I-35 and MoPac: A daily commuter guide to surviving Austin traffic

Austin has two major north-south highways and they're both terrible. Here's how to cope.

I-35: The main artery through Austin. Also the most hated highway in Texas. The construction project to bury I-35 through downtown has been going on since 2022 and won't finish until 2028-2029. It has made an already terrible commute significantly worse.

• Peak misery: 7:30-9:30 AM southbound, 4:30-7 PM northbound
• The upper deck through downtown is a white-knuckle experience at any speed
• The stretch from Round Rock to downtown should take 20 minutes. It takes 50-70 during rush hour.
• Source: TxDOT Austin District, Waze real-time data

MoPac (Loop 1): The alternative to I-35 on the west side. Slightly better but still packed.

• MoPac Express Lane (toll lane) runs $1-8 depending on traffic. Dynamically priced. Worth it when it's $3. Not worth it when it's $8.
• The Bee Cave to downtown stretch on MoPac is bumper-to-bumper by 8 AM.

Alternatives:

• Lamar Blvd — North-south surface street. Slower but predictable. Better than sitting on I-35.
• Burnet Rd — Parallel to MoPac on the east side. Food trucks and shops along the way if you need to stop.
• South 1st / South Congress — North-south through south Austin. Congested during rush hour but at least you're moving.

The real solution:

• Live close to work. Austin's sprawl is the problem. If you work downtown and live in Round Rock, your commute is your life.
• Cap Metro bus routes are decent on some corridors. The 801 MetroRapid from North Lamar to downtown is the fastest transit option.
• Bikes. Austin is bikeable if you live within 5 miles of downtown. The bike infrastructure has improved.

Source: TxDOT, Cap Metro trip planner, personal commute data