Congress Avenue Bat Bridge Kayak Tour in Austin
Austin, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Watch more than a million bats fly out of the Congress Avenue Bridge on an evening kayak tour of Austin that’s timed to catch the spectacular natural show. Observing the Congress Avenue Bridge bats from a kayak means you don’t have to find a spot among the crowds on the riverbank, giving you a front-row seat as the Mexican free-tailed bats take to the sky.
- No experience needed: Included lesson gets you out on the water
- See the Congress Avenue Bridge bats from the river
- Great chance to see the city lights after dark
- Convenient departure point in a central location
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Life jacket
- Paddle lesson and safety instructions
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 200 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704, USA
Meet in the parking lot at 200 E Riverside Dr!
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Austin
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Recommend you wear swimsuit, windbreaker jacket, or lightly layered synthetic clothing
- Bring sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, waterproof camera, bottle water, bug repellent, towel, and extra change of clothes
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Alix_G
Rives and Freddy were awesome guides! My parents and I loved this tour. It was beautiful to see the sunset and skyline from the river, and we saw a good amount of bats! I would definitely recommend this tour to other family and friends!
Reviews
4.6
based on 248 reviews
Linwood_H, Mar 2026
This is an improv-pop up. Met the guide and assistant in a parking lot, needs signage. Showed up at 6 per the instructions but did not proceed to the launch point until 7. Other kayakers got the prime bat viewing spot. The launch site is also improv - a hill with a few hold points that is unsafe for clients. Nice couple and a nice time on the river.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi there you caught us in our first week of being open so we've got kinks to work out. It's definitely not an "improv" pop-up as we've been in business for over 10 years, but it is a new home with new challenges. I promise if you come back all the kinks will be worked out.
Mary_G, Oct 2025
I can appreciate this organization is run by young men. However, the life vests were not adequate for use on the lake. They were tattered and filthy. The kayaks could have been cleaner. When the person in charge spoke about the bats if you were anywhere outside of 15 feet you couldn’t hear him due to all of the other noise. A Microphone would’ve been nice. Out of five stars, I would be remiss if I gave it anything about a three minus. If we were to return, we’d walk on the bridge rather than spend the money to tour again.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
If you walk on the bridge you can't see them unfortunately due to the fact they are black bats against a dark background. Guides are supposed to dispose of overly worn jackets, but I think they are just getting a bit complacent towards the end of the season. Additionally, great feedback on the microphone we do buy them, but they tend to break due to water exposure unfortunately so we don't exceed a set budget for them.
Liz, Oct 2025
We had a hard time hearing the guide. We thought we were going to get an inflatable kayak, but didn’t. We had never kayaked before & got no advice for beginners. We did get up close to the bridge and got a great view of bats exiting the bridge for the night.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
So we use hard frame kayaks because duckies (inflatable kayaks) tend to sink (there have been 2 deaths this year from inflatables), cannot be land launched like we do (so your feet would be wet the whole time), and lack structural support. We give a basic 5-10 minute instruction at the beginning of the trip, but if you are late you will not get any till out on the water. Bigger groups are a bit more difficult to navigate, but we do maintain a 1 guide per 8-10 guest ratio so there are always experts around for you to ask any kind of question you can think of.
Christina_H, Oct 2025
such a unique experience! nico and the other tour guides were great and made the experience memorable for us.
Kelley_R, Oct 2025
It’s a very informative and beautiful experience. The guide was very knowledgeable, helpful and funny
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We aim to make at least ten dad jokes per tour so I hope we batted expectations out of the park.
Gussie_S, Oct 2025
It is very fun and relaxing. My first time kayaking and I loved it. We saw lots of bats! Very amazing view. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
I hope you got absolutely bat s**t crazy!
lisagallo63, Sep 2025
Excellent adventure seeing the bats in Austin. Our guide Henry was excellent. He was funny, helpful and most important patient with us since we are novice Kayakers. We learned a lot about Austin in this unique experience. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thanks so much for the awesome review! We aim to make the trip informative and extremely beginner friendly.
kmbw0125, Sep 2025
Great experience, no kayak experience needed, fun way to view such an interesting phenomenon! Fun tour guides.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Lady Bird Lake is weirdly the most beginner friendly body of water I have experienced in my 20+ years of kayaking experience.
Kristen_O, Sep 2025
It was great! Definitely worth the price and super fun! Much better seeing from the water than the bridge
Response from Host, Nov 2025
It's incredible the viewing difference is from seeing them against a sky view versus the dark water.
Kate_A, Sep 2025
This tour was great. We were lucky enough to get a really good night with the bats, so many came out. The view from the kayak of the bats and the city was amazing. Went with my mum who is a 1st time kayaker, nobody fell in so great success. Would definitely recommend.
You get slightly wet with the paddling so pay attention to the recommendations
Response from Host, Nov 2025
If you call in next time you're in town I can give the life hack I use to keep 100 percent dry on trips. Cause even a 7 year guide still somehow can't keep dry.
Jami_M, Sep 2025
Super amazing experience seeing the bats. It definitely was tough if you don’t have experience, but worth it
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Now that you have a bit of experience we wish you the best on your future kayaking adventures!
Trinity_L, Aug 2025
We did this last year and one of the best experiences. I will forever remember this. I would highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks so much for remembering us and coming back to leave a review! I hope next time you're in town you will check us out again.
Diane_H, Aug 2025
Knowledgeable guides paddle with you to the Congress St., Bridge to see the bats take flight. You have to get past the launch point which on the lake has a lot of muck. Once you were past the muck, the lake is amazing with few currents to interfere with paddling. I learned it so much about the bats, why they come, where they go when they leave, and what their routine is from the scouts who make sure everything is safe to the stragglers who stay behind all year. I also learned about the benefits that bats provide us by eating bugs and producing guano that preserves crops. I had no idea they were so beneficial. I also learned about the discrimination bats have endured over the years and why they are protected species. There’s a healthy heap of Austin history in the tour too. If I were to improve the tour at all, I would give headsets to everyone, so the guides could be heard without paddling alongside them. But this way also gives the option of paddling up close or going behind or a little ahead for a quieter experience. Guides had a great personality and I would absolutely do this again.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Great feedback! We did try to do headsets about three years ago and encountered a few problems with water logging of equipment, damage through use, etc. and ownership decided the expense to maintain it was not worth upcharging guests and canned the concept.
I personally love the idea though and appreciate the suggestion! My goal is to make Lady Bird Lake as accessible as possible.
Sally_J, Aug 2025
Eli was our tour guide, and he was very nice to wait on us as we got stuck in traffic on I-35 on the way. The experience was fun and informative as they shared great facts about the area and the bats we got to see. The teenager even had a great time!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks so much for the amazing review! We hope you'll come back out with us the next time you visit Austin.
Antonio_P, Jul 2025
The experience was great. It is easy to paddle the kayak. The bats are smaler than I expected but it was pretty nice. Austin and Will were amazing, a lot of information about the city and the bats
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks so much for the amazing review! We hope we didn't drive you too batty while you were out on the water with us.
Yvette_L, Jul 2025
The tour guide was very knowledgeable. The scenery is incredible and watching the bats under the bridge is quite an experience!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks so much for coming out on the water come check us out again in the future!
Lisa_D, Jun 2025
Great experience! San, Austin, Tristan and Nicholas were amazing guides. Very knowledgeable and made everyone feel comfortable and safe.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for the amazing review! We will let the guides know you enjoyed them out on the water.
Eric_P, Jun 2025
I went towards the end of June. Weather was fantastic and the bats didn’t fail to disappoint. Aiden was a fun, informative, and engaging tour guide. I really enjoyed my time.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for the amazing review! I hope you'll come back out with us again in the future and we will let Aidan know you had a great time out on the water with him.
Alicia_O, Jun 2025
It was nice and relaxing. We didn't feel rushed to get to our destination which allowed for us to enjoy the scenery and the water. We also loved the fun things our tour guide shared with us about austin along the way. And of course the bats were the best part. Seeing them on the water gave us a front row seat
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Been doing this for a very long time now and there is no view like the bats in Austin at this time of year. Glad you also appreciated that we don't beeline straight for the bridge like other tours out there.
Darrin_J, Jun 2025
Great experience. Well worth the price. Our tour guide Aidan was very knowledgeable and gave us a history lesson about the city of Austin, the lakes and the bat habitats. Honestly my favorite part. Once you get a hang of the kayak (for the first timers) it’s really a great time. 10 out of 10. Definitely recommend.
PS. My guy Ralphie was nice too.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks so much for the amazing review! I am not sure if you tried a tandem or single kayak while you were out on the water with us, but we recommend singles generally as doubles take more coordination and practice to nail.
Brent_W, May 2025
It was fun! Will did a great job. I would go again. It was fun to be out on the lake. We some bats not a ton, but that was because of a strom.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Because the Mexican Free Tail Bat is so small storms in the area or storms that will roll in within an hour or two of us leaving the water always makes them a bit weird. It's also quite amazing to me how they are able to tell weather so well. Hope to see you again and wish we could of earned your 5 stars.
Michelle_C, Apr 2025
Suggestion...talk about residential district next to waterline building so the tour is closer to the bat Bridge and better viewing of residential district as a whole
Response from Host, May 2025
Not sure if you are talking about the neighborhoods east of 35 which are far from the congress bridge or the bars on Rainey street made out of old homes which is also far from the bat bridge. We do go all the way to the Congress Bridge on our tours and every guide customizes their tours to their interests. We find that by not scripting our employees they are able to be more passionate about the topics they cover.
Dareth_K, Mar 2025
A must do! Seeing the bats from the water is amazing. JT and crew were phenomenal! They were helpful, informative, and kept a chill vibe going.The lake is easy to kayak.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thanks so much for the awesome review! I will let JT know you appreciated your time out on the water with him!
Cheryl_L, Oct 2024
Being on the water enjoying time with my sisters was a great way to spend an evening. It was beautiful weather and kayaking at night was a different experience. Overall loved every minute.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Glad you got to see the beautiful night sky with us!
Alexandra_G, Oct 2024
Tour guides were really friendly and knowledgeable. Answered all questions with ease. Seeing the thousands of bats was an unforgettable experience.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thanks so much for coming out on the water with us! We hope you get to share this unforgettable experience with us again in the future!
Jeanine_S, Oct 2024
This was a very special and memorable experience for our family. We loved getting to see the city skyline at night and see the bats from directly under the bridge.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
We're glad you got to have such a memorable experience with us and hope we get to see your family again in the future!
Andrs_B, Oct 2024
Great experience! Great way to spend the evening, kayaking was great and Reid did a great job explaining everything, and was very knowledgable about the bats as well. We got a great spot to watch the bats, pretty unique experience, definitely recommend it if you’re in Austin. Also, great spot to take pictures of the skyline. Would definitely come again!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thanks so much for the awesome review! We'll let Reid know that you had a great time out on the water and we hope to see some of those pictures in the future!
Shelly_H, Oct 2024
Great hosts, awesome way to spend the evening viewing the beautiful downtown Austin and experiencing these amazing little bat creatures
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thanks so much for the absolutely batty review!
Matt_H, Sep 2024
Bats were amazing. Tour seemed a little unorganized. I also didn't realize parking was free under bridge, so I ended up paying 15 dollars for parking 5 min away. That's more on me. But could have been more clear. They also only had dry bags for purchase. None to borrow
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Hi there just a heads up for all future bookings. The parking under the bridge is free and everything to the East as well is typically free. There is also a neighborhood 5 minutes away by walking with free parking.
It's also standard practice to never lend dry bags for all tour companies in Austin. At least for the near decade I've been in the industry here.
Pam_D, Sep 2024
Sam was so knowledgeable about bats and very interesting to talk to. We were the only two on the tour for this night and we appreciated that he didn’t cancel and gave us the full experience as if we’d have been part of a large group. He didn’t quite make me love bats, but you could tell he did!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
We're all a bit batty here especially our guides who have been with the company for a year or more.
From $50.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Congress Avenue Bat Bridge Kayak Tour in Austin
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