Getting Here, Getting Around
X marks the spot, and smack dab in the middle of Texas is Austin. There is an old saying in the Lone Star State: “The sun has riz and the sun has set, and I ain’t outta Texas yet.” That says a lot about traversing the state. Austin is about a three-hour drive south of Dallas, a little less than a three-hour drive west of Houston, and a little more than an hour north of San Antonio. It is about a five-hour drive to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico; a five-hour drive to both the Louisiana and Oklahoma borders; and if you are heading west to New Mexico, plan on taking all day for the eight-hours-plus drive.
I-35, often called the Nafta Highway (a reference to the North American Free Trade Agreement), bisects the state from north to south, running from Laredo on the Mexican border up through the middle of the country to the Canadian border. I-10 runs from the Louisiana border through Houston, south of Austin through San Antonio and on to El Paso. US 290 connects Houston to Austin and then joins I-35 for a short stretch, cuts west through the Oak Hill area of Austin and off into the Hill Country.
Austin is literally deep in the heart of Texas. This chapter provides tips on getting here—and getting around once you have arrived.
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Address: 3600 Presidential Blvd.
2. Atlantic Aviation Services, Inc.
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 530-7000
Address: 4309 General Aviation Ave.
Description: Operated by Lakeway Airpark Association, a cooperative, this private facility is nonprofit and unattended. There is a 4,000-foot landing strip open from sunrise to sunset plus self-serve gas facilities. Overnight parking is $5, but that is waived with gas purchase. The landing strip is 15.5 statute miles from Austin. The association reminds pilots there is a noise ordinance in place, plus pilots should watch for the deer grazing near the landing strip.
3. Lakeway
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 261-4385
Address: 115 Flying Scott Rd.
Description: Operated by Lakeway Airpark Association, a cooperative, this private facility is nonprofit and unattended. There is a 4,000-foot landing strip open from sunrise to sunset plus self-serve gas facilities. Overnight parking is $5, but that is waived with gas purchase. The landing strip is 15.5 statute miles from Austin. The association reminds pilots there is a noise ordinance in place, plus pilots should watch for the deer grazing near the landing strip.
4. Signature Flight Support
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 530-5451
Address: 4321 General Aviation Ave.
Description: McRae offers jet charters and light cargo service from its location at the general aviation area of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
5. McRae Aviation
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 385-9615
Address: 4309 General Aviation Ave.
Description: McRae offers jet charters and light cargo service from its location at the general aviation area of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
6. New Flight Charters
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (800) 732-1653
Description: A national charter company servicing the Austin market.
7. Pulse Aviation
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 351-4338
Address: 3600 Presidential Blvd.
Description: This charter service has offices on site at ABIA.
8. Stratos Jet Charter Services
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (888) 478-7280
Description: Charter aircraft and seat availability on inbound Austin private flights are offered by this national company.
9. Amtrak
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 476-5684, (800) 872-7245
Address: 250 North Lamar Blvd.
Description: North/south service is available four times a week on the Amtrak Eagle. Northbound trains leave on Sun, Tues, Wed, and Thurs mornings; southbound on Sun, Wed, Fri, and Sat evenings. The north route goes through Dallas to Chicago, the south route goes to San Antonio. Fares to San Antonio range from $9 to $17, depending on how close to departure time reservations are made; fares to Dallas range from $20 to $40. Children 2 to 15 travel for half price with an adult. East-west service is available from San Antonio; that route connects Los Angeles with Miami.
10. Greyhound
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 458-4463, (800) 231-2222
Address: 816 East Koenig Lane
Description: The intercity bus station is near Highland Mall, just west of the intersection of US 290 East and I-35. Greyhound offers service to more than 2,500 US cities and the station is open 24 hours a day.
11. Kerrville Bus Co., Inc.
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (800) 874-3522
Description: This Texas-grown bus company is also served by the Greyhound station facility. Kerrville serves several Texas cities and small towns.
12. Austin Cab
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 478-2222
Description: There are many limousine operators in Austin, and, like taxi cab companies, they are regulated by city ordinances governing safety and business practices. Companies charge hourly rates, starting around $70 for 4 passengers. Most also add service and gratuity charges, usually 15 percent each, and many also charge more during the peak spring prom season and on holidays such as Halloween and New Year’s Eve. Sedan limos used for hotel/airport pickups cost around $120 an hour. The limo business is highly competitive, and there is frequent turnover. Several large chains also operate in Austin. For a comprehensive listing, check the airport website, www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/limoservice.htm.
13. LONE STAR CAB
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 836-4900
Description: There are many limousine operators in Austin, and, like taxi cab companies, they are regulated by city ordinances governing safety and business practices. Companies charge hourly rates, starting around $70 for 4 passengers. Most also add service and gratuity charges, usually 15 percent each, and many also charge more during the peak spring prom season and on holidays such as Halloween and New Year’s Eve. Sedan limos used for hotel/airport pickups cost around $120 an hour. The limo business is highly competitive, and there is frequent turnover. Several large chains also operate in Austin. For a comprehensive listing, check the airport website, www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/limoservice.htm.
14. Yellow Cab Co.
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (512) 452-9999, (512) 835-7272
Description: There are many limousine operators in Austin, and, like taxi cab companies, they are regulated by city ordinances governing safety and business practices. Companies charge hourly rates, starting around $70 for 4 passengers. Most also add service and gratuity charges, usually 15 percent each, and many also charge more during the peak spring prom season and on holidays such as Halloween and New Year’s Eve. Sedan limos used for hotel/airport pickups cost around $120 an hour. The limo business is highly competitive, and there is frequent turnover. Several large chains also operate in Austin. For a comprehensive listing, check the airport website, www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/limoservice.htm.
City: Austin, TX
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Address: 2910 East Fifth St.