Franklin Barbecue
Aaron Franklin's East Austin barbecue spot, open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch until it sells out. Send two people early to hold the line, or pre-order 5 to 30 lb for pickup.
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Photo: Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0Austin, Texas, USA
Brisket, Barton Springs and a Birthday That Actually Gets Everyone There: Austin With Your Crew
By Crewcation Editorial•Nov 2, 2026•6 min read
Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If your crew books through them, Crewcation may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The plan
The stops
Day 1
The Continental Club
Live music on South Congress since the 1950s, in a dim room with a neon sign. Check the calendar for cover and who is playing.
Day 2
Barton Springs Pool
A three-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park. Open daily 5 AM to 10 PM, but closed 9 AM to 7 PM on Thursdays for cleaning.
Lake Austin Sunset Boat Cruise
One-hour sunset cruise for up to 12 people, with a cooler, ice and water included. Bring your own food and drinks.
Day 3
Texas State Capitol
Free guided tours and a sunset-red granite dome on Congress Avenue. Self-guided visits are allowed daily; groups of 10 or more should call ahead.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
Up to 1.5 million bats emerge at dusk from March through October. Watching from the bridge or the Statesman viewing lawn is free.
Crew tips
Keep the crew happy
- 1Send two people to Franklin Barbecue early and rotate; the line is the plan.
- 2Barton Springs closes on Thursdays from 9 AM to 7 PM, so schedule the swim for another day.
- 3Book the Lake Austin cruise early; it holds a maximum of 12 people.
- 4Check the Continental Club calendar before going, as cover and start times vary by night.
- 5Call (512) 305-8402 ahead for a Capitol tour if your group is 10 or more.
- 6Pick one person to book the stay and one to track shared costs so nobody is chasing payments.
Austin is built for a birthday weekend: barbecue worth planning around, live music every night and water to cool off in. The hard part is the same as any group trip. Eight people with eight different wake-up times will not drift into a good day by accident. This plan puts the few things that need a decision first and leaves the rest loose, so the birthday person gets a weekend and the organiser gets to enjoy it too.
Before You Book: The Crew Basics
Best time to go: Spring and fall are the comfortable windows. Barton Springs charges admission from spring break through October, and the bats are most reliable from March into fall. Check events and hotel rates before you lock dates.
Where to stay as a group: Look for a large rental or a block of rooms near downtown or South Congress, so the crew can walk or share rides to dinner and the music. Book one place together rather than scattered rooms.
Splitting costs: Share the stay and any shared ride or cruise. Each person pays for their own food and drinks. Agree on a rough per-person number before anyone books flights. Prices here are in US dollars.
Skip-the-line tickets
Book tickets for the crew
Browse top-rated Austin, Texas, USA attractions and tours, with live prices from Tiqets.
Affiliate partner: Crewcation may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Day 1: Brisket First, Music After Dark
Lunch: Franklin Barbecue (900 E 11th St)
This is the stop the weekend hangs on. Franklin is open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch, from 11 AM until it sells out, usually between 2 and 3 PM. It is closed Monday.
Crew Logistics:
Evening: The Continental Club (1315 S Congress Ave)
Walk South Congress, then settle into one of the city's famous live music rooms. The club has been presenting music since the 1950s and has a classic neon sign out front.
Crew Logistics:
Austin, Texas, USA in pictures
Day 2: A Spring-Fed Swim and a Sunset Boat
Morning: Barton Springs Pool (2131 William Barton Dr)
The three-acre pool in Zilker Park is fed by underground springs. It is open daily from 5 AM to 10 PM, with lifeguards from 8 AM. On Thursdays it closes from 9 AM to 7 PM for cleaning, so plan the swim for another day.
Crew Logistics:
Evening: Lake Austin Sunset Boat Cruise (3825 Lake Austin Blvd)
A one-hour cruise past lakefront homes, with a captain, fuel, ice, a cooler and bottled water included. The group maximum is 12, which makes it a natural fit for a birthday crew. Tickets start at $42.22 on Tiqets.
Crew Logistics:
Crew budget calculator
What will this trip cost your crew?
Per person
$450–$1,050
Whole crew
$2,700–$6,300
Estimate only, based on $150–$350 per person per day for food, local transport, activities and a shared stay. Flights not included; real prices vary by season.
Day 3: The Capitol and the Bats
Morning: Texas State Capitol (1100 Congress Ave)
Free guided tours run most of the day, and self-guided visits are allowed daily. The Capitol is open weekdays from 7 AM to 8 PM and weekends from 9 AM to 8 PM. Groups of 10 or more should call (512) 305-8402 in advance.
Evening: The Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
Bats roost under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge from March through October and emerge around dusk. Watching from the bridge or the Statesman viewing lawn is free. Late in the season, flights are smaller and timing varies with the weather.
Crew Logistics:
Crew Rules for Austin
A good birthday weekend feels easy because someone made the hard calls early. Settle the barbecue, the swim and the boat, and let the music handle the rest.
Planning an Austin weekend?
So the crew can plan the trip and vote on every stop together in Crewcation. Join the Crew, plan itineraries, and discover top-rated spots together.
Group trip FAQ
Planning Austin with friends
Can a big group skip the line at Franklin Barbecue?
Franklin is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM until sold out. It also offers pre-orders of 5 to 30 pounds for pickup, up to 56 days ahead, and evening buyouts for 40 to 85 guests.
When is Barton Springs Pool closed?
The City of Austin lists Thursday closures from 9 AM to 7 PM for cleaning. Other days it is open 5 AM to 10 PM.
How big a group fits on the Lake Austin sunset cruise?
Tiqets lists a maximum group size of 12 for the one-hour cruise.
Is the Texas Capitol tour free?
Yes. Guided and self-guided tours are free. Groups of 10 or more should call 512-305-8402 in advance.
When can you see the Austin bats?
Bats roost under the Congress Avenue Bridge from March through October, emerging around dusk. Viewing from the bridge or the Statesman lawn is free.
Plan and vote together in Crewcation
Turn this Austin, Texas, USA guide into your crew's trip. Plan and vote on trips together, so nobody ends up as the unpaid travel agent.
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