Where to stay
Austin City Limits Hotels
Distance to Austin City Limits: The Carpenter is only a half mile from the Barton Springs East Entrance of Zilker Park, where the festival is located.
What’s cool about this hotel: Grab breakfast at the café, then lounge by the pool until it’s time to head to the festival. When you get back, fulfill your post-festival munchies with the late-night menu, which is available until midnight.
Transport tips: There aren’t many hotels close to Austin City Limits — this is one of the only walkable options. Take advantage and stroll the half mile on foot. Alternatively, you can walk 4 minutes to the Barton Springs/Jessie bus stop, and take the 30 bus to the entrance. Just remember to purchase a ticket via CapMetro before you head to the festival.
Hotel ZaZa
Distance to Austin City Limits: It’s a 2-mile drive to the main festival gates at the Barton Springs West Entrance.
What’s cool about this hotel: You’ll never want to leave the stylish rooftop pool and cabana bar — except for brunch at the hotel sky bar. The bar is also open until 2 a.m. on weekends for your post-festival celebrations. Or, head out to Antone’s or Parish, two of ACL Festival’s best official late-night show venues, both only a half-mile away.
Transport tips: This hotel is just 95 feet from the free festival shuttle stop at 4th and Guadalupe, near Republic Square. You can’t get any closer than that!
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton
Distance to Austin City Limits: You’ll be 2.5 miles from the Barton Springs East Entrance.
What’s cool about this hotel: With a kitchenette, sofa bed and separate living area, you’ll feel right at home — but the outdoor pool and room service make it the perfect place to relax after a day at Austin City Limits.
Transport tips: It’s a 5-minute walk to the number 30 bus at 12th St and Guadalupe. In 20 minutes, this bus route will drop you right at the festival’s east entrance. Purchase your ticket via CapMetro.
The Driskill
Distance to Austin City Limits: You’ll be a little over 2 miles away from the Barton Springs East Entrance.
What’s cool about this hotel: If you’re craving even more music, you’ll enjoy the on-site bar, The Driskill Bar, which hosts live music every night of the week. You can also take advantage of 24-hour room service when you’re back from your adventures.
Transport tips: Catch the free festival shuttle at 4th and Guadalupe, near Republic Square. The shuttle stop is a half mile west of the hotel, a 10-minute walk. You’re 5 minutes or less by foot from the after-party fun at Antone’s and Parish.
W Austin
Distance to Austin City Limits: You’ll be 2 miles from the Barton Springs West Entrance.
What’s cool about this hotel: With a farm-to-fork restaurant, mixology bar and 24-hour room service, this is one of the best hotels near Austin City Limits Moody Theater. It’s right next door, so you can go from festival to theater without missing a beat. Recover from your day at the festival with a massage in the full-service spa or a swim in the outdoor pool.
Transport tips: A 3-minute walk gets you to the free festival shuttle stop at Republic Square.
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ACL 2020
Austin City Limits will now take place on the weekends of October 2-4 & 9-11, 2020.
What is Austin City Limits?
Austin City Limits, or ACL Festival to its fans, is a popular music festival in Austin. It’s known for its diverse lineup — the 2019 festival featured The Cure, Childish Gambino and Mumford & Sons. And there’s more than great music: Order tasty treats at the ACL Eats Food Court, sip some local beer at on-site Barton Springs Beer Hall and groove during the nightly silent disco. Don’t forget to peruse Art Market, where you can purchase handmade goods from local artisans.
Where is Austin City Limits?
ACL Festival takes place in Zilker Park, located at 2100 Barton Springs Rd, near downtown Austin. The park is east of the Zilker Botanical Garden and is easily reached from downtown by crossing the river at Lamar Blvd and heading west on Barton Springs Road.
How long does Austin City Limits last?
The modern ACL Festival takes place over two weekends, October 2-4 and October 9-11. The headliners are the same each weekend, so choose which dates work best for you! Gates open at 11 a.m. (noon on Friday) and music ends at 10 p.m.
When was the first Austin City Limits Festival?
The first ACL Festival took place in 2002 and was only two days long, over one weekend, with 25,000 people in attendance. Since then it has expanded to two weekends and more than 100 bands. The 2019 festival had 450,000 attendees over its two weekends.
