Is Lakeway a Good Place to Live?

Lakeway is one of the most established communities in the Lake Travis area, known for its marinas, multiple golf courses, hill country views, and access to highly regarded Lake Travis ISD schools. The city has its own police department, parks, an airpark, and the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center campus. Buyers who want a lake-oriented lifestyle within commuting distance of Austin consistently put Lakeway near the top of their list.

The Hills is a gated golf community within greater Lakeway, built around The Hills Country Club and its championship courses. Homes range from established residences on mature, tree-lined streets to larger estates backing to fairways. Our team recently represented the buyer of 34 Wingreen Loop in The Hills, a 4-bedroom, 4-bath home of about 3,363 square feet that closed at $995,000 in June 2026, which is a useful reference point for the community's mid-range.

Lakeway is served by Lake Travis ISD, a district that has earned numerous Texas Education Agency distinctions and is a major draw for families relocating to the area. Campuses serving Lakeway addresses include Lakeway Elementary and Serene Hills Elementary, with students feeding into Lake Travis High School. Boundaries can vary by street, so we always recommend verifying the zoned campuses for any specific address with the district.

Lakeway is roughly 20 miles west of downtown Austin. Outside of peak traffic, the drive typically takes 30 to 40 minutes via RM 620 or Highway 71 to MoPac or Southwest Parkway. Rush hour along RM 620 can add meaningful time, so many residents plan around it. Commutes to the tech corridors of Northwest Austin generally run 30 to 45 minutes depending on the destination.

Lake Travis is the largest of the Highland Lakes and the recreation hub of west Austin. Residents enjoy boating, wakesurfing, fishing, and swimming, with marinas, boat clubs, and waterfront restaurants scattered along the shoreline. Lakeway City Park offers lake access and trails, and the nearby Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave covers most shopping and dining needs. One thing to know: Lake Travis is a flood-control reservoir, so water levels fluctuate with drought cycles.

As of mid-2026, established single-family homes in Lakeway typically start in the $600,000s, with golf course and gated-community homes commonly trading between $900,000 and $1.5 million, and waterfront or luxury estates well above that. Our buyer clients closed on a 4-bedroom home in The Hills at $995,000 in June 2026, which reflects the market for updated homes in Lakeway's gated golf communities.

Yes, golf is central to Lakeway's identity. The Hills Country Club operates multiple courses, including the Jack Nicklaus Signature course in The Hills and Flintrock Falls, and the city also offers Live Oak and Yaupon golf courses. Beyond golf, residents have access to tennis and pickleball facilities, the Lakeway Swim Center, marinas, and an extensive city park and trail system.

The most common trade-offs are the commute, which depends heavily on RM 620 and Highway 71 traffic, and Lake Travis water levels, which drop noticeably during extended droughts and can affect boat ramps and marina access. Home prices also run above the Austin-area median, and much of the housing stock in central Lakeway dates to the 1980s and 1990s, so some homes need updating. For many buyers, the lifestyle outweighs those considerations.

All three sit in the Lake Travis corridor with Lake Travis ISD or Leander ISD schools and strong hill country appeal. Lakeway is the most established, with golf, marinas, and its own city services. Bee Cave centers on the Hill Country Galleria and newer construction. Steiner Ranch, a large master-planned community between Lake Austin and Lake Travis, offers extensive community amenities and Leander ISD campuses. The right fit usually comes down to commute pattern and home style.

The Lakeway market is hyper-local: gated sections, golf course lots, and lake proximity all price differently. The Fenton Grossman Group at Douglas Elliman works this corridor regularly, including representing the buyer of 34 Wingreen Loop in The Hills, which closed at $995,000 in June 2026. Through our relocation-focused YouTube channel, The Real Austin, we also help out-of-state buyers compare Lakeway against other Austin-area communities before they ever get on a plane.