United States, North America

Austin in September

Summer lingers through most of the month. Longhorn home football Saturdays spike hotel prices and traffic. Late September starts to turn.

TradeoffsStill hot, highs near 92F (33C), relief late month

Austin Texas skyline, United States — AustinPhoto: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

The straight answer

September is a month of real tradeoffs in Austin. Summer lingers through most of the month. Longhorn home football Saturdays spike hotel prices and traffic. Late September starts to turn.

Weather: Still hot, highs near 92F (33C), relief late month
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What September is like in Austin

September is still hot in Austin, with highs near 92F (33C) for most of the month. Relief usually starts late in the month, when the first mornings feel a little cooler. Crowds and prices are moderate, except on Longhorn home football Saturdays, when more than 100,000 fans fill the stadium, I-35 jams, and hotel rates jump across the city.

This month suits travelers who handle heat and want lower prices before fall. It is not ideal for hiking or long walks, and game weekends are a poor pick unless you are going to the game. For the best fall weather, wait for late October or November.

Make the most of September

What is especially good about Austin this month.

Longhorn football Saturdays

Texas home games draw huge crowds to campus. It is a real Texas experience if you get tickets, and a traffic headache if you do not.

Late summer swims

The springs and the lake are still the best places to be on hot days, and school crowds have gone back to class.

The bats before they leave

The bat colony is still big in September, and the dusk flights stay impressive.

What to pack for September

Light, breathable clothes
A swimsuit
Sunscreen and a hat
Burnt orange if you are going to a game

Our timing tip

Check the Texas football schedule before booking, and plan your trip for weekdays or away-game weekends for lower rates.

Book Austin for September.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Austin
Opens a hotel search for Austin in September, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for September
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Austin
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Austin
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Austin for September. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in September

Texas Longhorns home football

Saturdays, September through November

More than 100,000 fans at the stadium on campus. Game days jam I-35 and push up hotel rates citywide.

Things to do in Austin

Full guide

Barton Springs Pool

Go at opening on a weekday for the quiet swim. Check the city schedule for weekly cleaning closures and reduced winter hours before you drive over.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Congress Avenue Bridge bat flight

Roughly March through October, the Mexican free-tailed bats pour out at dusk. Watch from the bridge, the lawn by the Statesman site, or a boat on Lady Bird Lake. Late summer brings the biggest flights.

Tickets and tours →

Texas State Capitol

Taller than the US Capitol and free to tour, with guided tours daily. The grounds are a shaded escape downtown and a good first stop with kids.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Bullock Texas State History Museum

The best one-stop primer on Texas, a block from the Capitol. A reliable air-conditioned half day in summer.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Peak bloom runs March through May. The spring plant sale and the bluebonnet fields make April the showpiece month.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Zilker Park and Lady Bird Lake

Rent a kayak or paddleboard, walk the 10-mile Butler Trail loop, and picnic on the Great Lawn. Before 9am in summer is the only sane window.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Check the SXSW, ACL, F1, and UT football calendars before you book anything. A random weekend in October can cost double the weekend before it.
Stay midweek. Austin fills with weekend visitors and bachelor and bachelorette parties Thursday through Saturday; Sunday through Wednesday hotel rates drop hard.
Barbecue lines: arrive before the pit opens on a weekday, or order ahead where it is offered. Many famous spots sell out of brisket by early afternoon.
For bluebonnets, go on a weekday morning and drive past the famous roadside spots; fields a few miles farther out are just as good and nearly empty.

Know before you go

ACL Fest closes a large part of Zilker Park for weeks around the festival for setup and recovery, and Barton Springs parking and access are affected. Check city notices if a swim is on your October list.
Barton Springs Pool closes for regular cleaning and occasional flood debris; a big rain upstream can shut it for days. Always check the pool page the morning you go.
Hamilton Pool and many Hill Country swimming spots close swimming after heavy rain or for bacteria counts, sometimes for long stretches. Reservations do not guarantee a swim.
Central Texas sits in Flash Flood Alley. Spring and fall storms can flood low-water crossings in minutes. Never drive into water over a road; turn around.

Austin in September, quick answers

Is September a good time to visit Austin?

September is a month of real tradeoffs in Austin. Summer lingers through most of the month. Longhorn home football Saturdays spike hotel prices and traffic. Late September starts to turn.

What is the weather like in Austin in September?

Still hot, highs near 92F (33C), relief late month.

Is Austin crowded in September?

Crowds in Austin are moderate in September; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.

What is happening in Austin in September?

Texas Longhorns home football (saturdays, september through november).