AUSTIN, Texas — South by Southwest is here, which means road closures are planned in Austin.
To reduce congestion, SXSW attendees are encouraged to use ride-sharing, public transit or bicycles.
The map below shows road closures for the festival:
South by Southwest attendees are also encouraged to use the free shuttles provided by the festival.
Shuttles run from most SXSW venues to the Austin Convention Center on Trinity Street. Fourteen locations that you can find the shuttles at include:
- East 3rd Street
- Hyatt Regency/Rivian
- Rollins Theatre
- Zach Theatre
- Alamo Lamar
- 3rd and Congress
- Paramount Theatre
- Shangri-La
- Moody Ampitheater at Waterloo Park
- Violet Crown
- Hotel Vegas
- Austin Convention Center
The shuttle map can be found below.
Bus routes to downtown Austin will also be provided by CapMetro. Day passes for local fares cost $2.50 and $7 for commuter fares. Below is the downtown Austin route map.
Regular service will be provided on select Night Owl bus routes from midnight until 3 a.m.
Those buses can be boarded by riders at Sixth Street and Congress Avenue.
For more information on CapMetro during SXSW, head to this website.
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are also available in Austin.
Downtown bike-share stations, courtesy of MetroBike, provide a great exercise option for those tired of walking. For $12.99, you can rent a bike and take unlimited 60-minute trips within 24 hours.
You can also schedule a taxi or call to arrange for pickup from your hotel. The following cab services operate in the Austin area:
- zTrip Austin – (512) 452-9999 or book through the zTrip App
- ATX Co-op Taxi – (512) 333-5555
Fetii is another good rideshare choice for big groups; they offer 15-passenger vans ideal for SXSW transportation. Promo code SXSW25 gets you 25% off your first three purchases. Download the app from this website to schedule your ride.
South by Southwest runs from March 7 through March 15. Many festival events require badges, however, some free events will be available.
Expect traffic delays in Austin during weekday peak hours (7 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 7 p.m.) due to it being a large city. Account for extra travel time when going out during these hours.