DFW to Austin Airport Shuttle
Explore other routes: DFW to Abilene Shuttle, DFW to Aledo Shuttle, DFW to Allen Shuttle, DFW to Aloft Fort Worth Downtown Shuttle, DFW to American Airlines Center Shuttle.
Round Trips Save You 10%
How is Your Service Different?
- Any Address - We pick up and drop off at your home, business, hotel or any airport.
- Better - most rides are non-stop and no sharing in a Nice Car, SUV or Shuttle.
- Flexible - we pick you up on your schedule 24/7. It's also always free to change the date or time if your flight changes.
- Safer - we don't leave you at a bus stop, and all our drivers go through nationwide fingerprint background checks.
- Faster - most rides take half the time, because it's just you in the vehicle. No need to stop and wait everywhere.
- Convenient - Door to Door means no need to arrange or pay for a Taxi or Lyft to get home.
- Affordable - once you add it all up, it's the same price or less than other shared ride shuttles for two or more people, or less than Uber with just one person.
Our Daily Schedule (DFW to Austin)
What is your daily schedule?
We pick you up on your schedule 24/7, and take you anywhere in Dallas and Fort Worth. Our professional shuttle drivers are normally 5-10 minutes early at your home in Fort Worth and Dallas, or right on time at Dallas Fort Worth. You pick the time we pick you up. Normally 30 minutes after you land is enough time to get your bags and find Prearranged.
What is my pickup time at DFW?
We normally pick you up 30 minutes after your plane lands for domestic flights, or 45 mins after for international flights. If you don't have bags, you can schedule your pickup time for 15 mins after you land, or 30 mins for international flights with no bags.
What happens if my flight is delayed in Dallas?
Pickup times automatically adjust to 30 minutes after you land if your flight is delayed for domestic flights at DFW, or 45 minutes after you land for international flights. Please let us know as soon as possible if your flight number changes. You can always text us if there is a delay. This is helpful since airlines don't always update things online when they are late.
What happens if my flight in Dallas arrives early?
Call or send us a text if you want us to pick you up early at Dallas Fort Worth, and we will let your shuttle driver know that you are ready to be picked up. Otherwise, we will pick you up at the scheduled time on your reservation. If it's hot outside, please wait inside the DFW terminal closest to prearranged until your car or airport shuttle is a minute or so away.
How soon should I make a reservation?
Although there is no set rule that prevents booking a DFW to Austin Shuttle last minute, it's a good idea to make your reservation as soon as possible so a shuttle driver is available and prevent any delays with picking you up. There's no need to confirm again if you've already made a reservation, and received a confirmation email.
How long does it take from Dallas or Fort Worth Texas?
Texas Shuttle trips from Dallas or Fort Worth Texas in normal traffic are about an hour and forty minutes versus three and a half hours on the bus with a bunch of people. Rush hour in downtown Dallas and Fort Worth will normally add 15-45 mins (30 mins on the average). You might think there's no way a bus or another shared ride shuttle company in Dallas or Fort Worth Shuttle would take that long, but they stop and wait 3-5 times to pickup people. Buses and other shuttles also don't leave on your schedule, so you might wait 30 mins - 1.5 hours if the bus is running late. With us it's just you going straight to Fort Worth or Dallas, normally non-stop in a nicer vehicle or shuttle.
What time should I be picked up?
The drive to Fort Worth is about 1 hour and 40 minutes. 3 hours and 30 minutes before your flight is normally enough time if you're going to DFW. Dallas Fort Worth recommends you be there 2 hours early to get through security and find your gate. Boarding in Dallas usually starts 30 mins before your plane takes off. However, one hour and thirty mins is generally okay. Dallas and Fort Worth Shuttle driving takes about 2 hours, then 3 and a half hours before your flight takes off is normally good. You start running the risk that they will give your seat away in Dallas about 40 mins before your flight takes off. Sometimes a little extra time is good and makes your trip to Fort Worth stress free by adjusting for the unexpected.
Our Great Company
With more than 50,000 customers and 5 years in business, Texas Shuttle LLC owns DFW to Austin Shuttle, and has shuttle drivers all over the State of Texas. Our main office is 10 minutes from DFW and Love Field in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
Main Office
320 Decker Drive
Irving, TX 75062
Travel and Hospitality Award Winner - 6 Years in a Row
Testimonials and Reviews
Click here to read lots of excellent DFW to Austin Shuttle reviews.
Traveling from DFW to Austin? Our door-to-door shuttle service takes you on a scenic journey along Interstate 35, passing through charming towns like Cedar Park and Cedar Creek. Starting your trip in Dallas/Fort Worth's vibrant Plano neighborhood, you'll be whisked away towards Austin's dynamic Round Rock, arriving at your downtown destination with ease. This route is popular among business travelers and tourists alike, offering a comfortable drive that typically takes around 2 hours.
On this leg of your journey, our vehicles will navigate through the lush landscapes of Texas, providing an unforgettable experience. Whether you're heading to Austin for a tech conference or simply exploring the city's famous attractions, we ensure a smooth and punctual ride every time.
Do I need to call ahead if my flight is delayed?
No need to worry about flight delays; our team monitors your flights and will adjust your pickup time accordingly. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of your trip.
DFW to Austin at a Glance: Every Way to Make the Trip
The run from the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex down to Austin is one of the most heavily traveled corridors in Texas, connecting the two largest metros in the state along a roughly 195-mile route. Whether you're headed to Austin for business downtown, a University of Texas football game, a festival at Zilker Park, or a weekend on South Congress, you have five realistic ways to get there: drive yourself, fly from DFW Airport to Austin-Bergstrom, take an intercity bus, ride Amtrak's Texas Eagle out of Fort Worth, or book a private door-to-door shuttle. This guide breaks down each option, the routes involved, and the trade-offs so you can pick the right one for your trip.
| Option | Typical Door-to-Door Time (Estimate) | Best For | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive yourself | Roughly 3 to 3.5 hours in normal conditions | Families, flexibility, trips with luggage or gear | I-35 congestion through Waco and Round Rock |
| Fly DFW to AUS | About 1 hour in the air, plus airport time | Time-sensitive business travel | Airport transfers and early arrivals add hours |
| Intercity bus | Roughly 4 to 5 hours | Budget-focused solo travelers | Fixed schedules, downtown departures |
| Amtrak Texas Eagle | Approximately 4 to 5 hours | Relaxed, car-free travel | One departure per day in each direction |
| Private shuttle | About 3 to 3.5 hours | Groups, airport pickups, stress-free door-to-door | Best value when the cost is split across a group |
Driving From DFW to Austin: Routes, Timing, and Where to Stop
The Main Route: I-35 South
The default drive from the Dallas–Fort Worth area to Austin follows Interstate 35 for nearly the entire journey. From Dallas, you'll pick up I-35E South and head through Waxahachie toward Hillsboro, where I-35E merges with I-35W coming down from Fort Worth. From Hillsboro, it's a single continuous run down I-35 through Central Texas: IT'35 passes through Waxahachie, Hillsboro, West, Waco, Temple, Belton, Georgetown, and Round Rock before entering Austin from the north.
In light traffic, most drivers complete the trip in a little over three hours, but plan for more. I-35 narrows and slows through downtown Waco, and the stretch through Georgetown and Round Rock into North Austin is one of the most congested segments of highway in the state. Construction along the I-35 corridor is a near-permanent condition, so check road conditions before you leave and build in buffer time.
The Toll Road Alternative: SH 130 Around Eastern Austin
If your destination is on Austin's east side, or if you simply want to bypass the worst of the Round Rock and North Austin congestion, consider splitting off onto State Highway 130. The SH 130 toll road is a limited-access highway that arcs around Austin's eastern edge and connects back to I-35 south of the city near San Marcos, or hooks westward via SH 45 and TX 71 depending on where you're headed. It's a tolled route, but it's known for smooth traffic flow and — unlike most Texas interstates — sections of SH 130 have posted speed limits of 85 mph, among the highest in the country. If you're driving a rental car, remember that tolls are typically billed electronically through the rental company's toll program.
Classic Stops Along the Way
One reason so many travelers drive this corridor is that it's practically a Texas road trip in miniature. Popular stops include:
- West (off I-35): The Czech Stop on the main drag in West is famous for its kolaches — fruit- and sausage-filled pastries brought by Czech immigrants who settled the area in the 1800s. It's a required stop for many Central Texas travelers.
- Waco: Roughly the halfway point. Magnolia Market at the Silos, the Dr Pepper Museum, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum downtown all make Waco worth an hour or two if your schedule allows.
- Temple: Home to a large Buc-ee's travel center right off I-35 — clean restrooms, Texas-shaped souvenirs, and brisket sandwiches by the pound.
- Salado: A historic village just off I-35 between Temple and Georgetown, with art galleries, antique shops, and old-stagecoach-stop charm.
Flying From DFW to Austin: Fast in the Air, Slower Door to Door
It may sound odd to fly between two Texas cities, but the DFW-to-AUS air route is a genuine workhorse. American Airlines, which operates its largest hub at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, runs frequent nonstop service to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the flight time in the air is only about an hour. Given how packed the schedules are, it's often easy to find a flight that fits your day, and you can verify current schedules and availability directly on aa.com.
When Flying Actually Makes Sense
Here's the honest math: a one-hour flight rarely beats a 3-to-4-hour drive once you factor in the full journey. Flying from DFW to AUS typically means arriving at the airport 60–90 minutes before departure, the flight itself, and then the trip from Austin-Bergstrom into town — the airport sits about 15 minutes southeast of downtown Austin off SH 71, and Ground Transportation options there include rental cars, taxis, rideshares, and hotel shuttles. Door to door, flying generally lands somewhere between three and four and a half hours.
Flying wins in a few specific situations:
- You're already near DFW Airport and your final destination is on Austin's east side, close to AUS.
- I-35 is at its worst — holiday weekends, UT home games, festival weekends — and airfares are reasonable.
- You're connecting onward, since AUS offers continuing flights that don't exist from the ground.
For everyone else, especially families or groups, the ground options usually prove simpler and less expensive. Aggregators like Google Flights and Skyscanner make it easy to compare the DFW–AUS route against nearby alternatives such as Dallas Love Field, where Southwest Airlines also serves Austin.
Taking the Bus From Dallas–Fort Worth to Austin
Intercity bus service on the Dallas–Austin corridor is robust, thanks largely to consolidation in the industry — Greyhound was acquired by FlixBus's parent company in 2021, and the combined network now runs multiple daily departures between the two cities. Buses depart from Dallas and Fort Worth-area stops and arrive in downtown Austin, putting you within walking or short-rideshare distance of the Convention Center, the Capitol complex, and the Sixth Street entertainment district.
Expect a ride of roughly four to five hours depending on the number of stops. Buses are the budget traveler's default: fares fluctuate with demand, but on this corridor they're typically the cheapest ticket in town if you book ahead and travel off-peak. The trade-offs are fixed schedules, less luggage flexibility than a car, and Wi-Fi and outlets that vary by vehicle.
Riding the Rails: Amtrak's Texas Eagle
For a genuinely relaxing alternative, Amtrak's Texas Eagle runs daily between Chicago and San Antonio, passing through both Fort Worth and Austin. Board at the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center downtown, settle into a coach seat, and ride south through Cleburne, McGregor, Temple, and Taylor before arriving at Austin's rail station downtown, just a block from the Convention Center.
The schedule is the catch: the Texas Eagle runs once per day in each direction, so a missed connection costs you a full day. Travel times on this segment generally run four to five hours. But for travelers with time and flexibility, it's the most comfortable and lowest-stress way to make the trip — no traffic, no driving, and a right-to-the-heart-of-downtown arrival that neither I-35 nor the airport can match.
Private Shuttle and Rideshare: Door-to-Door Without Driving
If you're traveling with family, colleagues, or a group, a private shuttle often beats every other option on convenience. A dedicated vehicle picks you up at your home, office, or DFW Airport terminal and drops you at your exact Austin address — no parking fees at the airport, no rental car logistics, no navigating I-35 construction after a long day. At Texas Shuttle, we run this exact route on a regular basis and can time pickups around your schedule rather than a bus or train timetable.
For solo travelers, app-based rideshare between Dallas and Austin exists but tends to be expensive for such a long haul — drivers are committing to a 400-mile round trip, and fares reflect it. Split across four to six passengers, a private shuttle almost always pencils out better, and you keep your group together with luggage in tow.
Timing Your Trip: When I-35 and Austin Are at Their Worst
A route this popular has predictable pain points. Plan around these before you lock in a departure time:
- Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings: The heaviest recurring traffic on the corridor, as weekend travelers flow in both directions.
- UT football home games: Austin home-game Saturdays at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium gridlock the campus area and thicken I-35 traffic through Round Rock all day.
- Festival season: South by Southwest in March and Austin City Limits in October flood downtown Austin and push hotel and ground-transportation demand to its peak. Book anything — flights, buses, shuttles — far earlier than usual.
- Holiday weekends: Thanksgiving and the days around Christmas turn the I-35 corridor into one of the slowest stretches of highway in America.
- Daily rush hours: Leaving the Metroplex before 6:30 a.m. or after 9 a.m. on weekdays can save you an hour sitting in Dallas-area traffic alone.
Frequently Asked Questions: DFW to Austin
How far is Austin from DFW?
By road, the trip from the Dallas–Fort Worth area to Austin is roughly 195 miles, depending on your starting point in the Metroplex and your destination in Austin. Fort Worth departures run slightly shorter than Dallas departures since the route angles southwest.
How long does it take to drive from DFW to Austin?
In normal traffic, plan on about three to three and a half hours. Add significant buffer for Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings, holiday weekends, and any day I-35 construction or a wreck is active near Waco or Round Rock.
Is it better to fly or drive from Dallas to Austin?
For most travelers, driving or riding on the ground wins. The flight itself is only about an hour, but airport arrival time, boarding, and ground transfers on both ends bring total door-to-door time to roughly what the drive takes — usually with more hassle and higher cost. Flying makes the most sense for tight schedules or when you're connecting through either airport.
What is the halfway point between Dallas and Austin?
Waco is the classic midpoint, sitting almost exactly between the two cities on I-35. It's the natural place to stretch your legs, grab lunch, or visit Magnolia Market at the Silos. West, just north of Waco, is the pick for a quick kolache stop.
Is there a train from Dallas–Fort Worth to Austin?
Yes. Amtrak's Texas Eagle departs Fort Worth once daily and stops in downtown Austin. The trip takes roughly four to five hours, and the station is a short walk from the Austin Convention Center. Because it's a once-a-day service, it requires schedule flexibility.
What's the cheapest way to get from DFW to Austin?
Exact costs change constantly, but as a general rule, driving your own car is the cheapest per person for groups, while advance-booked bus tickets are typically the lowest single-ticket option. Flying tends to be the most expensive once you add airport transfers on both ends. Any figures you see should be treated as estimates — check live fares before you book.
Should I take the SH 130 toll road around Austin?
If you're headed to East Austin, the airport, or points south like San Marcos, SH 130 is often the faster and far less stressful choice, with wide-open 85 mph speed limits on parts of the route. If you're headed to downtown or West Austin in light traffic, staying on I-35 is usually fine. Note that SH 130 is tolled, so rental drivers should confirm their vehicle's toll-transponder arrangements before the trip.