Austin, TX

Austin travel guide

Live music, barbecue and Hill Country swimming holes

Find flights to Austin See fares from $81

Airports: AUS Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Region: US Southwest
Best time to visit: March–May and October–November are warm without the brutal summer heat.
Shortest flight: 2h 10m from Denver
Round trips from: $81 (live)
Time zone: America/Chicago

About Austin

Austin's center is compact: the Capitol, the University of Texas and the Sixth Street and Red River music districts downtown; South Congress (SoCo) across the river with boutiques and food trucks; Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool a short ride west; and East Austin's bars and taquerias. The Hill Country's swimming holes, wineries and small towns start 30 minutes out.

Getting in: Austin-Bergstrom is 8 miles southeast of downtown. Rideshares cost $20–$30; the CapMetro 20 bus ($1.25) reaches downtown in about 30 minutes. A car helps for the Hill Country and barbecue road trips (Lockhart, Taylor) but isn't necessary for a city weekend.

Stay downtown or in the Rainey Street area for nightlife, South Congress for shops and character, or East Austin for restaurants. Breakfast tacos ($3–$5), barbecue plates ($20–$30 per pound of brisket) and food-truck lunches keep costs down; Franklin Barbecue's line starts before 8am. March (SXSW) and October (ACL Festival, F1) send hotel rates soaring.

Best time to visit

March–May and October–November are warm without the brutal summer heat. Avoid SXSW (mid-March) and ACL (October weekends) unless you're attending — fares and hotels double.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Downtown / Rainey Street, South Congress, East Austin, Zilker / Barton Hills, Hyde Park.

Flights to Austin: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to AUS usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
New York (JFK)	4h	$148	$112 · Tue, Nov 10	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	2h 45m	$118	$82 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →
Los Angeles (LAX)	3h 5m	$128	$114 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Atlanta (ATL)	2h 25m	$108	$81 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Denver (DEN)	2h 10m	$108	$82 · Wed, Nov 18	Search dates →
San Francisco (SFO)	3h 35m	$148	$161 · Wed, Nov 4	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in Austin

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)Austin · Large hubAUS

What to do in Austin

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
Barton Springs Pool
A three-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park that stays 68°F all year; go at sunset.
2
Texas barbecue
Franklin, la Barbecue and Terry Black's in town; Lockhart's Kreuz and Smitty's 40 minutes south for the pilgrimage.
3
Live music
The Continental Club on South Congress, Antone's for blues, and dozens of Red River venues most nights of the week.
4
The Texas State Capitol
Taller than the US Capitol; free tours and a pink-granite dome you can climb inside.
5
Hill Country day trips
Hamilton Pool's grotto (reservation required), Fredericksburg's wineries and the Pedernales River.

Austin weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

62° / 42°

Mild; occasional cold snaps.

Spring

80° / 60°

Wildflowers; SXSW crowds in March.

Summer

97° / 75°

Very hot; swimming-hole season.

Fall

80° / 58°

Pleasant; ACL Festival in October.

Travel tips for Austin

Check event calendars before booking — SXSW, ACL and the F1 Grand Prix roughly double hotel prices.
The Congress Avenue Bridge bats fly out at dusk from March to October; arrive 30 minutes early for a spot.
Hamilton Pool requires a reservation ($12 per vehicle) months ahead in summer.
Summer highs top 100°F for weeks; plan outdoor time before 11am and after 6pm.
Rideshares plus the occasional bus beat renting a car unless you're leaving the city.

Austin flights: frequently asked questions

How do I get from Austin airport to downtown?

Rideshares take 15–25 minutes and cost $20–$30. The CapMetro route 20 bus runs every 15 minutes to downtown and the university for $1.25.

When are flights to Austin cheapest?

January–February and late summer. Prices spike for SXSW in mid-March, the ACL festival weekends in October and the Formula 1 race.

Is the Austin barbecue line really that long?

At Franklin, yes — people queue from 7–8am for an 11am opening. Terry Black's, la Barbecue and the Lockhart joints serve comparable brisket with shorter waits.