The 12 Best Things to Do in Austin This Fall
The best things to do in Austin in the fall are ACL Fest, Formula 1 at Circuit of the Americas, Longhorn game days, Viva la Vida, the Austin Film Festival, the Texas Book Festival, Hill Country wine country, and the fall color at Lost Maples. Most of them happen every October and November, and most are within half an hour of The Wayback on Bee Cave Road.
Fall comes to Austin late, and all at once. One morning near the end of September, a front slides down from the north, the air goes dry and soft, and the whole city walks outside to feel it. Patios fill. Windows open. Somebody lights the first fire of the season.
Then the calendar fills up fast. October brings the biggest weekends of the Austin year, and November follows with the best weather. Here are the twelve things we would plan a fall around, in the order they arrive, with the drive time from our front gate on Bee Cave Road.
1. Austin City Limits Music Festival
Two weekends every October · Zilker Park · about 15 minutes away
ACL runs across two identical weekends and nine stages in Zilker Park every October, and it turned 25 in 2026. Lineups are announced in the spring. Rideshare in and walk the last stretch, since the park roads close and traffic around Zilker backs up.
2. Fortlandia at the Wildflower Center
Every October through January · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center · about 20 minutes away
Every fall the Wildflower Center fills its gardens with forts built by local designers and artists, and it is one of the best outdoor walks in the city. The 2026–27 season of Fortlandia runs through January 31, 2027. Gardeners should also mark the Fall Native Plant Sale, held on weekends every October.
3. Wimberley Market Day
First Saturday of every month, March through December · Wimberley · about an hour away
Nearly 500 booths of antiques, crafts, and Hill Country goods under the trees at Lions Field, 7am to 4pm, rain or shine. Go early, bring a tote, and take Ranch Road 12 home through Dripping Springs.
4. Longhorn Saturdays
Home Saturdays, September through November · DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium · about 20 minutes away
Texas plays its home games at DKR every fall, and kickoff times are set closer to game day. On game day, the whole city wears burnt orange. Plan to arrive early and leave late.
5. Texas Wine Month in Fredericksburg
Every October · Highway 290 and Fredericksburg · about 1 hour 40 minutes away
October is Texas Wine Month, and the Hill Country pours its best. The drive west on Highway 290 passes dozens of tasting rooms between Johnson City and Fredericksburg. Late every October, the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest holds its Grand Tasting in the Marktplatz, with more than 75 Hill Country wineries, chefs, breweries, and distilleries. Book a driver and make a day of it.
6. Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
Every October · Circuit of the Americas · about 45 minutes away (much longer on race weekend)
The fastest weekend in Austin. The United States Grand Prix brings four days of racing and a headline concert to Circuit of the Americas every October, with the race on Sunday afternoon. Three-day general admission sells out early, so buy as soon as tickets go on sale, and take the official shuttles from downtown.
7. Viva la Vida
A Saturday in late October · Congress Avenue and 4th Street · about 20 minutes away
The Mexic-Arte Museum's Día de los Muertos festival and Grand Procession is Austin's largest and longest-running Day of the Dead event, and it is free to attend. The procession steps off at noon. Come early for a spot along the route, and leave extra time for traffic, since it often shares a weekend with F1.
8. Austin Film Festival
Late October into early November · downtown theaters · about 20 minutes away
Eight days of premieres, screenwriter panels, and late-night conversations in theaters across downtown. Film passes are the easy way in for anyone who loves a story well told.
9. Fall Color at Lost Maples
Late October through mid-November · Lost Maples State Natural Area · about 3 hours away
Texas keeps its best fall color in the canyons near Vanderpool, where a stand of bigtooth maples turns red, orange, and gold. Peak color arrives with the cold fronts, usually late October into mid-November, and Texas Parks and Wildlife posts foliage reports online. The park fills up on fall weekends, so reserve a day pass in advance. It is a long day trip and worth every mile.
10. Wurstfest
Ten days every early November · Landa Park, New Braunfels · about 1 hour 10 minutes away
Ten days of polka, sausage, and German beer on the Comal River. Admission is free Monday through Thursday, and kids 12 and under get in free every day, which makes a weeknight visit the best deal in the Hill Country.
11. Texas Book Festival
A weekend every November · Texas Capitol grounds · about 20 minutes away
Hundreds of authors, white tents along Congress Avenue, food trucks, and a Saturday night Lit Crawl. Free and open to everyone. Come with an empty bag and leave with a stack.
12. The Swim That Outlasts Summer
All season · Barton Springs Pool · about 15 minutes away
Barton Springs holds about 68 degrees all year, and on a crisp November morning the water feels warmer than the air. Entry is free from November through spring break, and weekend parking at Zilker is free after Labor Day. The pool closes for cleaning on Thursdays from 9am to 7pm. Pair it with a morning hike on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, whose Loop 360 trailhead sits about ten minutes from us.
Midweek Is the Smart Move
October weekends in Austin fill early, between the festivals, the game days, and a full calendar of weddings. Look midweek instead.
Wednesday and Thursday are the sweet spot. The Wildflower Center is calm, Barton Springs is uncrowded on a Wednesday morning, and the city feels like it belongs to you. Our café is open, happy hour runs from 3 to 5pm, and on Thursdays every bottle of wine is half price all day.
And then there is November, when the average high drops to 71 and the nights fall to 50. It is the best weather of the Austin year, and cottages are easier to come by.
Home Base, Fifteen Minutes Out
The Wayback sits under a canopy of heritage live oaks on Bee Cave Road, fifteen minutes west of downtown, where the Hill Country begins. Eight board-and-batten cottages plus the Nook, each with its own personality. Cottage 8 has a gas fireplace and a small kitchenette for a longer stay. Cottage 6 has a king bed and a private back patio facing the hills. Cottages 5 through 8 have Hill Country views.
On cool nights, the fire pit is lit and the s'mores come out. In the morning there is Fara coffee in the cottage and a café a short walk across the lawn, with a seasonal menu sourced locally. Parking is free, and most of this list is a short drive away. For a one-night version of all this, see our Austin staycation guide.
A few details for planning: the café is open Wednesday through Friday from 11am to 9pm, Saturday from 9am to 9pm, and Sunday from 9am to 3pm. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations open 21 days ahead.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Austin in the fall?
Late October through November. October averages a high of 82 and November a high of 71, with cool evenings and the summer heat gone.
When is ACL Fest?
Austin City Limits Music Festival takes place over two weekends every October in Zilker Park.
When is the Formula 1 race in Austin?
The United States Grand Prix is held every October at Circuit of the Americas, with the race on Sunday.
Where can you see fall leaves near Austin?
Lost Maples State Natural Area, about three hours west, usually peaks from late October into mid-November. Reserve a day pass ahead.
What is free to do in Austin in the fall?
Viva la Vida in late October, the Texas Book Festival in November, weeknights at Wurstfest, Barton Springs Pool from November on, and any morning on the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
Stay at The Wayback
The Wayback has eight private cottages plus the Nook, a café and craft bar, and a saltwater pool, 15 minutes west of downtown Austin. The city gets loud in the fall. Out here, the fire is already lit.
Prefer to start with dinner? Reserve a table at the café.
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