Car Rental - Austin

 

Be in the heart of Texas’ state capital with Austin car rental from Hertz. Known as the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’, Austin is overflowing with music festivals, venues and talented musicians. In fact, there’s 250 live venues in the city, featuring everything from blues and jazz to country.

Austin also has a thriving arts scene in South Congress Avenue (SoCo), just south of the river. Here, you’ll find talented street performers, colorful murals and quirky galleries all showcasing Austin’s festive spirit.

We’ve got car rental pick-up locations in and around the city, including at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Reserve online before you arrive for the best pick of vehicles, including luxury sports cars for cruising downtown and SUVs that are ideal for exploring the wider state.

Plus, if you plan on taking on an epic road trip across Texas, you can drop off your Austin car rental at any Hertz location in the state for no extra charge.

Immerse yourself in the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ and discover the city’s unique rhythm with Hertz car rental in Austin.

Austin Locations

A Quick Guide to Austin

Zilker Park

Zilker Park is a hotspot for locals. With fantastic views of Colorado River and the cityscape, it’s not hard to see why. Across its 350-acres, you’ll find plenty to do, from taking a dip in Barton Springs Pool, to watching a show at Zilker Hillside Theatre, and even learning something new with walking trails at Botanical Gardens and Zilker Nature Preserve.

LBJ Presidential Library

Lyndon Baines Johnson may have spent his presidential years in Washington D.C., but he was born and died in Texas. Discover the life of LBJ, his speeches and his legacy at Austin’s LBJ Presidential Library. Parking can be found off Red River Street and is free to guests at the library.

Congress Avenue

Congress Avenue is Austin’s main street and runs from Texas Capitol towards the river and Congress Avenue Bridge. Wander down this iconic street for your pick of shops or embark on an epic Segway Tour to explore Downtown Austin in style. At night, the street comes alive with bars, bands and bats – head to the Statesman Bat Observation Center to spot some of Austin’s lesser-known residents.

Pitchfork Pretty

Enjoy the delicious taste of Hill Country cuisine straight from the restaurant’s garden at this family eatery on East Cesar Chavez Street. Their menu changes depending on the seasonal harvest, but regularly features a number of grilled meats as well as vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.

Uchi

Situated in a Texan-style bungalow on Lamar Boulevard, Uchi takes a non-traditional spin on Japanese cuisine. Dine inside or on the patio and feast on Agemono (deep-fried vegetables, fish and poultry), sushi and sashimi. There are also daily specials and chef tasting courses.

The Driskill

Set in the heart of Downtown Austin, this historic hotel has served guests of Austin for more than a century. Each of the 189 rooms feature a timeless design with all the modern comforts of a five-star hotel. There’s also a restaurant and café to relax in after a day exploring Austin’s bustling streets.

Kimber Modern Boutique Hotel

For a modern stay, this four-star boutique hotel south of the river boasts a minimal and contemporary feel perfect for Austin’s trendy SoCo district. Chill out in the hotel’s courtyard complete with a 25-foot glass water feature and help yourself to gourmet teas and coffees. Off-street parking is also available for your Austin rental car to guests on a first-come, first-served basis.

Museum of the Weird

Away from the live music, international cuisine and sprawling parks, Austin has an eccentric side dying to be explored. The Museum of the Weird celebrates Austin’s ostentatious side. From shrunken heads to Fiji mermaids, there’s plenty to marvel at “America’s Strangest Attraction”. The museum doesn’t offer onsite parking, but there are plenty of parking lots nearby for your Ausitn car rental.

Cathedral of Junk

This quirky attraction takes the phrase “one man's trash is another man's treasure” seriously, with 60 tons of people’s castoffs. The structure of this intriguing cathedral started in 1989 and has only grown thanks to the constant supply of unwanted goods from locals and tourists alike.

Driving In and Around Austin

  • You can find free parking for your Austin rental car in Downtown Austin, usually after 6pm Monday and Tuesday and throughout Sunday.
  • Capitol Visitors Parking Garage is right in the heart of Austin and is free for the first two hours.
  • Street parking is also widely available and is metered. Download the Park ATX mobile app to easily pay or extend your parking session.

Austin’s rush hour starts at 6am until 9am for the morning commute and between 4pm and 7pm in the evening. Roads can get congested on weekends but Austin is well signposted and relatively easy to navigate.

  • Texas State Highway Loop 1 (TX-1) runs north to south on Austin’s west, cutting through many top attractions and neighborhoods.
  • Interstate 35 (I-35) cuts through Austin’s heart, heading north to Fort Worth and Dallas or south towards San Antonio.
  • Highway 290 (US 290) heads through central Austin after joining from the west, then goes east all the way to Houston.

How to Get From Austin Bergstrom International Airport to Texas Capitol Building

Texas Capitol address is: 100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

To get there from the airport:

  1. Head out of the Austin Airport rental car park onto Presidential Boulevard.
  2. Turn left onto TX-71 West.
  3. Exit onto I-35 North.
  4. Take exit 234C to merge onto North Interstate 35.
  5. Turn left onto East 11th Street, Capitol Visitors Parking Garage is on your right.

 

Austin to Houston

Space City is only 165 miles away from Austin in your rental car. Head south from Austin on the I-35 to join the TX-71 and I10 east. The journey will take around two-and-a-half-hours in total.