Getting Around SXSW: Using Capitol Metro Bus System

Getting around Austin when you’re an out of town-er can be quite difficult, especially around the downtown area where South by Southwest takes place. Parking during business hours can become pricey, not to mention the risk of your meter expiring and receiving a ticket. Also, parking lots raise the parking fees during the week for uninformed attendees.

My recommendation to get around is:
First, meet someone from Austin. Become friends so you can get the inside scoop of how to get around this town. Sure, Austin may seem intimidating at first, but it’s easier to get around once you figure out how the streets work.

Second, use public transportation. Seriously. Capitol Metro, our bus system, is pretty decent especially during the daytime.

So if you find yourself wanting to get to a show near the Drag from downtown, definitely try the bus. It’s pretty inexpensive for a 24-hour day pass ($1.50), but for a better value, the week pass that covers 7 days (which is longer than the music festival) costs $7. The day passes can be purchased on the bus but the week pass is available on the website or at one of the ticket outlets (but be prepared to wait in line.)

Now that you’ve decided to use the bus, Google Maps or Capitol Metro’s Trip Planner can then plan the trip for you. I like this feature because you just put in where you are and then where you want to go and it figures out which bus to take for you. You can even put in what time you need to be at the place or what time you need to leave and it’ll figure it out for as well.

Some things to note with the trip planner though is that the program will try to route the trip so where you are picked up right where you are and will be dropped off basically right in front of the venue, which causes unnecessary bus transfers. So I recommended looking at the bus maps they give you and see if one bus ride is available and walking to your destination instead of having to transfer to 2 or 3 buses for one trip. It will save you time.

Here are some important routes to remember for “main” areas of free day/night shows:

These routes are assuming you are taking the bus from the downtown area. Main bus stops to catch most of these buses are located at 6th and Congress, 10th and Congress, or 6th and Brazos.

The Drag:
Venues around this location: Slices and Ices (2530 Guadalupe St), Hole in the Wall (2538 Guadalupe St), Antone’s Records (2928 Guadalupe), Spiderhouse (2908 Fruth St), United States Art Authority (510 W. 29th St.), Urban Outfitters (2406 Guadalupe), Dog and Duck Pub (406 W. 17th St.)
Buses to Take: #1L, #1M, #3, #7, #19

Central Lamar
Venues around this location: Waterloo Records (600 A N. Lamar), Waterloo Ice House (600 N Lamar Blvd # G) Cheapo’s Records (914 N. Lamar), Whole Foods (525 N Lamar Blvd)
Buses to take: #4, #21, 6th Street Dillo

South Congress
Venues around this location: Parts and Labour (1604 S Congress Ave), Home Slice Pizza (1415 S. Congress Ave.), Yard Dog Gallery (1510 S. Congress Ave.), Jo’s Coffee (1300 S. Congress), Dominican Joe (515 S. Congress Ave.), Gueros Taco Bar (1412 S. Congress Ave.), Saxon Pub (1320 S. Lamar)
Buses to take: Congress Street Dillo, #1L, #1M, #9

North Loop
Venues around this location: Blue Velvet Vintage Clothing (217 W. North Loop), The Parlor (100 B E. North Loop), Monkeywrench Books (110 E. North Loop), Sound on Sound Records (106 E North Loop Blvd)
Buses to take: #7

South First
Venues around this location: End of an Ear (2209 South First Street), Jovita’s (1619 S 1st St.)
Buses to take: #10

East 6th Street
Venues around this location: Scoot Inn (1308 E. 4th St), Ms. Bea’s (1104 E. 6th St.), The Compound (1300 E. 4th St.), Progress Coffee (500 San Marcos), Café Mundi (1704 East 5th St.), Breakaway Records (1704 E. 5th St. #105), Typewriter Musuem (1306 E. 6th St.), Emblem Creative (900 E. 6th St.)
Buses to take: #4

East Cesar Chavez
Venues around this location: Big Red Sun (1102 E. Cesar Chavez), Domy Books (913 E. Cesar Chavez), Okay Mountain Gallery (1312 E. Cesar Chavez, Ste. B)
Buses to take: #17

Manor Road
Venues around this location: Red House Pizzeria (1917 Manor Rd.), Salvage Vanguard Theatre (2803 Manor Road)
Buses to take: #20

Rosewood
Venues around this location: Snake Eye Vinyl (1101 Navasota St # 3), Trailer Space (1401-A Rosewood Avenue), Longbranch Inn (1133 E 11th St), Victory Grill, (1104 E. 11th St.)
Buses to take: #2

Other Venues:

Carousel Lounge (1110 E. 52nd St.)
Buses to take: #37

Austin Moose Lodge #1735 (2103 E.M. Franklin)
Buses to take: #18

Co-Lab (613 Allen St.)
Buses to take: #4

Nomad Bar (1211 Corona Dr.)
Buses to take: #37

Triple Crown Tattoo Parlour (1157 Chicon St.)
Buses to take: #2

Ruta Maya (3601 South Congress Avenue)
Buses to take: #1L, #1M, #7, #9, #20

Irie Bean Coffee Bar (2310 South Lamar, Suite 102)
Buses to take: #3

Broken Neck (4701 Red Bluff Rd)
Buses to take: Sadly, there are no buses that go to the venue.

If you are heading towards the downtown area (6th street), remember that all buses #1-99 all stop in that area through their routes.

If you get lost, call Capitol Metro’s Specific Route Information line at (512) 474-1200 and after you tell them your location, they can notify you of which bus to take.