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There are usually 12 daily bus trips from Austin to San Marcos.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$65.48 | Avg. Price$22.82 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips12 | Daily Trips1 |
Duration | Duration0h 38m | Duration0h 46m |
There is one daily train from Austin to San Marcos. Traveling by train from Austin to San Marcos usually takes 46 minutes, but some trains might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled.
| Distance | 29 mi (47 km) |
| Fastest train | 0h 46m |
| Lowest price | $16.82 |
| Trains per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Texas Eagle |
| Train lines | 1 |
Average score for trains from Austin to San Marcos
(Based on 2 ratings and reviews)
4.0
Pros: The promptness of the bus. Cons: The app for the service. I couldn't add my ticket to it. Tips: Nope.
5.0
Pros: The glamour of riding a train. I'm 61 and have never travelled by train. It was a slow, cool ride taking a path unlike a street or a highway. It was thrilling really. Cons: Not much. Pretty great value. Tips: Bring a phone charger and something to read or play.
In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from Austin to San Marcos was $21.21. This is basically as cheap as train fares can get. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 21 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $2.62 more if you wait to book until the last minute.
Over the next 30 days, a one-way train trip from Austin to San Marcos will cost between $20 and $39. Book in advance to secure the best price in the next few weeks.
The price of train trips from Austin to San Marcos doesn't fluctuate much throughout the year, so you don’t need to book your tickets super far in advance. However, to avoid last-minute price surges or sold-out tickets, we recommend purchasing your train tickets at least 48 hours before departure.
Amtrak Texas Eagle is the one and only train line which connects Austin to San Marcos. Furthermore, there is only one train per day, so you will have to plan your travel around this limited availability. On the other hand, you won't have to spend a ton of time comparing a bunch of possible options.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Texas Eagle | 1 | 0h 47m | $22.81 |
The Amtrak Texas Eagle is a 1,306-mile train route from Chicago, Illinois to San Antonio, Texas. Because of the route’s length, the train offers sleeper car options in addition to standard coach seats. Like most Amtrak trains, the Texas Eagle features power outlets at each seat, restrooms in each car, and a cafe car where passengers can purchase food and drinks. A journey from Austin to San Marcos on the Texas Eagle usually takes 0 hours and 47 minutes, which is best spent enjoying the incredible scenery along the way.
Trains from Austin to San Marcos are the most crowded on Thursday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Wednesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
Most days, there is only one train which leaves Austin at 7:00pm and arrives in San Marcos within the hour.
Typically there is only one scheduled train per day. Luckily, this train will get you to San Marcos with direct service. While there might still be stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains.
You can also take a train for your return trip from San Marcos to Austin.
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
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.
Image credit: Michael Coghlan
Link to image attributionBuilt in 1947, the Amtrak Station in Austin is one of the stops along Amtrak’s Texas Eagle route which runs from Chicago to San Antonio and connects to Los Angeles. The station, located at 250 N Lamar Boulevard, sits near the banks of the Colorado River in downtown Austin. With just a quick walk from the station, you can reach the beautiful Ladybird Lake-Lamar Beach Park, stylish shopping and dining in the 2nd Street District, and even the state capital complex. Same-day and overnight parking is available at the station, as well as restrooms and vending machines inside.
250 N Lamar Blvd
San Marcos has one train station.
338 S Guadalupe St - San Marcos Intermodal Station
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
