Car Rental in Austin

Why rent a car in Austin?

The "Live Music Capital of the World" is Texas' most eclectic city and has long been a marquee tourist destination. Whether you visit for a festival, concert, or just to see the famous city, you will never run out of things to do or sights to see. 

Top ways to enter Austin

Austin Bergstrom International Airport can be reached via direct flights from almost all major American cities as well as other cities in North America. 

Many reach Austin from other parts of the state via I-35 which connects the city with the Dallas-Forth Worth area in the north and San Antonio in the south. From Houston, take I-10 to Texas Highway 71.

There is also an Amtrak station in Austin. It is served by the Texas Eagle Line which runs from Chicago to San Antonio. 

City facts

Austin is known for its music and festivals. The most famous among them is the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festivals which consist of music, film, and comedy festivals. The festivals take place in mid-March and the 2022 festivals will be the first since the start of the pandemic. Tickets are hard to come by and quite expensive. 

Austin, as its nickname would suggest, has live music all year-round. It is also a hotspot for comedy. Another music institution is Austin City Limits — the longest-running live music show on television. Follow their Twitter account for a chance to score tickets to a taping of the iconic show while you're in town. 

Top sights and activities

Music - Whether it be as part of SXSW, a taping of Austin City Limits, or just catching a lesser-known band at one of the city's many venues, you shouldn't visit Austin and not have a musical experience of some sort. Sixth street is packed with bars and clubs but may be overcrowded. You can find venues hosting live music all over the city, though. 

Theater - The city has many different theaters and theater companies.

Eat - While Texas is known for BBQ — but know that in Texas BBQ means any meat that is grilled or smoked unlike other parts of the country where it strictly means pulled pork — Austin is a destination for all kinds of food with some of the best budget restaurants in the country.

Traffic and parking

As in many cities, parking is more problematic than driving. You won't run into much trouble driving around Austin if you are used to driving in large cities. Aside from the predictable traffic, there is little else to worry about. 

Parking can be hard to find. And parking regulations are strictly enforced in the city. If planning a quick stop downtown (or going there on the weekend or in the evening), then using a metered spot may suffice if you find one. Otherwise, parking garages are where you should prefer to park. There are both public and private garages and lots. One option is a city lot right off I-35 between 7th and 8th streets.

Toll roads

There are multiple toll roads in the Austin area including State Routes 183 and 130 near the airport (though you can use a toll-free version of 183 that has stoplights and the same with 71). Unfortunately, all tolls in the Austin area are electronic (that means you can not pay with cash or a credit card). Even if you have a TxTag transponder, it can not be removed from your vehicle to be used in another. 

All rental companies have a system for charging you for tolls through your rental agreement, though they have additional fees for this service. If you plan to use toll roads, be sure to ask your rental company about this in advance. 

Ideas for day trips

• New Braunfels - Roughly 50 miles south of Austin, New Braunfels is a popular city for tourists due to its German heritage. It also has scenic rivers — the Comal and Guadalupe — and a superb waterpark, the Schlitterbahn.
• Hill Country - Texas' Hill Country is just to the west of Austin. The best way to see this part of Texas is simply to drive and enjoy the hilly scenery. Another option is to take the Hill Country Flyer, a two-hour train ride through it. 
• San Marcos - Take an hour-and-a-half drive south of Austin for some outlet shopping, visit The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, or tube down the San Marcos River. 

Further destinations

San Antonio -  The city known for the Alamo is less than and a 90-minute drive from Austin and is famous for its role in the Texan Revolution and the soldiers who, though surely outnumbered, defended it from the Mexican Army. The Battle of the Alamo would become a turning point in the war. Many are of course underwhelmed at the site having expected the physical size to match the size of its historical importance. 

San Antonio is not just the Alamo, though. The city is also known for the Riverwalk, a pedestrian area below street level along the San Antonio River. The Riverwalk is packed full of bars, restaurants, and hotels. Boats are available to get around the area. No trip to Texas should leave out San Antonio. 

Dallas- The city is only the third-largest on its own, but the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metro area in the state and fourth-largest in the country. Dallas is known for its upscale hotels and fine dining, but it also offers some tourist attractions, the most notable of which are Dealey Plazza, the site where President John F. Kennedy was murdered, and the Sixth-Floor Museum which covers the murder; JFK Memorial Plaza; and the Dallas Museum of Art, a world-class art museum. Dallas is about a three-hour drive from Austin.

Houston - The fourth-largest city in the country is also the most populous city in Texas and a 180-minute drive from Austin. Though it is a sprawling city, most of the sites of interest to tourists are located in or near Downtown. These included museums, an aquarium, and art galleries. One notable destination that isn’t located downtown is the Space Center. Houston has been home to the Johnson Space Center since 1961 which included the Mission Control Center for all subsequent space missions. The Space Center Houston serves as the visitor’s center and offers educational programs and a museum. It is located about 25 miles southeast of Downtown Houston.

Car rental prices in Austin

• Large cars - from $52 per day
• Medium cars - from $50 per day
• Small cars - from $52 per day
• SUVs - from $56 per day
• Premium cars - from $108 per day
• Vans - from $78 per day
• Convertibles - from $84 per day