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Journey Information
There are 17 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.
| Distance | 29 mi (47 km) |
| Shortest duration | 0h 20m |
| Cheapest price | $12.49 |
| Trips per day | 17 |
| Most frequent service | Tornado Bus |
| Bus lines | 4 |
How much is a bus ticket from Austin to San Marcos?
Bus tickets for a trip from Austin to San Marcos cost $12.49 on average. This is an excellent value for the trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Average prices by travel date
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from Austin to San Marcos is expected to be between $12 and $25. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is May 13, 2024, when tickets are available for May 13, 2024. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just $14.
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
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 17 days in advance to save $19.28 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 10 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:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 7 | 0h 44m | $12.74 |
| Greyhound | 1 | 0h 44m | $12.87 |
| Megabus | 1 | 0h 56m | $31.15 |
| Tornado Bus | 10 | 0h 36m | $55.61 |
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 $12.
Book Megabus from Austin to San Marcos from $5. Typically there is one Megabus schedule per day 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 . In San Marcos, Megabus arrives at Arnold Hall - 102 Student Center Dr .
An average trip on Megabus from Austin to San Marcos takes 0 hours and 56 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 one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to San Marcos.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 43 minutes to cover the 29 miles 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.
Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go.
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 17 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 $8.00.
City Information
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.
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.
All bus stations in San Marcos:
Restaurant Mazatlan
338 S Guadalupe St - San Marcos Intermodal Station
Arnold Hall - 102 Student Center Dr
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