Getting around · Austin · United States
Getting around Austin
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Austin is car-oriented, but downtown, South Congress, Rainey Street and East Austin are close enough to combine on foot, by scooter or by rideshare. CapMetro buses and one commuter rail line serve the city. Not for downtown and the central neighbourhoods, where rideshare, scooters and buses work.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- AUS
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- CapMetro day pass
Ways to get around
Bus
CapMetro buses, including frequent MetroRapid lines along Congress Avenue, Lamar Boulevard and Guadalupe Street, connect downtown with South Congress, the university and the airport.
Train
The MetroRail Red Line commuter train runs from downtown to the northern suburbs; it is useful mainly for commuters.
Ride-hailing
Uber, Lyft and local services are widely used, especially at night and for trips to Zilker, Mount Bonnell and the Wildflower Center.
Prices surge sharply after big events and festival days.
Scooter
Dockless e-scooters and the CapMetro Bikeshare system cover downtown, the lake trail and nearby neighbourhoods.
Car
A car is helpful for the Hill Country, swimming holes and outlying barbecue towns; downtown parking is costly, and Interstate 35 is often congested.
Walking
Downtown, the lake trail and South Congress are walkable, but summer heat makes long walks tough in the middle of the day.
Tickets and passes
CapMetro day pass
A day pass valid on local buses and MetroRail, bought through the CapMetro app or at ticket machines.
From the airport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is about 12 km southeast of downtown. A taxi or rideshare takes about 15–25 minutes, and a CapMetro bus route connects the terminal with downtown.
Do you need a car?
Not for downtown and the central neighbourhoods, where rideshare, scooters and buses work. A car is very useful for Hill Country day trips, Lockhart and the swimming holes.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Lockhart | About 45 minutes by car | Car via US Route 183 |
| San Antonio | About 1.5 hours by car | Car via Interstate 35, or Amtrak and intercity buses |
| Fredericksburg | About 1.5 hours by car | Car via US Route 290 |
| Gruene and New Braunfels | About 1 hour by car | Car via Interstate 35 |
| Hamilton Pool Preserve | About 50 minutes by car | Car via State Highway 71 |
| Enchanted Rock State Natural Area | About 2 hours by car | Car via Fredericksburg |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Austin?
Not for downtown and the central neighbourhoods, where rideshare, scooters and buses work. A car is very useful for Hill Country day trips, Lockhart and the swimming holes.
+How do you get from the airport to Austin?
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is about 12 km southeast of downtown. A taxi or rideshare takes about 15–25 minutes, and a CapMetro bus route connects the terminal with downtown.
+What is the best way to get around Austin?
Bus: CapMetro buses, including frequent MetroRapid lines along Congress Avenue, Lamar Boulevard and Guadalupe Street, connect downtown with South Congress, the university and the airport.