Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Many consider it as the happy marriage of tennis and ping-pong. For those unfamiliar with the game, the net is typically shorter than in tennis, and the courts are more compact. As a result, you are not traveling as far of a distance in between volleys. Throw that all together, and you have a great workout that is easy to pick up. Austin is home to an active pickleball community with players of all ages and skill levels. Whether you started playing years ago or want to try it out for the first time, here are a few places where you can play to your heart’s content.

Austin Tennis & Pickleball Center

With how warm it can get in Austin during the summer months, it’s often a solid strategy to wait to play until after sunset. For those purposes, Austin Tennis & Pickleball Center has eight lighted pickleball courts open for booking. Courts are available for 30, 60, and 90-minute durations at $8 for singles courts and $16 for doubles. It’s a great place to play any time of day, especially for folks on the North East side of town.

Bouldin Acres

You can spend a lot of time at Bouldin Acres. Equal parts restaurant, bar, and court — the venue lets you go straight from a game of pickleball to eating a meal and enjoying a drink and lawn games. You can book courts for 30-minute increments, with extensions available if no other group is waiting. During the evenings and weekends, courts are $20/half hour. And during the day, Monday-Thursday, they run for $10/half hour. After you’ve worked up a sweat, you can pick up some food from one of the food trucks on site.

Drifters Social & Pickle Hub

Located in far South Austin, this neighborhood coffee shop and bar is two venues in one. This spot has two outdoor courts, multiple onsite food trucks, a giant screen TV, live music and so much more. Friends who don't want to pickle can choose between coffee and delicious craft cocktails and hang out while others dink and dunk. 

Rosewood Neighborhood Park

Rosewood Park is just down the street from the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex in East Austin. It’s a spacious park with plenty of shade and room for activities. There’s a free-lighted outdoor pickleball court available to use. It’s a mixed-use court with lines for tennis and pickleball, meaning that the net is a bit taller than standard, but it’s still a great free option, especially if you are planning a park day with kids or a big group.

Austin Pickle Ranch

This is Austin's largest indoor pickleball facility with 16 courts in an air conditioned space. Take a group or join open play hours at this state of the art facility. Pro-tip: go on off-peak hours for only $20 an hour of play.

Last Stand Brewing Company

If you want another indoor option for your play session, then look no further than Last Stand. Located in this roomy South Congress brewery, you can enjoy all the pleasures of the game on their private court while avoiding the outdoors. Prices range from $25-$45 per hour, depending on the time of day and if equipment is needed.

Pan American Neighborhood Park

The Pan American Neighborhood Park is another great free option. Located over on East 3rd Street, this park is home to beautiful murals and relatively new playground equipment. They have three dedicated outdoor pickleball courts and one multi-purpose court with options for pickleball. If you’re feeling hungry, the park is just a few streets away from the famous la Barbecue and Juan in A Million.

The Pitch

Calling The Pitch a sports bar would be a massive understatement. It’s an energetic North Austin hub for all sorts of drinks, food, and games. For regular pickleball court rentals, you can book a maximum of 2 hours at a rate of $20/hr. They have additional rates available for private events, tournaments, and private lessons. Tire yourself out on the court, and then enjoy eats and drinks from over a half-dozen vendors. You have options for Texas barbecue, tasty tacos, Vietnamese rotisserie chicken, burgers, coffee, cocktails, cold beer, and a ton of other snacks.

The Austin Recreation Center

In general, The Austin Recreation Center is a lovely place to get involved if you find yourself needing to move your body more. They have open play for pickleball on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For the unfamiliar, open play means that folks of all skill levels are welcome to come as they please without the need to set up their games ahead of time. It is an excellent way to get into an activity if you’ve been curious about it. There are three indoor courts available, so you can stay a little bit cooler as you check out the hobby.

South Austin Recreation Center

Like its more centrally located counterpart, the South Austin Recreation Center is an excellent place for pickleball players of all skill levels. The open play hours are incredibly expansive running every day of the week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. across multiple air-conditioned courts. If you’re looking to cut your teeth as a beginner or play more competitively, you’ll likely find matches that suit your needs. The facility also runs a youth pickleball program at the low cost of $10 for five sessions.

Other Racquet Social Club

Enjoy the best of vibrant, social pickleball atmosphere at Other Racquet. With three tournament-regulation courts flanked by luxe cabanas, this venue is made for top-tier play and pure comfort. Enjoy drinks from their full service bar and food from rotating food trucks on site. 

Contributed by Jade Fabello
Jade Fabello is an Austin-based writer and a recent graduate of the University of Texas, where he was a double major in the Journalism and Communication and Leadership programs. You can find his work at JadeFabello.com. 
Instagram @Jade__Fab. Twitter: @Jade_FW