow is part of what has kept it functioning legally in a state that could otherwise make its existence difficult.
Texas law generally preempts local governments from creating ordinances that conflict with state statute on public indecency, but Hippie Hollow operates under a specific exemption that has held up since Travis County established the park in the 1970s. Its legal status is stable as of 2026.
Is Hippie Hollow Worth It?
That depends entirely on what you are looking for. If you want a sandy beach with amenities, this is not it. The shoreline is rocky and uneven, there are no food vendors, restroom facilities are basic, and the hike from the parking area to the water requires decent footing.
What Hippie Hollow does offer is something genuinely rare: a large, legal, public outdoor space where clothing is optional, maintained by a county government, with real enforcement of respectful conduct. There is no equivalent in most of the country. California has unofficial nude beaches. Florida has a handful of private clubs and one county-run option. Texas has this one park, and it is the largest publicly operated clothing-optional facility in the United States by acreage.
For people who value personal freedom in an outdoor setting and can handle a rugged environment, the park consistently delivers. For people expecting a resort experience, it will disappoint.
The broader point, that Texas consistently protects certain personal freedoms while cutting taxes sharply, is worth understanding if you are evaluating where to live. Texas has no state income tax, which directly affects what you keep from every paycheck and every investment gain. Our Texas vs. New York: What You Actually Keep breakdown puts real numbers on that gap. If you are approaching retirement and thinking about where to stretch fixed income, our Best States for Retirees to Avoid Taxes analysis covers Texas alongside the other top contenders.
Use our cost of living and tax calculator to see exactly what moving to Texas would mean for your specific income and spending profile.
Key Takeaways
- Hippie Hollow is open daily in 2026, with entry fees of $10 to $15 per person depending on county residency, and adults-only (18+) admission strictly enforced.
- The park holds approximately 200 parking spaces and sells out by late morning on summer weekends. Advance reservations are available and recommended for peak-season visits.
- Texas is one of nine states with no state income tax. That structural advantage extends well beyond a nude beach, affecting every dollar residents earn and invest year over year.
Sources
- Live or Die Here state tax calculator
- Live or Die Here state data: Texas
- Live or Die Here, California: taxes, laws and costs
- Live or Die Here, Florida: taxes, laws and costs
- Live or Die Here, New York: taxes, laws and costs
Where to confirm these figures
These are the official and primary publishers for the topics in this guide. Check a figure against them before you act on it; laws and rates change, and their current page wins over ours.
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- California Franchise Tax Board
- Florida Department of Revenue
- New York Department of Taxation and Finance
- Federation of Tax Administrators, every state tax agency
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, regional price parities by state
- American Association for Nude Recreation, club directory