Dallas to Austin Road Trip: A Perfect 24 Hours in Austin
Austin is one of the easiest and most fun road trips you can take from Dallas. The drive is short enough for a quick weekend getaway, but there’s enough to do once you arrive that it still feels like a real trip.
We recently did a quick overnight road trip and managed to fit in lake views, live music, hiking, and one of the most over-the-top donuts we’ve ever seen.
If you’re looking for a simple Austin Texas itinerary or wondering what to do with only one day in Austin, this is exactly how our trip played out.
The Dallas to Austin Drive
Driving from Dallas to Austin takes about three hours, which is basically how long it takes to get to any major city in Texas from Dallas. The most direct route is I-35 south through Waco and Temple before reaching Austin.
Traffic can slow things down a bit around Waco depending on the time of day, but overall it’s a straightforward and easy drive, which is one of the reasons a Dallas to Austin road trip works so well for a weekend. You can leave mid-morning, stop somewhere for lunch, spend the evening in the city, and still have time to explore the next day before heading back.
We left Dallas mid-morning on Saturday and arrived in the Austin area early afternoon.
Stop #1: Oasis Texas Brewing Company on Lake Travis
Instead of heading straight downtown, we made our first stop just outside the city at Oasis Texas Brewing Company on Lake Travis.
The brewery sits high above the water with sweeping views of the lake, and it’s one of the most scenic places to grab a drink in the Austin area.
Right next door is The Oasis restaurant. The two spots are unaffiliated but share the same incredible view over Lake Travis. Either one is a great place to stop if you’re looking for food or drinks with a view in Austin. We chose the brewery because we had Lincoln with us, and Oasis Texas Brewing Company is extremely dog friendly.
The patio has a mix of shaded seating and sunny tables overlooking the lake, and the atmosphere is relaxed. They serve a mix of beers, cocktails, and casual food. Jon ordered the wings, and I went with a burger and fries, and it was an easy dinner with a view before heading downtown.
Where We Stayed in Austin
After dinner we drove to our hotel to check in and get ready for the night. We stayed at Aloft Austin South. We usually like Aloft properties for road trips with Lincoln because Aloft is one of the most dog-friendly hotel brands, which makes traveling with her easy.
That said, this particular location wasn’t our favorite. It worked fine logistically since it was a short drive to downtown Austin and also fairly close to McKinney Falls State Park where we planned to hike the next morning. But the hotel sits right along a major highway and it was extremely loud. We also ran into a few cleanliness issues when we arrived, which made it feel like one of the weaker Aloft properties we’ve stayed at.
We still like Aloft as a brand for road trips with a dog, but next time we’d probably try a different hotel in Austin. (LINK TO DOG FRIENDLY MARRIOT HOTEL BRANDS)
Stop #2: Live Music at Mohawk Austin
Once we checked in and changed, we headed downtown for the night. Austin calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World, so catching a show is always one of our favorite things to do when we’re in town. This time we went to Mohawk Austin to see SZN 4 from the Netflix show Building the Band.
The venue has multiple levels with both indoor and outdoor spaces, which gives the whole place a fun, energetic atmosphere without feeling packed in. We had a blast, and SZN 4 was great!
Stop #3: Morning Hike at McKinney Falls State Park
The next morning we headed to McKinney Falls State Park before starting the drive back to Dallas. One of the things we love about Austin is how easy it is to combine city activities with outdoor time. McKinney Falls is only about twenty minutes from downtown, which makes it a great stop if you’re looking to get outside.
We arrived around 9:00 a.m. on a Sunday in March, and the park was still pretty quiet when we got there. After paying the entrance fee, we stopped to talk with the ranger on duty and asked which trail he’d recommend. That’s something we almost always do when we enter a national or state park. Rangers know the park better than anyone and are usually happy to suggest the best route based on how much time you have.
His recommendation was to park at the visitor center and start on the Rock Shelter Trail. From there we were able to visit several of the park’s main points of interest, including Upper Falls, a prehistoric rock shelter, bouldering rocks, and Lower Falls.
The trails connect naturally and are easy to follow, making it a great place to wander without needing to plan much in advance. We spent about an hour casually exploring, walking along Onion Creek and stopping at the limestone waterfalls and rock formations along the way.
Stop #4: Round Rock Donuts
Before finishing our Dallas to Austin road trip, we made one final stop just north of the city for donuts! Specifically for the famous Texas donut from Round Rock Donuts. Round Rock is on the way from Austin to Dallas, so it’s a perfect last stop before officially heading home.
We ordered the giant donut along with an apple fritter, an eclair, coffee, and orange juice. The donuts were delicious, but the Texas donut is really the highlight. It’s huge. Like feeds eight to ten people huge.
It was a fun, delicious stop that reminded us of a bakery in Denali, Alaska, where we had to choose between Alaska-size or Texas-size cinnamon rolls. I thought those cinammon rolls were large, but they don’t even compare to this Texas donut!
A Simple 1-Day Austin TX Itinerary
If you only have one day in Austin, this combination of stops makes for a really fun itinerary:
Lake views and drinks at Oasis Texas Brewing Company or the Oasis Restaurant
Live music downtown at Mohawk Austin (or another live music venue)
Morning hiking at McKinney Falls State Park
A stop at Round Rock Donuts before heading home
You get a little bit of everything Austin is known for: great food, live music, outdoor spaces, and a laid-back Texas vibe.
Why a Dallas to Austin Road Trip Is Worth It
The Dallas to Austin drive is short enough that you don’t need a full weekend to make the trip worthwhile. In less than 24 hours, we managed to see a show, hike in a state park, enjoy Lake Travis views, and eat a donut the size of a dinner plate.
If you’re looking for an easy getaway, this Dallas to Austin road trip is one of the simplest ways to spend a fun day or weekend exploring another Texas city!
Related Posts
More on Road Trip Locals
🌎 Curious where we’ve been around the U.S. and Canada? Browse our Travel Seasons for real-life itineraries and practical tips from months spent living and working on the road.
🧳 Want to know exactly what we pack on the road? Check out our complete Road Trip Packing List for the exact things we use and love on every trip!
📚 Ready to plan your next adventure? Explore our Free Resource Library for road trip itineraries, planning guides, and stories from the road.
🐻 In the mood for adventure? Read Alaska Diaries, a seven-part travelogue from the time we roadtripped Alaska to explore eight national parks in 21 days.
🏡 Wondering what it’s like to buy a fixer-upper near Yellowstone National Park? Follow our renovation rollercoaster in The Cabin Chronicles.
🦬 And if Yellowstone’s on your list, don’t miss our Yellowstone Travel Guide: your step-by-step companion to planning an unforgettable trip to Yellowstone National Park!