Texas and the South travel by car for flexibility, but domestic flights recommended between major cities given distances.
Distances: Austin-Houston 265 km (2h45), Austin-San Antonio 130 km (1h30), Houston-San Antonio 320 km (3h), Austin-New Orleans 1,100 km (10h drive or 1h domestic flight $100-250 return), Houston-New Orleans 560 km (5h30 or 1h flight $80-200), New Orleans-Memphis 640 km (6h30 drive or 1h15 flight $100-200), Memphis-Nashville 340 km (3h30), Nashville-Atlanta 400 km (4h).
Domestic flights: Southwest Airlines (favourite carrier, hubs Houston Hobby HOU, Austin AUS, Dallas Love Field DAL, Nashville BNA, Memphis MEM, New Orleans MSY), American Airlines (Dallas Fort Worth DFW hub), United (Houston IAH hub). Flights 1-1h30, $100-250 return by lead time. Favour flights for long distances (Austin-NOLA, NOLA-Memphis).
Car rental: $40-80/day compact, $60-100 SUV. All agencies (Hertz, Sixt, Enterprise, Alamo, Budget, National) at all airports. Full LDW/CDW insurance recommended. In NOLA, car of little use in French Quarter (all walkable) — rent at airport if plantations + bayous, otherwise not essential.
In Austin, car useful for urban travel (sprawl) and Texas Hill Country excursions. Cap Metro bus, Cap Metro Rail (1 MetroRail line), MetroBike self-service bike. Uber/Lyft everywhere.
In Houston, car nearly mandatory (sprawl city 1,600 km²). METRO Rail light rail (1 Red Line), METRO Bus. Uber/Lyft. No good tourist public transport option.
In San Antonio, downtown + River Walk + Pearl District walkable. VIA Metropolitan Transit bus. Car for Mission Trail and excursions.
In New Orleans, French Quarter and Garden District walkable. St Charles Streetcar (1835, $1.25/ride, iconic historic line to Garden District and Uptown), Canal Street Streetcar, Riverfront Streetcar. RTA Bus. Uber/Lyft ($5-15 typical). Watertaxi from Algiers Point on the other Mississippi bank. Bike rental $25-40/day (NOLA flat, bikeable city). Avoid walking alone late night outside French Quarter — systematic Uber/Lyft.
Main airports: Austin AUS ($10 taxi to downtown 15 min), Houston Bush IAH (45 min taxi $50-70 or METRO bus + light rail $4), Houston Hobby HOU (Southwest hub, 35 min taxi $30-50), San Antonio SAT (15 min taxi $25), New Orleans Louis Armstrong MSY (35 min flat-rate taxi $36 or Uber $30-50 to French Quarter).
Read also
- New Orleans — French Quarter, jazz, Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras, beignets: the most unique US city.
- United States — Complete country-continent guide: ESTA, currency, regions.
- Florida — The Southern Latin beach neighbour: Miami, Orlando, Keys.
- East Coast — The urban and cultural alternative: New York, Boston, Washington.