AUS to Downtown Austin: Bus, Rideshare and Taxi Options

AUS is about 8 miles by road from downtown Austin, roughly 15 minutes without traffic. Your choices:

• CapMetro Route 20 bus: $1.25 per ride, about 35 minutes to downtown.
• Rideshare (Uber, Lyft and others): pickup under the rental car facility, reached by a tram.
• Taxi: same pickup area, three companies listed by AUS.
• Shared shuttle: Carter Transportation or 360 Transportation, booked ahead.
• Rental car: see our AUS car rental page.

CapMetro's airport page lists only buses for AUS: Route 20 and the night route 483. It describes no train service to the airport.

CapMetro is Austin's public transit agency. Route 20 Manor Road/Riverside starts at the airport and runs every 15 to 30 minutes, 7 days a week. It follows Riverside Drive, then serves downtown and the UT campus.

The stop is on the lower level just outside baggage claim. CapMetro says the ride to downtown is about 35 minutes, and you can transfer there to another high frequency bus or rail route. CapMetro rail (MetroRail) does not go to the airport. Its airport page says rail riders need a Commuter fare, capped at $7 per service day.

Fare: $1.25 per ride with no surge pricing. Tap to pay with your phone or credit or debit card and your fare is capped at two rides, so you pay $2.50 at most per service day. CapMetro says fares go up on January 10, 2027.

CapMetro's airport page gives no first and last bus times. Check Schedules and Maps on capmetro.org or call 512-474-1200.

Route 483 Night Owl Riverside also starts at the airport. It runs along Riverside Drive through the Montopolis neighborhood and ends downtown on 6th Street. CapMetro says it runs after midnight until 4 a.m. Check the exact schedule on capmetro.org before you rely on it.

Rideshare pickup is under the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, just north of or behind the Red Garage. From baggage claim, follow signs to the Red Garage first floor. The rideshare tram picks you up at both entrances there and runs every day from 4 a.m. to midnight. AUS has a video and a map on its ground transportation page.

A second, smaller tram, the Mobility Tram pilot, leaves from the third floor of the Red Garage across the walkway from the upper level and also reaches rideshare pickup. AUS lists it daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., subject to change.

Prices vary by app and demand. AUS publishes no rideshare fare, so we list none.

Taxis pick up in the same area as rideshare. AUS lists three companies:

• ATX Co-Op Taxi: 512-333-5555
• Central City Taxi: 512-400-4044
• Z-Trip: 512-452-9999

AUS publishes no flat rate to downtown, and we found no current city fare schedule. Ask the company for an estimate when you book, or ask the driver to use the meter.

AUS lists Carter Transportation (formerly Super Shuttle) at 1-512-BLUE VAN (258-3826) and 360 Transportation at 512-271-7567. It also lists more than 30 limousine and charter companies on its ground transportation page. Book ahead and ask about prices, which AUS does not publish.

The Mobility Assistance Zone is free and open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. It is on the lower level curbside, one lane across from the G and H pickup areas. It serves wheelchair accessible vehicles, taxis and rideshares for travelers who use mobility devices or need extra help. After you land, submit a pickup request and the next available vehicle is sent.

The road trip to downtown Austin is about 8 miles and roughly 15 minutes without traffic, based on road routing. The bus takes about 35 minutes. Neither AUS nor CapMetro publishes times to other neighborhoods. Route 20 serves the UT campus, and CapMetro's trip planner covers other areas.

For drop off, both the upper departures and lower arrivals roadways are open. Use whichever has less traffic. Rideshare and taxi drop off use the upper level departures curb.