How To Haul My Happy Ass Home?

March 9, 2011 2:06 PM

#SXSWFilter. Due to a very generous friend, I've got a free place to stay in...Round Rock. What's my best option as far as not having to drive in and out of downtown every day?

The obvious downside is parking. It's certainly not as horrible as dealing with ACLFest, but I've done it before, and don't care to battle it this year. I'll be downtown/Convention Center most all day, into the night (3 or 4AM is never out of the question).

Additionally, I would like to partake in the adult beverages. Being in a heavily policed area, unfamiliar town, and driving a long distance back, and general tiredness/drunkenness certainly makes for a bad combo. This is my "adult Spring Break", so dialing back on the merriment isn't something I really want to have to do.

Staying downtown is pretty much not an option if you've seen hotel avails/pricing. I'm hoping someone here might have some ideas.

posted by chrisfromthelc to travel & transportation (8 answers total)

How comfortable is your car for sleeping in? If you do bunk down in your vehicle, be sure to place your keys outside under the wheel or you could get a ticket. Find an off-street place to park, like a residential area, and be prepared to hoof it. Parking is going to be insane the closer you get to the events.
posted by xenophile at 2:12 PM on March 9, 2011

Use the Cap Metro park and ride. Take your car to the park and ride, take the bus the rest of the way there. Use the bus trip back to sober up and meet some of Austin's more interesting characters.
posted by pickypicky at 2:16 PM on March 9, 2011

Unfortunately, there's no way to get to/from Round Rock late at night except car. During the day I hear the MetroRail will be running more hours than usual, but it doesn't go as far as RR. Your options are generally driving/carpooling or cabs (which I would guess to be at least $60/way.

If you don't want to drive all the way in, you can park in a neighborhood not downtown but closer in. There should be buses to/from those areas running laterish and you could sleep in your car (but maybe risk getting the cops called on you).
posted by elpea at 2:16 PM on March 9, 2011

I could be mistaken, but I don't think the buses to/from any of the northern park and rides go very late at all...
posted by elpea at 2:20 PM on March 9, 2011

A cab might be more affordable if you can split the cost with someone. Some fare info here.
posted by mattbucher at 2:34 PM on March 9, 2011

What if you were to post an ad on Craigslist gigs (or some other place for SWSX messaging) asking to either carpool with other RoundRockers or asking if you can hire someone to dropoff/pickup, again maybe finding others to split the costs.
posted by CathyG at 2:45 PM on March 9, 2011

If you do, as you say, partake in adult beverages, please do not attempt to drive even if it was just one drink many hours back. See "No-refusal". It is a good thing that you are planning your travel method now. My suggestion would be to find people to split a cab with.
posted by thewildgreen at 2:55 PM on March 9, 2011

You're not going to be able to get back to Round Rock via public transit after about 10:30 p.m. My suggestion, like others', would be to sleep in your car. However, your best bet is to park in a neighborhood just north of the Capitol, somewhere close to Guadalupe. Hyde Park is probably best. You're more likely to get harrassed by students or cops in West Campus. When you're done in the evenings, just take the E-Bus or the #481 Night Owl back to your car. Those go from 6th and Congress downtown up north along Guadalupe to Lamar. They run from 12:30-3:30 a.m.

The other option would be to stay out until 5:30 or 6:00 a.m., and then take the bus back to Round Rock. (I don't know what the run times are for those Northwest Austin express buses on the weekends, though.) Good luck!
posted by lunalaguna at 4:45 PM on March 9, 2011