Comparison · Austin vs Dallas · United States
Austin vs Dallas
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Austin for Live music and Texas barbecue; choose Dallas for JFK history, Arts District and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 293 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 293 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Austin
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for Dallas
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Austin | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Live music, Texas barbecue and Breakfast tacos | JFK history, Arts District and Texas barbecue |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$330 | $200–$350 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 36°C (97°F) | July, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 17°C (63°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AUS | DFW, DAL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Austin for…
Live music and Texas barbecue. Austin, the capital of Texas, sits on the Colorado River where the flat prairie meets the limestone hills of the Hill Country. It calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World, with music most nights on Sixth Street, Red River and South Congress, and it…
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Choose Dallas for…
JFK history, Arts District and free sights. Dallas is a big, spread-out Texan city whose essential sights cluster downtown: the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and an Arts District of free and low-cost museums including the Dallas Museum of Art…
Top sights compared
| # | Austin | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas State Capitol | The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza |
| 2 | Barton Springs Pool | Dealey Plaza and the JFK Memorial |
| 3 | Congress Avenue Bridge bats | Dallas Museum of Art |
| 4 | Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail | Nasher Sculpture Center |
| 5 | Zilker Park | Crow Museum of Asian Art |
Food compared
| Austin | Dallas |
|---|---|
| Central Texas brisket | Smoked brisket |
| Breakfast tacos | Frozen margarita |
| Queso | Tex-Mex with queso |
| Tex-Mex enchiladas | Chicken-fried steak |
Which is cheaper?
Austin and Dallas cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$330 in Austin and $200–$350 in Dallas (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Austin on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Austin and Dallas are about 293 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Austin and 3 in Dallas.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Austin or Dallas cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$330 in Austin and $200–$350 in Dallas (estimates).
+Is Austin or Dallas better for a first trip?
Pick Austin for Live music and Texas barbecue, or Dallas for JFK history, Arts District and free sights.
+How far is Austin from Dallas?
About 293 km in a straight line.