10 Top Public Tennis Courts in Austin

In a city as big as Austin, there are various free or low-cost public tennis courts in Austin where anyone can play. Unlike private country or tennis clubs, all these locations can be used without a membership. The best public tennis courts offer great playing conditions, convenient locations, and easy booking or accessibility. For those looking to improve their game, Austin tennis lessons are available at many of these public courts. Whether you’re new to the sport or looking to refine your technique, these lessons provide a great opportunity to learn on your time at your preferred public court location.

In this article, we’ve gathered a list of the top public tennis courts in Austin, highlighting the best spots for every type of player. With this list, you’ll have all the information you need to enjoy tennis on a public court in Austin.

1. Burnett “Blondie” Pharr Tennis Center

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 4201 Brookview Road in Austin, TX
• Access: Public access, fee ($1.50-$4 per person depending on age and time of day and week)
• Courts: 8 Outdoor Courts
• Hours: Open 7 days a week. Hours change depending on time of year

The Burnett “Blondie” Pharr Tennis Center is a municipal tennis facility offering eight outdoor Laykold courts, all of which are lighted for evening play. Like the other public tennis centers in Austin, there is a fee per person but it provides excellent value with its top-tier amenities and services. It’s situated next to Patterson Park and near Mueller, making it a accessible destination for those downtown, on the east side, or coming from 35.

Pharr is known for its professional coaching and racket services. Rubin Yanez, one of Texas’ top racket stringers, offers expert racket stringing on-site, and the center features lessons and clinics. The facility includes a pro shop with bathrooms, adding to its appeal as a clean and well-maintained venue.

2. Austin High Tennis Center

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 1717 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78703
• Access: Public access, Free
• Courts: 8 Outdoor Courts
• Hours: School Year: Mon – Fri, 5:30PM – 10PM. Sat – Sun, 7AM – 10PM. Summer and Holiday: Mon – Sun, 7AM-10PM

Located down by Lady Bird Lake, Austin High Tennis Center features eight well maintained outdoor hard courts. Since 2014, the center has been a free facility, making it one of the most popular places for tennis in Austin. The courts are shared with the Austin Independent School District, so public access is available outside of school hours.

The hard courts are top quality, there is a ton of parking, and there are great lights so you can escape the Texas sun. As mentioned previously, this is a very popular location so you’ll want to show up at off-peak times or be prepared to wait.

3. Caswell Tennis Center

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 2312 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, TX 78705
• Access: Public access, fee ($2-$5 per person depending on age, residency, and time of day and week)
• Courts: 8 Outdoor Courts
• Hours: Weekdays, 8AM – 10PM. Weekends, 8AM – 6PM

Caswell Tennis Center is one of the oldest and most cherished tennis facilities not just in Austin, but all of Texas. Situated in historic West Campus, this venue has served tennis players for over 50 years. The center boasts 8 outdoor tennis courts, all with lights. Despite being a historic facility, it has modern amenities, including well-kept facilities, and easy access to nearby public transportation. While it isn’t free, like many of the other paid tennis centers in Austin the fees are very affordable, often under $5 per person.

Court reservations open two days ahead, starting at 8:45 am, ensuring players have a chance to book their spot. If you are looking for more than just a hit around, they do offer many clinic, classes, and lessons run by the facility. They also have a full pro shop where you can buy gear and get your racquet restrung. Even if you want to just go work on your game by yourself you can pay $20 hour for a ball machine. Pound-for-pound Caswell is certainly one of the best spots for tennis in Austin.

4. South Austin Tennis Center

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 1000 Cumberland Rd, Austin, TX 78704
• Access: Public access, fee ($2-$4 per person 90 min session)
• Courts: 10 Outdoor Courts
• Hours: Weekdays, 8AM – 10PM. Weekends, 8AM – 8PM

If you live south of Lady Bird Lake, South Austin Tennis Center might be the perfect public court for you. The only tennis center south of the river features 10 outdoor courts, each equipped with lights so you can play after the sun goes down. Like the other tennis centers mentioned, it has a pro shop that not only sells racquets, but also lets you demo rentals so you can try before you buy.

You can book a court online 48 hours in advance and no additional membership fee is required. And it is usually recommended you do book ahead of time because it is an extremely popular location. They do also offer classes and programs through the tennis center if that is something that interests you. The courts are also quite separated from each other so you do get a good amount of privacy when you play.

5. John B Connally HS tennis courts

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 13400 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753
• Access: Free, open to the public
• Courts: 8 Courts
• Hours: Weekday, 5:30PM – 10PM. Weekends, 7AM – 10PM

We have to represent north Austin and shout out John B Connally High School as a fantastic choice of tennis courts. These courts used to be my personal local court of choice so I can vouch for their quality. Connally has 8 really well maintained courts that ensure you’ll be playing on a good surface. Between a neighborhood and 35, it is a less busy location than its more centrally located counterparts so you almost never have to wait.

Like all other high school courts in Austin, you can only use the courts outside of school hours. I always used to play here at night to avoid the brutal Texas sun. Many of the courts are separated by fences with black tarp covering so it is both private and will help keep errant shots off other courts (again, personal experience). Near 35, dozens of parking spots, and quality lights. It’s a good under the radar spot that is completely free.

6. Lake Travis High School Tennis Courts

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 3324 Ranch Rd 620 S, Austin, TX 78738
• Access: Free, open to the public
• Courts: 8 Courts
• Hours: Weekday, 5:30PM – 10PM. Weekends, 7AM – 10PM

The Lake Travis High School Tennis Courts provide an excellent setting for tennis. With eight outdoor courts, each separated by fences, these facilities are designed to minimize distractions from adjacent courts. These public courts are free to use and have lights for night time tennis.

Players have also noted the importance of preparing for the occasional windy conditions, as the courts’ elevated location can lead to brisk breezes. Since Ranch Road 620 S is the only road in and out, it can be hectic traffic-wise, but let’s be honest, most of Austin isn’t immune to traffic. If you live out west, these are really well-maintained free court options for lessons, recreational play, or league matches.

7. Little Stacy Neighborhood Park

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 1500 Alameda Dr, Austin, TX 78704
• Access: Free, open to the public
• Courts: 2 Courts
• Hours: 5AM – 10PM

There are quite a few parks in Austin that have one or two tennis courts with varying degrees of quality. Little Stacy Neighborhood Park is one such park that features two tennis courts that are open to the public and free to use. Located in one of Austin’s most historic neighborhoods, Tarvis Heights, it is a quiet location that offers plenty of shade and comfort. There are a lot of old oak trees surrounding the courts which is good for keeping you cool but also both pleasant and quintessentially Austin.

As a free location in a neighborhood that is close to downtown, it can be a bit busy during peak hours (they do have lights for night tennis). Also, there aren’t a ton of places to park (street parking) as it is also a popular place to walk due to surrounding trails. But if you’re parked anywhere near South Congress you can easily walk to the courts. You can also park just south of the park at Big Stacy Park as it is also a quick walk away.

8. Austin Tennis Center

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 7800 Johnny Morris Road, Austin, TX 78724
• Access: Public access, $4 fee per person
• Courts: 10 Outdoor Courts
• Hours: Weekday, 8:30PM – 10PM. Weekends, 8:30AM – 9PM

We can’t forget about those of you who live in far east Austin. Austin Tennis Center fills the tennis needs of anyone living in those neck of the woods. With 10 expertly maintained courts, lights, coaches, and small fees, it goes toe-to-toe with any of the well-established tennis centers more centrally located. They have designs for expansion (like the rest of the city does, mind you) so it may very well soon be the preeminent location for tennis. But for now, with its more remote location it might just be the perfect place to snag an open court time.

9. Beverly S. Sheffield Tennis Courts

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 2803 Greenlawn Pkwy, Austin, TX 78757
• Access: Free
• Courts: 4 Outdoor Courts
• Hours: 5AM – 10PM

Between the Crestview and Brentwood neighborhoods there are a lot of families around, and these are great courts for kids and beginners. They aren’t the greatest quality surface, but they are free and one of the few parks where there are more than two courts available. The courts do have good lighting and ample parking, making them an attractive option if you’re heading in for some night action. Two of the courts have pickleball lines drawn so there may be pickleballers taking over at certain popular times.

10. Kealing Middle School Tennis Courts

Key Things to Know:

• Address: 1607 Pennsylvania Ave, Austin, TX 78702
• Access: Free
• Courts: 3 Outdoor Courts
• Hours: Weekday, 5:30PM – Nightfall. Weekends, 7AM – Nightfall

The Kealing Middle School courts find their way onto this list partially for sentimental reasons. I personally took lessons on these courts for many months over a decade ago. I mostly liked that they were over on the east side where I lived, there was barely ever anyone there, and they were free. Are they the greatest quality hard courts in the world? Not really. Are they facing the wrong direction so the sun is always in someone’s eyes? Yeah, yeah they are.

But besides Martin Park tennis courts, which are down by Lady Bird Lake (and also a solid option), they are the only tennis court location on the Eastside with multiple courts. Which means you can usually just show up and start playing. In a world where everything has to be booked online and reserved, it’s kind of nice to just go play on a whim. And a heavy dose of personal nostalgia doesn’t hurt either.

Austin Public Tennis Courts Compared

Court	Address	Access	Facilities	Hours
Burnett “Blondie” Pharr Tennis Center	4201 Brookview Road in Austin, TX	Public access, fee ($1.50-$4 per person depending on age and time of day and week)	8 Outdoor Courts	Open 7 days a week. Hours change depending on time of year
Austin High Tennis Center	1717 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78703	Public access, Free	8 Outdoor Courts	School Year: Mon – Fri, 5:30PM – 10PM. Sat – Sun, 7AM – 10PM. Summer and Holiday: Mon – Sun, 7AM-10PM
Caswell Tennis Center	2312 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, TX 78705	Public access, fee ($2-$5 per person depending on age, residency, and time of day and week)	8 Outdoor Courts	Weekdays, 8AM – 10PM. Weekends, 8AM – 6PM
South Austin Tennis Center	1000 Cumberland Rd, Austin, TX 78704	Public access, fee ($2-$4 per person 90 min session)	10 Outdoor Courts	Weekdays, 8AM – 10PM. Weekends, 8AM – 8PM
John B Connally HS tennis courts	13400 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753	Free, open to the public	8 Courts	Weekday, 5:30PM – 10PM. Weekends, 7AM – 10PM
Lake Travis High School Tennis Courts	3324 Ranch Rd 620 S, Austin, TX 78738	Free, open to the public	8 Courts	Weekday, 5:30PM – 10PM. Weekends, 7AM – 10PM
Little Stacy Neighborhood Park Tennis Courts	1500 Alameda Dr, Austin, TX 78704	Free, open to the public	2 Courts	5AM – 10PM
Austin Tennis Center	7800 Johnny Morris Road, Austin, TX 78724	Public access, $4 fee per person	10 Outdoor Courts	Weekday, 8:30PM – 10PM. Weekends, 8:30AM – 9PM
Beverly S. Sheffield Tennis Courts	2803 Greenlawn Pkwy, Austin, TX 78757	Free	4 Outdoor Courts	5AM – 10PM
Kealing Middle School Tennis Courts	1607 Pennsylvania Ave, Austin, TX 78702	Free	3 Outdoor Courts	Weekday, 5:30PM – Nightfall. Weekends, 7AM – Nightfall