Keep Austin weird! You will see that sentiment everywhere you go as you visit the state capital of Texas! Located on the edge of Texas Hill Country, Austin is known for its live music scene, Willie Nelson, and is home to the University of Texas Longhorns. With a fun and walkable downtown, you will be boot scoot boogie-ing all weekend long.
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How do I get to Austin?
The best way to get to Austin is to fly into Austin-Bergstrom Airport, about 15 minutes from downtown. If you’re coming from another Texas city, there are charter buses that come in, with the Mega Bus depot located at the Capitol building.
After arriving, you can either Uber or rent a car to get around for your weekend! Tip! Use the Discover Cars Search Engine to find the best rental car deal!
What is the best time to visit Austin?
The best time to visit Austin is from September to November or March to May. This is when the city is usually in the 70s or 80s with mild humidity. In the summer months, it can get into the upper 90s, low 100s daily. And since Austin is such an outdoorsy city, the winter may not be the best time to experience the city as you should.
I’d recommend coming in the fall months, that way you can go to a University of Texas football game or attend the world-famous Austin City Limits music festival held the first two weekends of October annually.
Where should I stay in Austin?
Austin doesn’t have the best public transportation outside of downtown, so you will want to stay close to downtown, or near it, in order to see everything without having to take Ubers everywhere. Some of the best parts of town to stay in are East Austin, the neighborhoods around South Congress and Zilker Park, and near Campus if you don’t mind college student noises. Due to distance from activities, you will probably want to avoid Riverside, anything north of I-183, and south of the South Congress strip.
Hotel Recommendations in Austin, TX
- South Congress: South Congress Hotel– Complete with 3 restaurants, 3 bars, a beautiful pool, and a free area shuttle.
- Zilker Park: Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol– A budget-friednly option near the capitol and the parks with an indoor and outdoor pool.
Sample 3-Day Austin Weekend Itinerary
Day 1 in Austin, TX
Morning:
Pick yourself up some coffee and head over to the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake. Whether you want to just walk along the trail and pet all of the dogs or stop and rent paddleboards and kayaks for an hour or two, you will love the many picture-perfect stops along the way and seeing the downtown skyline in front of you.
Afternoon:
Close by is South Congress Avenue, which is a must-stop for window shopping the fun and quirky shops that line the way. Take a photo at the “I love you so much” mural at Joe’s Coffee and try on boots at Allens Boots. Pick up a slice at Home Slice and see if there’s an early show playing at the Continental Club.
Want a more guided experience? Check out this 2-hour guided bike tour!
Evening:
Start to make your way to the Congress Avenue Bridge around sunset to see the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats take off into the sky as dusk falls. After, head over to 6th street and experience nightlife in Austin. Split into three sections, you can find what you’re looking for easy—the clubs and loud parties on Dirty 6th, the more hipster vibes on East 6th, and the relaxed Happy Hours on West 6th.
Day 2 in Austin:
Morning:
Have a quiet morning and take your breakfast in East Austin. You can get New York bagels to go at Rockstar Bagels or try a classic breakfast taco at Mi Madres.
Afternoon:
Open all day to visitors, visit the pink granite Capitol Building. Not only is this the largest state capitol building in the country, but the Goddess of Liberty on top makes the building taller than the US Capitol in DC.
After your tour of the Capitol Building head over to Mount Bonnell for a quick hike and picnic at the top!
Evening:
Wear your burnt orange and head to the Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for some Longhorn football! You can tailgate before and drink some Texas classics line Shiner or Lone Star before trying to see Matthew McConaughey. And if UT isn’t playing when you’re in town, see if you can see a headliner at Stubb’s Amphitheater or at Moody’s Theater.
Day 3 in Austin:
Morning:
Brunch on Barton Springs at Austin Eastciders—which means you have to try their amazing hard ciders—or try the delectable Biscuits + Groovy truck. You’ll also be close by to South Lamar if you want to go thrift shopping at Pavement.
Afternoon:
You could spend your whole weekend at Zilker Park. Hang out in the main area and see all the dogs and families relaxing in the grass. Or take a dip in Barton Springs Pool, which has a year-round temperature between 68 and 74 degrees.
Evening:
Spend your last night out on Rainey Street. Whether you want to try a man-mosa at Bangers, or just want to sample all the food trucks, this street is more laid back than 6th street, bust just as fun.
If you arent leaving until tomorrow morning, be sure to check out a Austin Ghost Tour!
Other things to do in Austin:
- Broken Spoke: Iconic honky-tonk dance hall that has been open since 1964
- LBJ Presidential Library: Learn about the 36th President of the United States and his life in Texas
- Bullock Texas State History Museum: Next to the Capitol, learn about Texas culture and history, or catch an IMAX movie
- The Rowing Dock: Located on Lady Bird Lake, this is a kid and pet friendly rental location for canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, at very fair rates
- Zilker Hillside Theatre: See year-round productions for free or with a donation inside Zilker Park
- Austin to HIll Country Wine and BBQ tour: Need I say more?!
Other Tips to know before visiting Austin:
Know what you want to get out of your trip to Austin before you go—if you want water sports, you may want to stick to warmer months. If you’re planning a trip for Austin City Limits, try to find accommodation as close to Zilker Park so you won’t be paying too much for Ubers. And if you’re heading out at night, go in groups—Austin is a very popular bachelor and bachelorette town, so you should expect crowds at the popular bars.
Traveling to Austin with your pup? Be sure to check out this Dog-friendly Austin Guide!
One Weekend in Austin Packing List:
Even though you are only in Austin for one weekend, it is best to arrive prepared to avoid having to waste time by running to the store for forgotten items. Below you will find everything (okay…maybe not everything) you will need for 3 days in Austin!
- Swimsuit (for Barton Springs and hotel pools). This one is my favorite affordable suit from Amazon right now!
- Comfy walking shoes (for your walking tours or amusement parks. I wear my keens EVERYWHERE. Not only are they great hiking shoes, they are great for keeping your feet cool in the Austin heat. No socks needed 🙂
- Travel sized toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, lotion, face wash, deoderant…you know all your daily essentials). This is a perfect travel case that meets TSA regulations!
- All the clothes (this one is going to be a personal choice as to how much to bring). I am typically good with three nice dinner outfits, my favorite joggers, a comfy shirt, some atheltic shorts, and a swim suit cover up.
- Makeup and hair supplies
- ID and any other travel documents or itineraries needed.
- Phone charger
- Kindle or current reading book
- Any needed medications
- Airplane snacks and water bottle (bring an empty bottle along to save plastic and money at the airport and on your daily adventures)
- Sunglasses! (I always forget this one)
- Andddd of course your camera! A gopro would be fun for these adventures!
3-day Austin Itinerary Recap:
- Day 1: Kayaking Lady Bird Lake, Touring South Congress, Watching the bats
- Day 2: Capitol Tour, hike Mount Bonnell, and a sports game or concert.
- Day 3: Swim at Barton Springs and a Austin Ghost Tour
One Weekend In Austin Isn’t Enough
As you can see, there’s SO much to do in Austin that one weekend would never be enough to see it all. You can customize your 3-day Austin itinerary based on what interests you. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of entertaining activities to create your own fun-filled, jam-packed adventure weekend in Austin!
What else would you add to this “One Weekend in Austin” Itinerary?
Tip! Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more USA weekend getaways and dog-friendly adventures!
Looking for more USA Weekend Getaways?
Check out the following USA weekend itineraries for easy planning!
Want an easier way to plan your Weekend Trips?! Click the picture below to download your FREE Weekend Getaway Planner!
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