Profile of Austin's Travis Heights Neighborhood

Travis Heights is a quaint neighborhood in South Central Austin full of unique and charming homes. It was first established in the 1890s, though development didn’t really get started until the 1920s. It is an unconventional neighborhood in an urban and hip part of town, and its proximity to the fun South Congress area and downtown Austin make it a very desirable place to live.

Travis Heights is located in a desirable part of South Central Austin. It spans from I-35 on the east to Congress Avenue on the west. The north border Lady Bird Lake (or Riverside Drive) and the south border is Oltorf Street.

Some Travis Heights residents are fortunate enough to live within walking distance of some of South Central Austin’s hip stores and restaurants. Some residents use a bike to get around the neighborhood. However, nearly all residents rely on cars to get around the rest of the city. There are Capital Metro bus stops throughout the neighborhood for those who do not have cars.

This isn’t boring suburbia; Travis Heights is known to be a liberal, eclectic area with a diverse population. People in this neighborhood tend to be the type who support the “Keep Austin Weird” movement and it’s not surprising to see liberal political signs in yards or windows. There are plenty of families, but there are also young professionals, artists, and more.

There are two city parks in Travis Heights; Big Stacy and Little Stacy, which are connected by the Blunn Creek Greenbelt. Little Stacy Park features a free wading pool, a playground, tennis courts, a volleyball court, a basketball court, a playing field, picnic tables and several barbecue pits. Big Stacy Park is actually smaller than Little Stacy and has a free swimming pool that has lanes and a deep end. There is also a hike and bike trail.

Travis Heights’ west border is South Congress Avenue, which is packed with fantastic restaurants, such as Vespaio, South Congress Café, Woodland, Magnolia Café, and Gueros. It is also features coffee shops such as Jo’s and a long row of food trailers in a parking lot, where you can buy everything from popcorn to panini to tacos. Travis Heights is also just south of downtown, where you can find dozens upon dozens of restaurants and coffee shops.

Because Travis Heights is such a historic neighborhood, the homes are all unique and come in all shapes and sizes. You can find everything from modern apartments to large mansions to small houses, though the norm is two-bed, one-bath bungalows. While many of the homes are quiet old, the location is in high demand, so home prices can be high. Depending on the size, expect to pay anywhere from $200,000 to $1 million, though the average is around $300,000.

Post Office: 3903 S. Congress Avenue
Zip code: 78704
Schools: Travis Heights Elementary School, Fulmore Middle School, Travis High School