Texas Parent Travel Hub
Texas Longhorns Football Weekends 2026
Texas holds its official Family Weekend on November 6 to 8, but that weekend the game is on the road at Missouri, so fall parent trips center on home games at DKR Stadium. Austin is a high-demand city and the ACL music festival spikes October hotels, so timing matters. Here is everything you need to plan the trip.
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Start with the essentials
Lodging is the piece that fills up first, so it is worth locking in first.
The 2026 home game weekends
Texas holds its official Family Weekend on November 6 to 8, 2026, but that weekend the Longhorns play on the road at Missouri, so there is no home game to attend. Looking for the university’s official parent weekend instead? See our UT Austin Parent Guide for Family Weekend dates and other parent planning information. Parents who want to see a game should pick one of the seven home weekends at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium instead. The Ohio State opener on September 12 is the marquee non-conference game, and it is already sold out through the Texas box office.
DKR Stadium seats more than 100,000, and Austin runs high demand year round. Marquee weekends, and any date near the ACL music festival in early October, fill the city months ahead with steep rates and two-night minimums. Treat your chosen game weekend as fixed and book lodging first, then sort out tickets.
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Tickets and Family Weekend
No home game falls on the official Family Weekend, so the two things to line up are your game weekend and lodging, in this order.
Pick your weekend
Choose from the seven home games below. Ohio State (September 12) is already sold out through the Texas box office. Florida (October 17) and Ole Miss (October 24) are major SEC home weekends, so parents planning those trips should compare lodging and ticket options early.
Get tickets
Texas home games sell out, and the Ohio State opener is already sold out through the Texas box office. Buy early for other games, and plan the resale market as your backup. Family Weekend registration details post separately through Texas Parents.
Lock lodging before both
You do not need tickets in hand to book a refundable room. In a city as busy as Austin, lodging is the scarce resource on a game weekend, so reserve first and adjust later.
When hotels sell out (and how to beat it)
Austin is one of the busiest travel markets in the country, and a game Saturday, a big SEC opponent, or an ACL festival weekend absorbs its large hotel supply fast, at steep rates and with two-night minimums.
Book now, cancel later
Reserve a refundable room today even if your plans are not final. On a busy weekend the price only climbs, and the closest rooms disappear first.
Widen the radius
If central Austin is full, the Domain in north Austin and hotels near the airport hold rooms, and whole-home rentals across the city are a strong option for families. San Antonio is about eighty minutes south if Austin is truly sold out.
Watch the minimum-night rules
Many hotels require two or three nights on a game or Family Weekend. A whole-home rental can be the more flexible option.
Where to stay: the parent lodging map
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This is the part generic travel sites cannot produce at scale. Every area around Austin, what it is best for, roughly how far it is from campus, and how much lodging actually exists there. Drive times are approximate and heavier on game day.
| Area | Drive to campus | Best for | Typical price | Hotel density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Near campus / West Campus | Walk to 5 min | Walking to campus and the stadium, near your student | $$$ | Medium, goes first |
| Downtown Austin | 10 to 15 min | Restaurants, walkability, and easy campus access | $$$ to $$$$ | High |
| Rainey Street / East downtown | 10 min | Newer high-rise hotels and a lively patio scene | $$$ | Medium to high |
| South Congress (SoCo) | 12 to 18 min | Shopping, dining, and boutique hotels | $$$ | Medium |
| The Domain / North Austin | 15 to 25 min | Value, newer hotels, and quieter nights | $$ to $$$ | High |
| Near the airport (AUS) | 15 to 20 min | Early flights and budget rooms | $$ | Medium |
Compare hotels and rentals near campus
The Where to Stay table above shows which areas fit your plan. Our interactive lodging map below shows live options near Austin, so you can lock in a refundable room before it fills.
Our interactive lodging map below shows options near campus, set to the Ohio State weekend, which is already sold out through the Texas box office. Change the dates on the map for your game, and check whether ACL overlaps your October dates.
Booking through the map above supports UniversityParent at no extra cost to you.
2026 Texas home football schedule
Texas plays seven home games at DKR Stadium in 2026, its third season in the SEC. Ohio State is already sold out through the Texas box office. Florida and Ole Miss are major SEC home weekends, so parents planning those trips should compare lodging and ticket options early. The official Family Weekend (November 6 to 8) is a road game at Missouri.
| Date | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sept 5 | Texas State | Home opener |
| Sat, Sept 12 | Ohio State | Marquee non-conference, already sold out |
| Sat, Sept 19 | UTSA | Non-conference |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Florida | Marquee SEC |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Ole Miss | Marquee SEC |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Mississippi State | SEC, Halloween |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Arkansas | SEC |
Family Weekend (November 6 to 8) falls on the road game at Missouri, so it is not a home weekend. Some 2026 games already have confirmed kickoff times, while later SEC games still have broadcast windows. Check the Texas Athletics schedule before booking flights around a specific kickoff because exact times for those games can be finalized closer to game day.
Closest airports
Austin-Bergstrom is close to campus and handles nearly every family. San Antonio is a backup when Austin fares climb, which is common on SEC and festival weekends.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS Austin-Bergstrom | About 8 mi | About 20 min | Your default, just southeast of campus. |
| SAT San Antonio | About 80 mi | About 1 hr 20 min | A backup when Austin is sold out or pricey. A car is a must. |
Find flights
Search Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) first, since it is about twenty minutes from campus and handles most traffic. San Antonio (SAT) is about eighty minutes south and worth a price check for SEC and festival weekends, though you will need a car.
Kiwi.com searches hundreds of airlines at once, including the budget carriers many sites skip.
Rental cars
A car is optional if you base downtown or near campus, since they are close and game-day driving is a hassle. You will want one if you stay at the Domain or the airport, take day trips, or fly into San Antonio.
GetRentACar compares the rental companies at Austin-Bergstrom in one search. If you fly in and would rather not drive, a private airport transfer covers the short trip to campus or downtown.
Things to do around Austin
A home game weekend is really Friday afternoon to Sunday. Here is how families fill the non-game hours, plus a module for tours and tickets.
The Longhorns essentials
See DKR Stadium and the Tower, and visit two strong campus museums: the LBJ Presidential Library, with a replica Oval Office, and the Blanton Museum of Art, home to Ellsworth Kelly’s ‘Austin.’
Texas Capitol
Free tours of the 1888 pink-granite capitol, taller than the U.S. Capitol, a short ride from campus.
Trail and the bats
The downtown hike-and-bike loop along the lake, and the Congress Avenue bats that emerge at dusk in warmer months.
Zilker and Barton Springs
A big riverside park with a spring-fed swimming pool that stays cool year round. Note Zilker hosts the ACL festival in October.
For tours, attractions, and city passes across Austin and the Hill Country, these are useful for the non-game hours.
Where to eat
A short, honest list of parent-friendly spots. Reservations are essential for a busy Saturday, so book the moment your dates are set.
Terry Black’s Barbecue
Central Texas barbecue with quality close to the famous Franklin, but far shorter waits. The easy way to check the Austin barbecue box.
Matt’s El Rancho
A longtime Tex-Mex institution known for the Bob Armstrong dip, a relaxed pick for a family dinner. Reserve on a game weekend.
Jeffrey’s
An upscale Austin classic for a special family meal. Torchy’s Tacos is the reliable casual option when you want something quick.
Game-day parking and getting around
Parking is the part that trips up first-time visiting families, because game-day rules differ from a normal campus visit.
Buy parking ahead
Most campus garages and lots go to permit and pre-paid parking on game days, and public spots are tight. The LBJ Library lot and campus garages sell limited game-day parking, so buy online in advance.
Use rideshare or transit
Campus and downtown are close, so rideshare drop-off or CapMetro often beats the parking crunch. Expect surge pricing after the final whistle.
Stay close and walk in
Base downtown or near campus and walk or take a short ride rather than driving into the campus core, which sees heavy road closures and traffic on game days.
A sample weekend itinerary
A relaxed template you can adjust once your plans are set.
- Afternoon: Fly into Austin-Bergstrom, check in downtown or near campus.
- Late afternoon: Meet your student, walk campus, see the Tower and the LBJ Library.
- Evening: Dinner downtown or on South Congress (reserve ahead).
- Morning: Coffee downtown, then the Capitol or a walk along Lady Bird Lake.
- Midday: Head to campus early, or take a short rideshare to DKR Stadium.
- Kickoff: The game at DKR (confirm time the week of).
- Evening: Barbecue or Tex-Mex after the crowds thin.
- Morning: Slow breakfast, one last campus walk, restock your student’s essentials.
- Midday: Fly out of Austin-Bergstrom, or add an afternoon on South Congress.
What parents should pack
Early fall in Austin is hot, with September and early October highs often in the upper eighties or nineties, cooling into November. A day game can be genuinely warm in the stands, so plan for sun.
- Texas burnt orange
- Light, breathable clothing for a hot day game
- Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses
- A light layer for a cooler late-season evening
- Comfortable walking shoes for campus
- Clear stadium-approved bag
- Refillable water bottle
- Portable phone charger
- Cash for parking
- A rain layer just in case
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas hold a fall Family Weekend?
Yes, on November 6 to 8, 2026, but that weekend the Longhorns play on the road at Missouri, so there is no home game. Parents who want to see a game should pick one of the seven home weekends instead. Family Weekend registration details post through Texas Parents.
Which home game should I come to?
Any of the seven works. Ohio State (September 12) is already sold out through the Texas box office. Florida (October 17) and Ole Miss (October 24) are major SEC home weekends worth booking early. The earlier non-conference games are easier on tickets and lodging.
What is the ACL festival warning?
Austin City Limits runs two October weekends (October 2 to 4 and October 9 to 11) at Zilker Park. Neither overlaps a home game exactly, but they keep hotels tight and pricey across early and mid October, including the week before the Florida game. Check ACL dates before booking.
What is the closest airport?
Austin-Bergstrom (AUS), about eight miles and twenty minutes from campus. San Antonio (SAT) is about eighty minutes south and worth a price check when Austin fares climb.
Do I need a rental car?
Not if you base downtown or near campus, which are close and walkable. You will want a car if you stay farther out, take day trips, or fly into San Antonio.
How early should I book a hotel?
As early as possible. Marquee games and any ACL-adjacent October date sell out months ahead with two-night minimums. The Ohio State weekend is the tightest of all.
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