Northeast Austin, TX Guide

About

Northeast Austin brings together the funky history of East Austin and the newer developments of North Austin in a wide-reaching area that’s undeniably eclectic, often changing dramatically from neighborhood to neighborhood. Bordered mainly by East Parmer Lane to the north, State Highway 130 to the east, Interstate 35 to the west, and in the south by U.S. Routes 183 and 290, Northeast Austin for all practical purposes extends all the way to Round Rock in the north and down to East 51st street in its southernmost edges. Sought-after neighborhoods in Northeast Austin include Windsor Park, University Hills, Coronado Hills, St. Johns, and Copperfield. Situated close to the popular Mueller neighborhood and entertainment district, many Northeast Austinites frequent this part of town, as well as nearby Downtown Austin. A lot of the major tech companies can be found in the Southeast and Northwest sections of the city, so Northeast Austin can be a convenient place to live for employees of those companies, as well as students at various colleges and universities around town. The major shopping districts in North Austin, including the Domain and the Arboretum, are also a short distance away.

Though large sections of Northeast Austin are densely populated and packed with restaurants, retailers, businesses, and services, vast swaths of the landscape consist of wide-open spaces that exude a more rural vibe. Apartments in Northeast Austin can be found in several new and recently developed apartment communities, sprawling across multiple acres and featuring a variety of life-enhancing amenities, including resort-style pools, coffee bars, dog parks, and co-working spaces for remote officing as close to home as you can get without working from your kitchen table. Rents in Northeast Austin tend to be in the more affordable range, and in many cases, deals can be found here for those willing to commute to other parts of the city for work or entertainment.

Getting Around

Cars are a necessity for most Austin residents in pretty much every neighborhood in town, but especially the farther you get from the central business areas. Traffic can be really heavy along Interstate 35 in this part of Austin, so it’s always a good idea to use GPS to navigate your way around the double-decker freeway that often has cars at a standstill for several miles at numerous times during the day. Fortunately, Austin has a variety of public transportation offerings to make getting around the immediate Northeast Austin area easy enough if you don’t have access to your own personal transportation.

Capital Metro offers bus routes, and you can connect to a select few MetroRapid and MetroRail services in other parts of the city. Cycling is a popular option for many, though it’s typically more for recreation than transportation in the outer regions, especially during the hot summer months. Throughout parts of Northeast Austin, you’ll find that some neighborhoods have dedicated bike lanes, but not as many as other parts of town. Bikeshare kiosks are available in some locations, too, so even if you only want to cycle for an hour or two, you have on-demand bikes at the ready. Rideshares are a frequent mode of transportation, even for people who own their own cars. Of course, there are usual suspects, but Austin also has other rideshare companies, including an electric vehicle rideshare service utilizing Teslas. And more good news for owners of electric vehicles or anyone thinking of purchasing one—Northeast Austin has lots of charging stations available at key destinations across the area.

A few minutes south, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport offers residents more than 350 nonstop flights to more than 70 destinations, both domestic and international, each day, which makes it convenient to get to popular destinations without a connection in another city. Meanwhile, Vonlane is a luxury bus service that offers many of the amenities of a plane flight (such as food and beverage service and onboard restrooms). You can book a ticket on these buses and board in Downtown Austin for frequent trips to Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio.

Food & Drink

Restaurants in Northeast Austin trend more toward casual establishments, but that doesn’t mean a reduction in creativity or quality. The vibe at these spots is just a lot more laidback. At Hank’s Austin, discover California-style comfort food, a perfect addition to the scene considering the large volume of Cali transplants in Austin. Antojitos Dos Gallos is a simple food trailer outside a convenience store with excellent street tacos, and Mama’z Soul Kitchen is a food truck (and catering company) with hearty options ranging from gumbo and jambalaya to BBQ oxtail and fresh crab every Saturday. Local chain P. Terry’s Burger Stand is as popular for its burgers as Austin-based Thundercloud Subs is for sandwiches, and you’ll find outposts of both in Northeast Austin. Other local haunts worth checking out include farm-fresh American fare at Cenote – Windsor Park, Local Slice II for pizza, Asada’s Grill for Tex-Mex, and the self-explanatory Buddy’s Burgers, Ken’s Tacos, and Spice Fine Indian Biryani Place. On the dessert front, make sure to save room for treats from Madhu Chocolate, Gentle Whisk Bakery, and Sharic’s Sweets. For drinks, visit local favorite Northeast Austin watering hole Knomad Bar, or one of the area’s breweries, including Prost Alehouse Texas (opening later in 2022). Another option is Willard’s Brewery, just outside the boundaries of Northeast Austin. And for a perfect espresso beverage, wake up to the options at Thirsty Armadillo Coffee Bar.

Shopping

Much like many other regions on the outer edges of town, Northeast Austin has a lot of big-box stores and popular national chains (including IKEA and other popular retailers in nearby Round Rock). However, two local options worth your support include Jungle Babes Plant Company and Serenity Herbal. For a huge variety of local purveyors of all sorts of goods all in one place, The Austin Country Flea Market’s a fun place to shop its more than 300 vendors. The market also features live music from some of Austin’s best bands, plus places to grab delicious food and ice-cold drinks. Elsewhere in the area, Austin Creative Reuse offers a sustainable model for repurposing art and crafting supplies, teacher essentials, home goods, fashion items, and more at deep discounts while preventing these donated items from hitting a landfill. One of the most unique shopping opportunities in Northeast Austin, however, is at a cluster of dealerships selling motorcycles, a popular mode of transportation for many in Austin. BMW Motorcylces of Austin, RideNow Powersports Austin, Triumph Austin, and Woods Fun Center are located steps from each other, making it super easy to comparison shop. On the grocery front, Fiesta Mart, Target, and multiple locations of H-E-B are conveniently positioned near residential parts of Northeast Austin.

Things to Do

Nature beckons at several outdoor spaces throughout Northeast Austin, including Walnut Creek Greenbelt, Bartholemew District Park, Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt, Copperfield Nature Trails, and Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms, a living history park and museum that gives visitors of taste of 19th-century life in Central Texas. For an entertaining night out, Pinstack offers bowling with great food and cocktails, or you can laugh it up at Excused Absence Comedy, a local improv theater. During Halloween season, House of Torment is a popular Northeast Austin haunted house, while year-round Wonderspaces Austin treats visitors to a 28,000-square-foot immersive art experience with more than a dozen interactive exhibits.

Colleges & Universities

The main higher education option located directly in Northeast Austin is The College of Health Care Professions, but many other nearby options can be reached quickly enough by car to make many parts of the region appealing to students looking to save some money on rent. Austin Community College Eastview Campus and Huston-Tillotson University are both close, and the main campus of the University of Texas at Austin is only 10 minutes away from the far western parts of Northeast Austin, and only 20-30 minutes from other parts to the east and north.