Austin Charter Bus Parking Guide

Austin Charter Bus Regulations

While the City of Austin offers few hard-and-fast rules about tour buses—less strict than, say, New York City’s bus regulations—knowing where oversized vehicles are allowed and prohibited can help you plan smoother transitions between your group’s destinations throughout the town.

Generally, commercial and oversized vehicles like charter bus rentals have limited access to streets in Downtown Austin. So to navigate your bus rental through Austin’s city center, your charter bus driver may need to acquire a specific permit through the city’s Parking Enterprise Division to park and stage your bus rental in Austin’s downtown district.

Outside the city center, Austin tour bus parking varies based on your destination. Many group-friendly attractions like the LBJ Presidential Library offer specific bus parking, while other smaller destinations may ask you to park off-site. If all else fails, we recommend reserving lodging with complimentary bus parking—that way, your bus driver can always wait for you at the hotel while your group explores the city.

Loading and Unloading a Charter Bus in Austin

In many ways, the regulations of loading and unloading (aka climbing aboard and stepping off) your bus rental is the same in Austin as in many cities across the country. Your group may only board and disembark your motorcoach from the right-hand curb of a street—not in the middle of the roadway. Austin has no particular restrictions about idling, but it’s good practice for your bus driver to only run your motorcoach’s engine when preparing to drive away or when outside temperatures are below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Logistics for Festival Shuttle Bus Services

It’s worth noting that if you’re arranging a private shuttle to one of Austin’s major events or festivals, you may need a permit from the event’s organizers to bring your bus rental. Rules and permit processes vary from event to event, but it’s safe to say that if you’re booking a bus to South by Southwest, Austin City Limits, Circuit of the Americas, or the Formula One Grand Prix, you should reach out to an event coordinator directly to ensure your motorcoach is clear to load and unload on festival grounds.

Austin Charter Bus Parking at Popular Destinations

Texas State Capitol Bus Parking

Considering the high volume of visitors this historic building receives, parking an Austin tour bus at the Texas State Capitol is a relatively straightforward experience. Your bus driver should drop off your passengers in the designated Capitol Bus Loading Zone on Brazos Street (in front of the Library and Archives Building). Then, they can park your Austin bus rental on the perimeter of Waterloo Park until you wrap up your tour and meet them back at the Loading Zone.

Texas Capitol

1100 Congress Avenue

Austin, Texas 78701

University of Texas at Austin Bus Parking

Whether you’re planning a campus tour with prospective students or an academic conference, it’s recommended that you contact the University of Texas at Austin directly to inquire about parking your bus rental. You can expect that your Austin charter bus will park near the university’s intramural fields, but a UT Austin representative may offer a closer parking alternative depending on your desired drop-off location and your passengers’ final destination.

University of Texas at Austin

2515 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712

512-471-3434

Austin Convention Center Bus Parking

Drawing over 300,000 visitors every year, the Austin Convention Center is no stranger to large groups and their logistical needs. So if you’re mapping out an Austin corporate shuttle for your next big conference, be sure to get in touch with the ACC event coordination team to confirm your group transportation details ASAP. Your event shuttles can load and unload at any of the shuttle bus cutouts on Trinity Street between Cesar Chavez and 4th Street. From there, the ACC will work with you to ensure you’ll find adequate bus parking near the Austin Convention Center.

Austin Convention Center

500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

512-404-4000

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library Bus Parking

This combination library-and-museum is a fan-favorite destination for Austin school field trips for all ages! Your bus driver will be directed to both unload passengers and park in the upper southeast corner of visitor lot #38 before heading inside and grabbing a parking permit at the lobby’s admission desk.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library

2313 Red River St, Austin, TX 78705

512-721-0200

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Bus Parking

Many groups of flyers find booking a private airport shuttle service a much easier alternative to parking all their personal vehicles or hailing multiple rideshares at the curb. Luckily, Austin-Bergstrom’s South Terminal offers a designated staging and parking area for charter buses,

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

3600 Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719

512-530-2242

Coordinate Your Austin Charter Bus Rental Today

Parking plan? Check. Staging directions? Check. Itinerary and passenger count? Check. Now all that’s left is to let GOGO Charters offer a comfortable and reliable bus rental in Austin and beyond! Call 512-640-4096 whenever you’re ready, and a member of our 24-hour reservation team can walk you through available motorcoach options and lock in a transparent price for your bus rental within minutes.

Whether you need high-tech features like WiFi, TV screens, and a PA system or comfort-minded perks like reclining seats, extra luggage storage, and ADA-compliant features, we’ll work with you to ensure every passenger arrives safely and ready to take on Austin!