Coming to Austin for ACL Weekend 1? The festival might be the reason you’re here, but don’t spend your entire trip inside Zilker Park.

ACL Weekend 1 runs October 2–4, 2026, and we’d actually start the weekend on Thursday. That gives you four days to fit in great Austin food, live music, Texas two-stepping, some time on the lake and, of course, ACL.

Here’s how we’d plan the perfect ACL Weekend 1 in Austin.

THURSDAY: Lake Austin + Riley Green + Two-Stepping

Breakfast

QUICK & EASY: Veracruz All Natural

Start the trip with one of Austin’s essentials: breakfast tacos. Grab a couple of tacos and coffee without turning breakfast into a whole event. It’s exactly what you want when you’ve got a full day ahead.

SIT DOWN: Paperboy South

Want to officially start vacation mode? Head to Paperboy’s South Lamar location for a proper breakfast. Give yourself time to sit down, order coffee and enjoy breakfast before the weekend gets busy.

Late Morning: Start Your Weekend on Lake Austin

Before ACL takes over the city, spend a few hours seeing Austin from the water.

Book a Lake Austin boat rental with Float On and cruise beneath the 360 Bridge, check out the waterfront homes and enjoy a few hours away from downtown.

Our Lake Austin boats include a captain, Bluetooth stereo, YETI cooler and lily pad, so all you need to worry about is what goes on the playlist.

One important note this year: Keep an eye on Thursday’s weather. Rain and thunderstorms are currently in the forecast, so check conditions before heading to the lake. Float On will always prioritize safety when weather moves through Austin.

Dinner

QUICK & EASY: Home Slice Pizza

If you don’t want a long dinner before the concert, grab pizza at Home Slice. It’s casual, easy and gives you plenty of time to get over to Moody Center.

SIT DOWN: Odd Duck

Want one really great Austin dinner before the festival begins? Make an early reservation at Odd Duck on South Lamar. The menu centers around seasonal ingredients and Texas producers, and the shareable plates make it especially good for groups.

7 PM: Riley Green at Moody Center

Country fans picked a good weekend to come to Austin.

Riley Green plays Moody Center Thursday, October 1, with Randy Houser and Hannah McFarland.

It’s basically your unofficial fourth day of live music before ACL even begins.

Late Night: Two-Step at The White Horse

Still going?

Head to The White Horse in East Austin after the concert for live music and two-stepping.

This is exactly the kind of place we’d send an out-of-town friend who told us they wanted to go country dancing while they were in Texas.

Grab a drink, watch the regulars for a few songs and then get out there.

Boots encouraged. Dance experience definitely not required.

FRIDAY: Great Breakfast + ACL Day One

Breakfast

QUICK & EASY: Jo’s Coffee + Breakfast Tacos

Keep it simple with coffee and breakfast tacos at Jo’s. If you’re staying around South Congress or downtown, it’s an easy way to get caffeinated and fed without sacrificing half your morning.

SIT DOWN: Phoebe’s Diner

If you’re hungry, go to Phoebe’s. Expect a much more substantial breakfast with diner classics and plenty of Texas influence.

This is the breakfast we’d choose if you’re planning on spending the entire afternoon and evening inside ACL.

Noon: ACL Day One

Time for Zilker.

ACL runs through the evening, so Friday doesn’t need much else on the itinerary.

And remember: there is no festival parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods. Use the official festival transportation options, CapMetro, walk, bike or rideshare.

Dinner

You’ve got two options here depending on your festival strategy.

QUICK & EASY: Eat at ACL

If your must-see artists run through dinner, don’t leave. Grab food inside the festival and keep going.

Austin restaurants and chefs are well represented at ACL, so eating festival food doesn’t have to mean settling for a sad slice of pizza.

SIT DOWN: Mattie’s

Skipping the final act or ready for a break from the crowds? Make a late reservation at Mattie’s.

The beautiful old South Austin property feels worlds away from Zilker even though you haven’t gone far. It’s a great option for a slower dinner after a long festival day.

SATURDAY: Breakfast Tacos + ACL Day Two

Saturday is intentionally our least scheduled morning.

After Thursday night, Friday at ACL and plenty of walking, you’re probably going to appreciate that.

Breakfast

QUICK & EASY: Tacodeli

Breakfast tacos. Coffee. Done.

Tacodeli’s Spyglass location is an Austin classic and an easy option if you’re staying on the west or southwest side of downtown.

Grab tacos and get back to your hotel to prepare for another festival day.

SIT DOWN: June’s All Day

If you’d rather slow down, head to South Congress and have breakfast at June’s All Day.

Order coffee, actually sit at a table and enjoy not standing in a field for an hour.

You’ll be doing plenty of that later.

Afternoon + Evening: ACL Day Two

Head back to Zilker for the biggest day of your ACL weekend.

Don’t try to add five other activities today. Pick the artists you really want to see, wander between stages and enjoy the festival.

Dinner

QUICK & EASY: Terry Black’s BBQ

If you’re ready to leave the festival but don’t want a formal dinner, make barbecue your Saturday night meal.

Terry Black’s on Barton Springs Road keeps you close to the action and checks another essential Austin food off the list.

SIT DOWN: Loro

If you want to decompress after ACL, head to South Lamar for dinner at Loro.

The Asian smokehouse combines flavors from two of Austin’s best-known restaurant teams and works especially well with a group because you can order a table full of dishes to share.

SUNDAY: One Last Austin Brunch + ACL Day Three

You’ve made it to Sunday.

Start slowly.

Breakfast

QUICK & EASY: Joann’s Fine Foods

Grab coffee and something quick around South Congress before getting ready for the final festival day.

Keep breakfast light enough that you’ll still have room for one last round of ACL food later.

SIT DOWN: Dai Due

For your final big Austin breakfast, go somewhere that feels distinctly Texas.

Dai Due focuses heavily on ingredients sourced from Texas and the surrounding region. It’s a great way to fit another side of Austin’s food scene into the weekend before returning to Zilker.

Afternoon: ACL Day Three

One last time.

Head back to Zilker, catch the artists you haven’t seen yet and revisit your favorite food or drink from the weekend.

By Sunday, don’t worry about maximizing every minute. Find a spot, listen to some music and enjoy your last afternoon in Austin.

Dinner

QUICK & EASY: Pool Burger

Ready for something extremely casual?

Finish the weekend with burgers and drinks at Pool Burger near Deep Eddy. After three days of ACL, fancy may be the last thing you want.

SIT DOWN: Clark’s Oyster Bar

If you want one final celebratory dinner before heading home, make a reservation at Clark’s.

Oysters, seafood, cocktails and a cozy Clarksville setting make this a completely different experience from three days of festival food.

Toast to surviving ACL Weekend 1.

Rain in the Forecast? Here’s How to Prepare for ACL Weekend

Austin’s weather likes to keep things interesting, and rain and thunderstorms are currently in the forecast around ACL Weekend 1.

That doesn’t necessarily mean your weekend is ruined. It does mean you should come prepared.

A few things we’d throw in your festival bag:

• A lightweight poncho: Easier to carry around all day than a bulky rain jacket.
• Shoes you don’t care about: Zilker can get muddy quickly. This is probably not the weekend for brand-new white sneakers.
• Extra socks: Future you will be very grateful.
• A waterproof phone pouch or zip-top bag: Keep your phone and anything else that can’t get wet protected.
• A portable charger: Weather delays and transportation changes can mean more time on your phone than expected.
• A small towel: You’ll find a use for it.
• A backup plan: Thunderstorms can change outdoor plans quickly, so stay flexible.

Most importantly, check the forecast each morning rather than relying on what it said earlier in the week.

If you’re boating with Float On, we’ll keep an eye on lake conditions as well. Safety comes first, particularly when lightning or severe weather is in the area.

And if you’re heading to ACL, check the festival’s official channels for any weather-related announcements before leaving for Zilker.

Your Perfect ACL Weekend

Thursday: Breakfast → Lake Austin → Dinner → Riley Green → Two-Stepping

Friday: Breakfast → ACL → Festival Food or Dinner Out

Saturday: Breakfast → Take It Slow → ACL → BBQ or Dinner

Sunday: Brunch → ACL → One Last Austin Dinner

That’s a pretty great four days.

You’ll get three days of ACL without missing the things that make Austin worth visiting in the first place: breakfast tacos, barbecue, country music, two-stepping, great restaurants and time on the lake.

Coming to Austin for ACL Weekend 1? Start your trip on Lake Austin with Float On before the festival begins.