Sight Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
A sight in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Dec 31, 11:30 pm.
Why go
The bridge carrying Congress Avenue over Lady Bird Lake, with the Capitol at one end and a wide sidewalk facing the fireworks.
It is one of 7 curated places we feature in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake, alongside 2 places to eat, 1 activity and 1 place for a drink. 3 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony and The Driskill.
- Type
- Sight
- Neighborhood
- Downtown
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time
- Dec 31, 11:30 pm
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony
Up to 1.5 million bats stream out from under the bridge at dusk.
Outdoors · Austin · 0.0 mi straight-line - 2The Driskill
An 1886 Romanesque hotel on Sixth Street, the oldest operating hotel in Austin, with a clubby bar off the lobby.
Stay · 0.5 mi straight-line - 3Austin's New Year
The city's free New Year's Eve concert at Vic Mathias Shores, ending with a drone show and fireworks over Lady Bird Lake.
Activity · 0.5 mi straight-line - 4Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
A curving walk-and-bike bridge over Lady Bird Lake beside the Lamar Boulevard bridge, with open views of the skyline.
Sight · 0.7 mi straight-line - 5Continental Club
A South Congress music club since 1955, with live roots, rock and country bands every night of the week.
Drinks · 0.8 mi straight-line - 6The Continental Club
South Congress music bar since 1955 with live country, rockabilly and blues.
Drinks · Austin · 0.8 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is a stop on our Austin New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is our only sight pick in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake guide.
When to go: weather by month, based on Austin
Our climate figures for Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake come from nearby Austin. Average daily highs in Austin run from 60°F in January to 98°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge itself, we suggest: Dec 31, 11:30 pm.
Modelled monthly averages for Austin from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Austin weather by month (covers Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 30.26130, -97.74530
- Destination
- Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake, Texas
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge: quick answers
How much time do you need at Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge?
Plan on about an hour at Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge?
Our pick: Dec 31, 11:30 pm. Insider tip: Arrive early, as the sidewalks fill well before midnight; the show is to the west, toward the Lamar bridge.
Is Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge free?
Yes, we list Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Which TripsCircle routes include Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge?
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge appears on Austin New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add it to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake.
Plan Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake
- Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake travel guide 7 places
- Austin weather (covers Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake
- Jeffrey's Food
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.