The 25th Austin City Limits Music Festival runs Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11 with rain in the forecast. Here's how to get there, how to avoid the festival traffic and what to know if the weather turns.
There is no parking at Zilker Park, and parking in surrounding neighborhoods is prohibited, according to Austin Transportation and Public Works. The nearest public parking is downtown.
The festival also overlaps with Week Without Driving, Oct. 1-8. Safe Streets Austin is leading the local challenge, and Get There ATX lists car-free options, according to TPW.
Getting there
Shuttle: A free festival shuttle departs from Sand Beach Park, at Walter Seaholm and Electric drives, and drops riders at the Barton Springs west entrance, with return trips each evening, the city said. It starts at 11:30 a.m. daily, according to the festival.
CapMetro: Routes 3 and 803 stop near South Lamar Boulevard and Barton Springs Road, about three-quarters of a mile from the entrance, according to TPW. Riders can map trips with CapMetro's trip planner.
Bike, walk or scoot: The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail leads to the festival, but the city urges people to stay away from creeks and trails during heavy rain and not to cross high water, so check conditions before taking the trail. Bike parking is on Stratford Drive, Azie Morton Road, Toomey Road and Sterzing Street, and scooter parking is on Toomey and Sterzing, according to the festival. Shared devices must be dropped in designated areas, the city said.
Rideshare: Pickup and drop-off points are at Veterans Drive under the MoPac pedestrian bridge, Lee Barton Drive and Wallingwood Drive, the city said. Drivers can't stop in bike lanes, even briefly for a pickup, under a 2025 code update, according to TPW.
Paid parking: Spaces can be reserved at the Barton Oaks and 1221 MoPac garages through LAZ Parking, or at Austin High School, 1715 W. Cesar Chavez St., according to the festival. Accessible parking and entry details are on the festival's help center.
Watch the weather
ACL Fest will go on as planned unless producer C3 Presents decides otherwise, city officials said at a Sept. 30 media availability. Rain and cooler-than-normal temperatures are forecast for the first weekend, and the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch through 7 p.m. Friday.
The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center activated Oct. 1 ahead of 2-3 inches of rain forecast through Friday morning, with isolated pockets of up to 8 inches possible, according to Austin Emergency Management. Walking, biking or driving through high water or around barricades is a Class B misdemeanor, the city said. Low-water crossing status is at ATXFloods.com.
C3 would make any schedule changes in consultation with the weather service and city public safety agencies, said David Wiechmann, public information and marketing program manager for Austin Emergency Management. There is no specific threshold for canceling, he said.
"It's dynamic. It depends on the situation," Wiechmann said.
The city has an all-hazards plan that includes evacuations, and C3 has its own emergency plans, which Austin Emergency Management reviews, Wiechmann said.
For festival alerts, text ACL to 64934 or turn on notifications for ACL Fest in the Festiverse app.
Steering clear
On both festival weekends, Barton Springs Road is closed from 7 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Monday, and Stratford Drive from 9 a.m. Thursday through Monday, according to the city's ACL Mobility Guide. Azie Morton Road closes from 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on festival days. Some lots and roads will stay closed as late as Oct. 16 while stages come down, according to TPW.
Barton Springs Pool stays open, but on festival weekends swimmers can enter only through its Azie Morton Road entrance, according to Austin Parks and Recreation. The city also advises avoiding construction zones on William Barton Drive.
The Austin Police Department will run a No Refusal Initiative from 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. daily Oct. 3-12. That's in addition to its year-round program, which runs from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly. Officers can seek blood search warrants for DWI suspects who refuse breath or blood tests, according to APD.
Staying safe
Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services urges attendees to wear waterproof layers and slip-resistant shoes and to bring any rescue medication they need, said Capt. Shannon Koesterer, the agency's public information officer. In an emergency, get to a medical tent if possible, or call 911 and describe your location. The what3words app can help medics find you.
This Must Be the Place, an overdose prevention nonprofit, will hand out naloxone at its booth and attendees can bring their own factory-sealed naloxone.
"We are not here to judge," Koesterer said.
APD Cpl. Jose Mendez urged festival goers to keep phones out of back pockets and away from IDs and credit cards. Drones are banned within one mile of the grounds Oct. 2-12 without an FAA waiver, he said.
The city also recommends bringing an empty refillable water bottle and setting a meeting place in case cell service is spotty.
