Hermann Park Conservancy

Hermann Park is one of my favorite places in Houston, and the closest you’ll get to Mother Nature inside the busy city of Houston. My favorite features:
1) Running paths
2) Miller Outdoor Theater: FREE seating on the grassy hill overlooking the theater, where you can meetup with friends and bring a delicious picnic to watch all of Houston’s top performance groups every year (e.g. Houston’s ballet, symphony, opera, theater, local dance/​music groups, and more!).
3) Special features: Japanese Garden, Millennium garden (?), duck pond with paddle boats, zoo.
4) Rice University across the street, the perfect extension to your running route!
FREE parking in the zoo parking lots within reasonable walking distance to the Texas Medical Center. Gates open at 8:30am, and I must say this has saved me from the exorbitant parking fees in the TMC parking lots throughout my 5 years of graduate school. I am thankful to Hermann Park for allowing us grad students & postdocs to park in their lots and make the daily migration across the street to work in the TMC.
One downside of the park is how crowded it gets over holidays (stay away during spring break, July 4^th, and certain Miller Outdoor performances). There is just no effective way to direct the traffic, so all surrounding roads are backed up like crazy, and despite adding a new parking lot recently, it’s impossible to find parking after 10am on holidays.
Oh yea, and there is also a golf course and driving range that is pretty nicely kept and a pretty asset to run around (though I haven’t played).

Such a beautiful and HUGE park. There’s lots of things to do and see like the Japanese Garden and it seems like they have a lot of plays/​shows in the outside theater. Definitely a nice place to walk around and explore.

My family and I visited Hermann Park recently while on vacation in Houston. This place is so beautiful! I love the big oak trees that are throughout the park. It is great for a run or walk, the zoo is there, and it is right next to the museum district. Parking is free too, which I could not believe. I parked here on a Sunday morning and ran through park of the park and on the Rice University Running trail, which is across the street. My family and I visited the zoo and walked around the park on a couple of occasions during our vacation. If I lived in Houston, I would make a point to go here often. If you are visiting Houston, I would highly recommend this for a place to visit on your trip.

Go there early for parking because it gets hectic there, especially during the weekends. The park is located next door to the Houston Zoo. The park is very nice with plenty of places to check out.
The have a cute kids play area, although there are tons of homeless people sitting near the play area. They have a splash area for kids.
You can buy a ticket to go on their cute train around the park. They allow you to get on and off at other locations.
There is an area where you can go to the top to get a nice view of the gardens. They also have a nice man made waterfall section.
The place is nice and there are events where you can catch shows or performances at the theater.
Nice relaxing place, whether at the reflection pool or on one of the hills. Nice place for a picnic.

Beautiful park to take a stroll or jog/​run. Walked through Jan Sunday morning and there were several families walking around. Not crowded though.

Was very impressed and will return. Had a great date with my fiancée.

I used to know this general area as just Hermann Park, but I suppose this is the real name. Whatever.
You will not find a better place in all the city to «do stuff.» From hiking (up Hippy Hill is cool), to walking a 2.70 mile trek around the perimeter, to the City Zoo, several nearby museums and free summer concerts at Miller Theater. Just a really swell place to go.
If you’re into golf, you can hit a few holes, or just use the range at the edge of the east end of the park to just hit golf balls towards several zoned areas. Let’s see … What else…
You can also sit by the water and just relax or take the train with your kids around the park. If you care to swat away some of the park residents (I hate the word homeless, but …) you can even have a cookout at several of the free pavilions.
Need to visit someone at The Texas Medical Center or go into midtown or downtown, you can catch a train on the west side of the park to either of those locations.
This is the perfect park for people that like to do stuff. I am not really a «do stuffer,» but I do enjoy long walks here on Sunday mornings.

An adorable, natural, fun park centrally located in the heart of Houston. Some favorite features:
1. Jogging: there are tons of running trails both encircling the park and in middle throughout the park. The scenery is beautiful. The trees, ponds, wildlife, all in all, are very conducive to a calming running environment.
2. paddle boating on the lake: perfect for a romantic, or a family friendly weekend activity.
3. playgrounds galore: a great attraction for young children
It’s location is ideal, right next to the zoo, Rice U, Rice Village shopping centers, and near the Metro Rail. While parking is difficult to find, the Metro Rail makes the park easily accessible. I definitely recommend!

Lindo parque. Grande, los chicos pueden correr, hay caídas de agua, muchos árboles, un auditorio al aire libre, lugares abiertos para un picnic.

Beautiful and relaxing park with some exciting things to see! We stopped here to relax after the zoo during the sunset. We watched people fly kites and feed the ducks. :)

This is one of my favorite places to just «run away». No matter if I’m with friends or want a nice stroll by myself I can always count on a wonderful time at Hermann Park. The park is always very well kept and there are so many options for choose from. Bike, walk, run, play, picnic, etc. You name it and it can happen!

I actually got married here. The plan was to do it at the Japanese Garden but it was under construction. So we did it over the bridge. It was magnificent. I will forever love this park.

It’s my favorite park. There’s the zoo right there. The environment is so fresh.
It has a lot of trees to take a rest under its shadow. There is a variety of activities, it’s easy to get to by car or rail.
It’s worth spending time for your family relaxing there.

Oh Houston, you need more nice large parks other than this! If it weren’t for horrendous parking or easier access, I’d give Hermann Park 5 stars. There are several fountains, monuments, trees and other nice things in this park. The zoo, an open air venue and a few museums are also located on/​near the grounds. Due to a severe lack of green space in Houston, this place is always busy. The Japanese garden is in need up upkeep and something to set it apart from the main park.

This place is suitable for family outing. The environment is so fresh. It has a lot of trees to take a rest under its shadow. My family often comes here in the weekend. It also has the zoo. My children really love it.

Hermann Park is such a nice place to walk around and enjoy the scenery. There are art works and a water play area perfect for cooling off. The Japanese garden and other places around the park are perfect for taking pictures. There are plenty of benches and tables available for the casual visitor, and a b-​cycle station nearby close to the zoo for those who want to bike around. Train and pedal boat tickets are purchased in the gift store; pedal boat tickets are $ 10 flat for thirty minutes (at least one person should be over 18 with an ID). Overall, it’s a great place to spend the day.

Just came back from taking my dogs to this park! It is HUGE and there is so much to explore. I was impressed with how clean it was too. It was very busy but I still was able to go off on a path and have a nice quiet walk with no one in sight. I highly recommend!

Houstonians — we are so lucky to have this gorgeous park to explore right in the middle of the city!
More than 400 acres of greenspace and attractions! Don’t miss the Jogging Trail, McGovern Lake, Bayou Parkland, Brays Bayou, the Japanese Garden, the Sam Houston monument, the Jones Reflection Pool, and more!
The zoo is also in the park (not free).
Also, make sure to check out an event at the Miller Outdoor Theatre! They have a ton of fun free events, especially in the summer! I’ve been to movie screenings (Jaws!!) and a Grease Sing-​Along that were really fun! (Take a box of wine, some snacks, and a blanket and enjoy a free movie in the park with friends!) The theater has restrooms (that are pretty clean!) and a concession stand!

Oh good ‘ol Hermann Park. Been coming here for decades and it always gets better and better. One down side (everything with a down side in Houston seems to be related to cars) is that there’s no where to park. You can plan on walking a mile or so from the paid parking in the medical area. So your «free» events are still gonna cost you.
One thing to take note of is that «cute» train in the park isn’t just for fun with the kids. It is a functional transportation system that can take you from one side to the other, free.
Use it. And have fun. :)

This past weekend we had a fantastic time at the kite festival. Parking can be a bit of a drag so arrive early, go with friend, or catch a bus. There is plenty of shaded areas. When there is not an event going on, plan on bringing your food to snack on. March can get hot, good idea to bring sunscreen, shades and if you are planning to walk around comfortable shoes. There a few public bathroom facilities. We brought a blanket, snacks, water. This worked well till noon. After that we walked around to keep cool.

For a park you can’t do much better than Hermann. There is a variety of activities, it’s easy to get to by car or rail (though parking can be an issue). It’s pretty and centrally located. There are quiet places to relax, places to picnic, places to run around, water activities, public art, walking paths. There is even a little café, though I didn’t get a chance to check it out. Not to mention the fountain and the miniature train! My parents didn’t take me here often enough as a kid… that’s for sure.

Hermann Park has so much to offer! This huge park has something for everyone! A beautiful reflection pool, Japanese Tea Gardens, picnic benches and grills, grassy hill to roll down, golf course, train rides, outdoor theater, lake to paddle boat across!!! What more could you ask for? And its within walking distance of the museums and restaurants. I love to come to Hermann park on a sunny day with my dog for a long walk and finally a picnic and some time to read a book or play frisbee. I would put Hermann Park at the top of my list for places to visit in Houston.

Put this on your Top 5 Things to do with your Kids in Houston List!
We had an amazing afternoon here. Paddle boats, train rides, countless play scapes, ducks, japanese zen garden, open areas, the zoo, sculptures, art installations, a café, you name it, it was here.
Park close to the conservancy entrance so you can hop the train. Buy the hop on hop off pass as there are many stops throughout the park where you can hop off an play and then hop back on to the next stop. We didn’t do this and wished we had! The paddle boats are super cheap for 30 minutes too and they seat $ 4 for that $ 10 price. What a steal.
You’ll have a great time exploring this park, it’s gigantic!

Este es uno de los parques o conservas más visitados de Houston. Es bastante grande y hay diversas áreas en donde uno puede caminar, sentarse a comer algo, correr, o jugar con los niños.
Es muy común ver a parejas que se comprometieron andar tomándose fotografías para el clásico álbum del compromiso. Y es que hay algunas partes de este parque que son muy bonitas, para tomarse foto y todo, sobre todo cerca del lago.
Lo único malo es que no es muy recomendable venir en días festivos porque hay muchos vagabundos, pero en verdad muchos. La última vez que vine con la familia nos asustamos un poco porque en la zona de juegos de niños había como 20 vagabundos y uno de ellos comenzó a seguirnos. Había una patrulla cerca y se nos acercó a ver cómo estábamos, pero fue una experiencia desagradable, por el susto más que nada.
Fuera de ese incidente vale la pena venir desde muy temprano la parque (7 de la mañana) recorrerlo, traer algo para comer en lasa bancas, y de ahí ir al zoológico que está a unos minutos de aquí.

This place was beautiful! I wish the walkways were a little bit more paved, because it was difficult dragging my suitcase through the gravel. But there are beautiful fountains, and this huge hill you can climb, and there’s so much beautiful green space it’s ridiculous and makes me wish Dallas had something like this.

Two ducks kept following me for no apparent reason. I was scared for my life.
Other than that, this park was beautiful with lots of attractions for its visitors.

My husband and I came here on one of our very first dates and I’ve been coming back again and again ever since. It’s my favorite park in Houston. There’s something for everyone. There’s the zoo right there, the Miller Outdoor Theatre where you can see Shakespeare during the summer, a train ride for kiddos, paddle boats on the lake, and don’t forget the Japanese Gardens!
Recently we discovered the «Houston B cycle» service which is just bikes you can rent by the hour or for a whole day. You can ride them around the park or go all the way to Midtown or Downtown as long as you return at one of the stations (which are all over). I think it’s $ 8 for a day. The bike has a basket to hold your stuff while you’re biking.
Hermann Park is The Place for any outdoor activity!

I absolutely LOVE this park. I truly believe this park is a part of what makes Houston great. The landscape is very well thought out and has something to do for everyone.
I’ve come here for picnics, to read a book, go on a run, enjoy the outdoor art displays, and stumbled upon shows at miller outdoor theatre.

Hermann Park… It has it all.
From the Miller Outdoor Theater to the Hermann Park Golf Course… from McGovern Lake and its paddle boats to the Japanese Gardens and the reflecting pool… And don’t forget the Zoo neatly dropped in the middle or the museums that line the north side of the park. There has never been a place that had so much to offer and was so accessible. Go for a walk or bike ride on the shaded oak paths. Enjoy a breath of fresh air in the middle of the hubbub of the Texas Medical Center and the Museum District. Take in the art work, enjoy the serenity, have a picnic, or just relax and watch the people go by. It’s the place to be.