Our Austin and Houston homes are three hours apart on I‑35 and I‑10, and several guests have booked both in one trip. It works well: a weekend of live music and swimming holes in Austin, then a few days in Houston for the museums, the space centre or a hospital appointment. Here is a five‑day itinerary that does not try to do everything.
Day 1: arrive in Austin
Fly into Austin‑Bergstrom or drive in. Check into one of our West Campus townhomes, park in the free spot, and walk. Breakfast tacos on the Drag, a wander through the UT campus and up the Tower if the timing works, then dinner in Clarksville. Finish on Red River Street; you do not need a plan, follow the sound.
Day 2: Austin outdoors
Morning at Barton Springs before it gets busy. Rent a kayak on Lady Bird Lake and paddle under the Congress Avenue bridge. Lunch from a food truck on South Congress, then browse the shops. Late afternoon, drive up to Mount Bonnell for the sunset over the lake. Dinner in East Austin.
Day 3: the drive to Houston
Have a slow morning; the townhome has a full kitchen so cook a proper breakfast. The direct route is 165 miles and about three hours. If you are not in a hurry, break it at Bastrop for a walk down the old main street, or at the Buc‑ee’s in Bastrop if you have never seen one; it is a Texas rite of passage. Check into your Houston home near the Medical Center in the afternoon, and take the evening easy in Rice Village.
Day 4: Houston’s big day out
Space Center Houston is 30 minutes south and needs half a day; book the tram tour to see mission control. Come back for a late lunch, then Hermann Park for a walk and the Japanese garden, or the Museum of Natural Science if the weather has turned. Houston has some of the best food in the country and almost none of it is in the tourist areas; ask Kelly for her current list, or book a private chef to cook in the house so nobody has to drive.
Day 5: Houston at your own pace
If you are here for an appointment, this is your day and our home is minutes from TMC. If not, choose between the Menil Collection (free, quiet, extraordinary), Buffalo Bayou Park for a run along the water, or a half‑day trip to Galveston for the beach and the Strand.
Making it easier
Both cities have free parking at our homes, which matters more than you would think. Both have fast Wi‑Fi and dedicated workspaces if the trip is partly work. Booking both stays direct means one conversation with Kelly for the whole trip, no platform fees on either booking, and someone who can shift a check‑in time if the drive runs long.
Browse our Austin and Houston homes and check availability for both legs of the trip.