Austin · see the sights
Explore this modelled ride. Check the route and current conditions before riding.
Rides are joined where they pass nearest you.
Your whole outing, with time for stops. All rides start and finish at Lady Bird Lake by the Congress Avenue Bridge.
Rides for you
The sights
Allow about 2 h 25: 1 h 05 of riding at an easy 7 mph, and 20 min at each of the 4 sights.
Congress Avenue Bridge bats
Up to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats live under this bridge in summer.
At dusk from March to November, the bats fly out to find food.
This is the largest bat colony in a city in the world.
The bank by the bridge is crowded at dusk. Walk your bike there.
Checked against Texas Parks and Wildlife: Congress Avenue Bridge; Atlas Obscura: Austin's Congress Bridge bats.
Stevie Ray Vaughan statue
This bronze statue shows the blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Ralph Helmick made it, and the city unveiled it in 1993.
Vaughan often played at Auditorium Shores, near this place.
Bike parking about 0.1 mi away (3 places).
Checked against Wikipedia: Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial; Michael Corcoran, The story behind the Stevie statue.
Texas State Capitol
The Texas State Capitol was completed in 1888.
It is made of red granite from Burnet County.
It is approximately 15 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
The Great Walk to the building is for people on foot. Leave your bike at the driveway.
Bike parking about 360 ft away.
Checked against Texas Highways: the lost history of Texas granite; Legends of America: Austin.
UT Tower
The tower of The University of Texas is 307 feet tall.
It was completed in 1937 and held the library's books.
Orange lights show on the tower when the university has a success.
The South Mall is for people on foot. Walk your bike there.
Bike parking about 200 ft away.
Checked against Texas Longhorns: Texas traditions, the Tower; UT News: Tower shines orange.
The words at each stop were written for this ride and checked against the sources named. Bike parking is from OpenStreetMap; it is not checked on the ground. Museums and churches have their own opening hours.
Along the way
- Viewpoint, drinking water, toilets
- Stevie Ray Vaughan statue
- Mexic-Arte Museum (museum), Tejano Monument (monument), Monument to the 36th Infantry Division (monument) · viewpoint, church, café, bakery, drinking waterGood place to stop
- Texas State Capitol
- Texas State History Museum (museum), James Stephen Hogg (monument), Texas Hillel Foundation (church) · café
- UT Tower
- Harry Ransom Center (museum), Saint Austin Catholic Church (church), Möge Tee (café)
- Christ Science Church (church)
- The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center on Congress Avenue;The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center (museum), Texas Toy Museum and Arcade (museum), Twinkle Twinkle Lone Star Guitar (monument) · café, drinking water
Drinking water is mapped at 6 points; the longest stretch without is 3.4 mi (mile 2.6–6.0).
Places are from OpenStreetMap within 60 m of the route (0.2 mi for a landmark such as a château or museum), and climbs from the modelled profile. Nothing here is checked on the ground and opening hours are not known. A good place to stop has food and water or toilets together, nearest the middle of the ride.
Ride from Austin
6.6 mi · 170 ft climbing · 170 ft descending.
Busier roads (model stress 3–4): 6% of the distance. Steepest modelled 0.3 mi: 2.1%. Unknown surface: 20%.
Gravel: 0.5 mi on smooth gravel paths.
Modelled route, not a verified itinerary or a rider-specific recommendation. Check current road access and conditions.
Download the exact GPX · Browse all Austin rides
Route data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: Mapzen Terrarium; 3DEP data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.
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Rides are modelled from OpenStreetMap and terrain data and are not field-checked yet. Times here are estimates at a sporty pace. Catalogue access does not mean a ride fits your ability or available time. Low traffic stress includes quiet/shared streets, not just separated paths. Check current conditions before you go. McKinney Falls State Park charges an entry fee and keeps set hours. The Veloway is open dawn to dusk, one way (clockwise), and helmets are required there. The Hill Country rides (Loop 360, RM 2222, RM 620, Lime Creek Road) run on fast roads with a shoulder or none. From June to September, ride early and carry plenty of water.
Renting? Rent a bike, bike shops and bike share
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Profile colours show approximate slopes; short pitches may differ.