48 hours in Austin, Texas on a budget under $100

I turned 40 this year and I resolved to travel more. You see, I have four kids and we usually take one big family trip a year, but as a travel writer and 40-year-old woman committed to answering the call of her wanderlust, I wanted more. More travel, more adventure, more intentionality. So I proposed an amendment to my original resolution: Every year, I would take each of my children on a 1:1 getaway, traveling to every place in the United States that I wanted to explore. Spoiler alert: my to-do list is BIG.

I I booked my flights and I got to work arranging trips, itineraries and accommodations, and the lucky McCosham child who won the spot on the first ever Sarah McCosham + Sidekick adventure was Mary, my second born, aged 11 years. Mary starts sixth grade this fall, and honestly, I don't know where the time has gone.

Back to the trip: We both immediately agreed on Austin, citing the Hamilton Pool, several parks and attractions, and a variety of vegan cuisine as justification. (These factors outweighed the sweltering temperatures that might give pause for visiting Austin in August, but we remained steadfast: Austin or bankruptcy!) As a family of six, it is important that I pay close attention to the budget when planning a trip, and therefore, having struck gold in terms of Awesome and Affordable Austin AirbnbsI set myself an ambitious challenge: 48 hours in Austin, Texas, with a budget of less than $100 (accommodation excluding accommodation). Could this be done? We set off to explore.

Things to do for free in Austin

My hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio — a place touted for its low cost of living — so I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to access to free and budget-friendly activities. With a population of nearly a million, Austin is about three times the size of Cincinnati, and I was a little worried that the “bigger is better” mantra that Texas is known, would also apply to the cost of activities, attractions and restaurants. Luckily, not only did I find the prices incredibly reasonable in the Texas capital, but I also came across tons of free things to do in Austin.

Austin's public art is second to none; you'll find large-scale graffiti and murals on almost every main and side street. Mary and I were thrilled by the plethora of public art: Wonder Woman on a downtown building, vibrant murals brightening the alleys, and, of course, the Ionic “I Love You So Much” mural on Congress Avenue.

Speaking of Congress Avenue, not only is it *the* place to shop and eat, but it's also the headquarters of the Texas State Capitolanother must-visit in ATX.

Entrance is free and guided and self-guided tours are available. The grandeur of this building – which is actually taller than our country's capital – is incredible.

Of course, Austin is known for its natural beauty and robust parks, and I was blown away by how many of these attractions were free. The Austin Nature & Science Center was an awesome gem we found while exploring Zilker Park (another free treasure worth exploring in its entirety).

Plus, the peacocks at Mayfield Park (and this glorious city park in itself) stood out as the highlight of the trip. Mayfield Park is home to a large flock of free-roaming peacocks, known for strutting around and putting on quite a show.

Speaking of avian species, ATX is also home to the largest number of avian species in the world. the largest urban bat colony; The Congress Avenue Bridge is home to an estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that emerge every night, like the black redhorse itself.

Best Cheap Attractions in Austin

Not only did I find plenty of free things to do in Austin, but I was also pleased with how many cheap options there were in this Texas city. Mary and I bounced from park to park and attraction to attraction – seemingly in no time! Here are some of our favorite cheap attractions in Austin, Texas:

Texas has an amazing park system and Travis County (home to Austin) is no exception. For $12, Mary and I got access to every Travis County park for the day, including Reimer Rancha park with some of the most diverse flora and fauna in ATX, from lush trees and bold flowers to thorny cacti and brushwood. There is also a short trail that leads to a breathtaking view of the Pedernales River that is worth the trip alone.

There are more than two dozen parks that make up the Travis County parks system; the most famous, of course, is Hamilton Pool Reserve. This must-see destination is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful natural swimming pools in the country and I have to say, it lived up to the hype.

When you visit Hamilton Pool, you'll want to take a reservation via the Travis County Parks website; you will select a spot within the morning or afternoon “reservation times” – this ensures that the pool will not be too crowded. In addition to the day-use fee ($12), I paid $8 for my own entry – children under 13 are free. Please note that the day pass can be pre-purchased online via an online credit card; however, entry fees to Hamilton Pool are cash only.

It's a quarter-mile hike from the parking lot to the pool; it's very steep and rocky at times, so wear good hiking shoes. Depending on water levels and other conditions, swimming may or may not be permitted during your visit, and/or only in designated areas.

An unexpected surprise during our visit to Hamilton Pool was the number of catfish cruising around the shallow end. (Don't worry, they weren't interested in us at all!) Because the water is so clear, you'll be able to see all kinds of creatures that call this Texas oasis home.

The grand total of our Austin park adventures? $20.

Cheap Restaurants in Austin

Austin is known for its Tex-Mex cuisine, and you'll find delicious taquerias in almost every corner of the city. With its year-round warm climate, this Texas city is also known for its food trucks, with large “pods” comprising multiple trucks and equally ubiquitous sidewalk singletons. Add in affordable meals for local students and you'll find that it's very easy to dine on a budget in Austin, Texas.

After spending the afternoon at Hamilton Pool, Mary and I were hungry for some classic Tex Mex dishes. We visited From Nada Cantina on the advice of our Airbnb hosts, and it did not disappoint. We ate our weight in homemade chips and salsa roja, grabbing a veggie taco and drinks (a world-famous margarita on ice for me and a watermelon aqua fresca for Mary) to round out our meal. Because we went for an early meal during Happy Hour (read = discounted menu!), the grand total for this meal was $20 — a steal!

Other inexpensive meals on our trip included a huge plate of black bean nachos from The Vegan Nom ($13), Texas-sized cheese slices from Home Slice Pizza on Congress Avenue ($8.50 ) and the Vegan Crispy Taco. Bouldin Creek Cafe plate ($10). We supplemented our meals with fresh produce and snacks from Whole Foods ($18), bringing our grand total for food to $68.

Budget Accommodations in Austin

Fortunately, Austin's affordability extends to its accommodations; I had booked us a cute Airbnb in East Austin that was the perfect “home base” for our adventures, although I had also researched hotels and other affordable lodging options in ATX.

After browsing Airbnb and weighing our options, I booked two nights at Casa Plataa sleek, modern new casita-style guesthouse in East Austin.

This Airbnb in East Austin was a steal at $113/night; Inside this one bedroom home was a laundry room, full kitchen, full bathroom, and an adorable outdoor patio that was absolutely perfect for our needs. The owners were kind and responsive and even provided us with some provisions upon arrival. (They also had tons of great restaurant recommendations, all compiled into a cute coffee table book.)

If you're more of a hotel type traveler, you'll find tons of great options on Reservation.com — centrally located, well-appointed, and super affordable options! Pictured here: Downtown ATX's iconic Fairmount which offers luxury and a prime location at a surprisingly affordable rate.

So, back to my original question: is it possible to visit Austin, Texas inexpensively? Indeed, it is. The capital of Texas is not only a music hotspot with killer Tex Mex cuisine, fascinating history, immense natural beauty, and the quirkiest, coolest attractions, it also makes for an incredible and affordable getaway. My daughter and I found so many free and cheap things to do in Austin, Texas that we definitely needed more than a weekend to do them all. A return trip is certainly in order.