San Marcos Springs
- Soakable
- No
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Required
San Marcos Springs is not a soaking spring: Public recreational swimming in Spring Lake is not offered; Meadows Center programs center on glass-bottom boats and education. It is a developed hot spring in Hays County, Texas, managed by The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment (Texas State University).
Closures and warnings
Spring Lake is a protected aquatic research and habitat area; public recreational swimming is not offered-visit via glass-bottom boat tours and boardwalks only. As of September 30, 2026.
Soaking
| Development | Developed |
|---|---|
| Soakable | No Public recreational swimming in Spring Lake is not offered; Meadows Center programs center on glass-bottom boats and education |
| Soaking allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Water type | Spring |
| Water clarity | Glass-bottom boats view Spring Lake and San Marcos Springs; Wetlands Boardwalk temporarily closed for repairs |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, 201 San Marcos Springs Drive, San Marcos. |
| Parking | Daily parking permits required at Meadows Center lot (201 San Marcos Springs Drive); buy at Ticket Kiosk or AMP Park (R30) |
| Fee | Glass-bottom boat standard tour: adults $13, seniors 65+ $11, children 3-12 $9, under 3 free (plus 10% service fee on. |
| Hours | Park Monday-Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; last boat 30 minutes before closing |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Seasonal closure | Closed Thanksgiving, Winter Break Dec 21-25, New Year Dec 31-Jan 1, and listed maintenance dates |
| Managed by | The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment (Texas State University) |
Common questions
Common questions
Is San Marcos Springs open?
Spring Lake is a protected aquatic research and habitat area; public recreational swimming is not offered-visit via glass-bottom boat tours and boardwalks only. As of September 30, 2026. Seasonal closure: Closed Thanksgiving, Winter Break Dec 21-25, New Year Dec 31-Jan 1, and listed maintenance dates. Hours: Park Monday-Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; last boat 30 minutes before closing.
How hot is San Marcos Springs?
It is not a soaking spring: Public recreational swimming in Spring Lake is not offered; Meadows Center programs center on glass-bottom boats and education.
Can you soak at San Marcos Springs?
No, swimming is not allowed at San Marcos Springs.
How do you get to San Marcos Springs?
The road in is paved. Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, 201 San Marcos Springs Drive, San Marcos. Parking: Daily parking permits required at Meadows Center lot (201 San Marcos Springs Drive); buy at Ticket Kiosk or AMP Park (R30).
Do you need a reservation for San Marcos Springs?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required.
Is San Marcos Springs free?
The fee is Glass-bottom boat standard tour: adults $13, seniors 65+ $11, children 3-12 $9, under 3 free (plus 10% service fee on.
Nearby
Sources
1
- https://www.meadowscenter.txst.edu/education/glass-bottomboats.html (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName, access.hours, access.fee, access.parking / permitRequired, access.seasonalClosure, hotSpring.soakable / swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote, hotSpring.development, access.roadNote / hazardNote)
More: Texas hot springs