Your Guide to Austin City Limits 2025

Written by Molly Kaplow

Austin, Texas, is home to more than 250 music venues, making it the live music capital of the world. From Antone’s to Stubb’s, Moody Amphitheater to Moody Center, there is never a shortage of live music in the city.  However, one of the most underrated venues is only on the map twice a year: Zilker Park.

Photo by Taylor Regulski / Courtesy of Austin City Limits

As I sit here and write this article on September 26th, just a week before the iconic Austin City Limits Festival (ACL) kicks off, I face a floor full of possible outfits, shoe options, and a computer screen open to a website to purchase water backpacks. This leads to my first piece of advice to survive the fest: plan ahead. 

Do as I say, not as I do. Austin is completely taken over by ACL just one month into the fall semester, making it a speedy turnaround for UT students. As a third-year student, one would think I would have learned how to plan accordingly by now... I have not. ACL sneaks up on me every year, and before I know it, it is time to hop on a bus to Zilker and settle in for the upcoming three blazing hot days. 

HEAT: ACL is more laid-back in comparison to other festivals, such as Coachella or Lollapalooza, but it still packs a punch. While it is fun to dress up and wear cute, southern-themed outfits, there is a mutual understanding among festival-goers about dressing for the heat. When it comes to the Texas sun, it is crucial to dress accordingly and practically. You will more likely than not leave with a sunburn, and be mindful of the tan lines you will get. I have yet to go to ACL without leaving with a sock tan. 

SHOES: If there is one thing you take away from this comprehensive guide, it is as follows: while cowboy boots are cute and on-theme, they are the worst shoe decision you can make for a music festival. You will walk… A lot. Your feet will hurt… A lot. Opt for the more comfortable shoe option, even if it doesn’t match your outfit perfectly. Your friends can take pictures and crop your feet out, I promise. 

HYDRATE: Those who have been to ACL before know how sweltering it can get during the weekend. Even though it is officially fall (I say as I write this while sipping on a pumpkin spice latte, wearing a tank top and shorts), the temperatures during the day may rise above 100 degrees. Add in the lack of shade, crowded space, and constant movement, and it is not uncommon for it to feel over 110 degrees throughout the festival. Don’t let this scare you away, however. Lining the grounds are numerous water stations, where attendees can fill up their water bottles and backpacks. It is good to note where to find these and make sure your bottles are always filled. Coming from someone who has underestimated just how thirsty you get at the festival, it is better to bring more water and make time to use the restrooms on site than to sit and suffer in a crowd (throwback to Chappell Roan headlining in 2024). And a secret hack—most alcohol and soda stations will give you a cup of just ice if you ask. There are medical stations on the perimeters of Zilker, which are also essential in mind. Before most acts, security guards will pass out water to the crowd, an underrated perk of ACL security. This is not the time to be selfish! Work together as a crowd to hand out water to those behind you, beginning with those most in need. This is not a ‘mother-child oxygen mask on a plane’ situation. If you can last a couple more minutes without water, please do. To quote one of my favorite philosophers, “Kim, there’s people that are dying.” Take Khloe Kardashian’s words to heart. Help the thirstiest people first. Too many times, I have seen someone in need be denied water for several minutes because people are greedy. Don’t be that person. 

GROUPS: Going to ACL with a large group of people is great, but it can be hard to stay together at all times. People split up to see different artists, go to different kiosks for food, and/or simply get lost in the large crowds. It is important to establish a meeting spot for the group, especially since there is a lack of service on the festival grounds, making it challenging to communicate when separated. Last year, I briefly stepped away to use the restroom. I didn’t see my friends for three hours after that. After numerous failed calls and texts that refused to send, I threw the towel in and saw Foster The People, Leon Bridges, and Stephen Sanchez by myself. It was actually quite nice getting to enjoy these artists on my lonesome, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wouldn’t see my friends until I could get service again. By some grace of God, I ended up finding a friend at a water station after Foster The People. After that incident, we made sure that everyone in the group knew where to go if lost–a place we call ‘The Tinkerbell Tree.’ You can’t miss it–the tallest tree at the top of the hill that resides in the middle of the festival grounds, the Tinkerbell Tree, is a popular meeting spot for large groups.

CAMPING: The most rewarding but most grueling part of a music festival. When the festival gates open at 12 pm, a flock of people will sprint to claim their spot at the front of a stage, where they then reside until the artist goes on. This can be up to 11 hours. Camping is simply not for the weak, and it should not be done alone. Find a friend who enjoys an artist enough to camp, and make a plan to stick together. Come up with fun conversation starters, bring a deck of cards, and make friends with other campers! As the crowd starts to fill up, it becomes increasingly harder to take bathroom, water, or food breaks. Again, plan accordingly. Bring water, Liquid IV, and a method of cooling down (a hat, towel, portable fan, etc.) This is not like a typical concert; you are allowed to bring in large, opaque bags, such as drawstring bags or backpacks. Though it can be bothersome to carry around a bigger bag, it is better to bring more than you need than to underpack. 

If camping doesn’t sound appealing, don’t worry! You can still get a great view to see your favorite artists. As excited as I was to see Chappell Roan, Noah Kahan, Chris Stapleton, and Hozier, I am not someone who can camp for a show. I arrived at the stage around three hours before each of these artists came out, and I was in front of the VIP section every time. Three hours is early, yes, and best believe it was hard for me to stand in the heat for this long. To me, that time spent “camping” was worth it to see my favorite artists. I have friends, however, who got there after I did and had better spots. It truly boils down to how much you can weave through the crowd. But please don’t be the person who claims they are meeting a friend at the front of the crowd–we all know you’re not. 

IN SUMMARY: More than a test of endurance in the Texas sun, ACL is about sharing an experience that feels uniquely Austin. The festival is chaotic, sweaty, and sometimes overwhelming, but that’s what makes it one of the best times of the year. So pack smart, stay safe, and most importantly, have fun. ACL isn’t meant to be perfect—it’s meant to be unforgettable. See you in the crowd!