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Austin to San Marcos bus

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Austin - San Marcos Bus Schedule

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Journey Information

There are 16 intercity buses per day from Austin to San Marcos. Traveling by bus from Austin to San Marcos usually takes around 43 minutes, but the fastest Tornado Bus bus can make the trip in 20 minutes.

Distance29 mi (47 km)
Shortest duration0h 20m
Cheapest price$6.78
Trips per day16
Most frequent serviceTornado Bus
Bus lines4

How much is a bus ticket from Austin to San Marcos?

$16.96 is the average price of a bus ticket from Austin to San Marcos. This is currently one of the best deals in bus travel. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.

Average prices by travel date

$41$27$14MarApr

Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from Austin to San Marcos is expected to be between $19 and $33. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is March 31, 2024, when tickets are available for March 31, 2024. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just $19.

Monthly average prices

$102$81$61$41$20AMJJASONDJFM
Bus tickets from Austin to San Marcos are at their cheapest average price in September. This time of year usually offers the best deals on bus tickets for this route, with ticket prices around $29. On the other hand, traveling on this route during February might cost you a bit more than usual. Bus tickets for February trips cost $76, on average. But no need to stress — booking your bus ticket in advance can help you snag cheaper tickets.

Prices as travel date approaches

$34$27$20$14$73020100

The easiest way to save money on bus tickets is by booking in advance! Many carriers increase prices as the travel date approaches, so it's always a good idea to buy your tickets as early as possible. Book at least 26 days in advance to save $19.78 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.

What bus companies travel from Austin to San Marcos?

There are 4 bus lines from Austin to San Marcos available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 9 daily trips, Tornado Bus usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus US70h 43m$18.28
Greyhound10h 44m$18.75
Megabus10h 55m$52.11
Tornado Bus90h 37m$74.72
  • FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 7 trips per day from Austin to San Marcos, and the average ticket for this route costs only .

  • Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 1 bus trips from Austin to San Marcos every day, with the average journey taking around 0 hours and 44 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Marcos usually start from $15.

  • Book Megabus from Austin to San Marcos from $7. There are 1 Megabus schedules from Austin to San Marcos and you can expect on average to pay for a Megabus ticket to San Marcos. In Austin, Megabus departs to San Marcos from 1500 San Jacinto Blvd and no other station. In San Marcos, Megabus arrives at Arnold Hall - 102 Student Center Dr and no other station.

    An average trip on Megabus from Austin to San Marcos takes 0 hours and 55 minutes , while the fastest available Megabus trip will get you to San Marcos in 0 hours and 20 minutes .

    On weekends, Megabus offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to San Marcos.

  • Tornado Bus is a Texan bus company operating in Texas and Mexico. Their bus service connects cities such as Houston, McAllen, San Antonio, and the international border at El Paso. Their buses offer onboard WiFi, plenty of leg room, air conditioning, restrooms, and power outlets.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bus takes an average of 43 minutes to cover the 47 kilometers from Austin to San Marcos. However, the fastest bus only takes 20 minutes. It's a short trip that goes by very quickly. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

"Because many passengers travel from Austin to San Marcos at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet."

The first bus leaves at 10:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Austin to San Marcos, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 16 scheduled buses that travel from Austin to San Marcos every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Austin to San Marcos without transferring.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Austin to San Marcos; ticket prices start at $8.15.

City Information

Austin

Austin, TX - AUS-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Austin, TX - AUS-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Austin, TX - AUS-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Austin is the capital of the Lone Star State and one of the best vacation destinations in Texas. Known as Texas’s “weird” city, Austin is famous for being the southern mecca for the arts. In addition to being a hot spot for both emerging and established artists from Texas and the surrounding states, Austin is well known for its eclectic live music scene. In addition, the University of Texas’ main campus is located in Austin, which makes the city a popular destination for young people from all over the world, keeping it vibrant at all times. It’s no surprise that it ranks among the top party cities in the U.S.

While you’re in town, make sure to stop by the hip South Congress neighborhood to shop at the trendy boutiques and grab some grub at the authentically Austin restaurants. Since Austin is one of the best craft beer cities in the country, you won’t regret checking out some of the local breweries too. After that, head over to Lady Bird Lake and rent a kayak for a relaxing paddling session on the water, or simply go for a walk on the picturesque Hike & Bike Trail. Finally, spend the night bar hopping along the pedestrian-only Sixth Street.

While the Austin airport is located on the outskirts of the city, the main train station is right in the heart of downtown. Similarly, the two bus stations that serve Austin are located close to the city center, making ground transportation the more convenient way to travel in and out of town.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Austin?

Main departure station: 711 E Ben White Blvd

Buses to San Marcos leave from 5 stations in Austin.

All bus stations in Austin:

  • 711 E Ben White Blvd

  • Downtown Austin

  • South Congress - 710 E Ben White Blvd.

  • Eastside Bus Plz

  • 1500 San Jacinto Blvd

Where does the bus arrive in San Marcos?

Main arrival station: Restaurant Mazatlan

Buses arrive in San Marcos at 3 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.

Bus stations in San Marcos:

  • Restaurant Mazatlan

  • 338 S Guadalupe St - San Marcos Intermodal Station

  • Arnold Hall - 102 Student Center Dr

Get around town with Moovit

Download Moovit to see all of your local transit options in San Marcos. Download here

Need a return trip from San Marcos to Austin?

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