--- title: "Car-Free Commute From Highland, Austin: A Step Guide" description: "Plan a car-free commute from Centro in Highland, Austin: test bus, Red Line and bike options with measured distances, then check times in CapMetro's planner." url: https://centro.multisites.ai/guides/car-free-commute-from-highland publisher: Centro Studio Homes phone: +17373178369 tour: https://centro.multisites.ai/scheduletour --- ![Walking path through the lawn between Centro buildings](https://centro.multisites.ai/_astro/lawn-path.DhQUp3ZC_2pAI7c.webp) # How do you plan a car-free commute from Highland, Austin? Plan a car-free commute in four checks: measure the distance, find the nearest stop, test the route at your hour, and ride it once before you sign. From Centro, bus stops are 341 to 501 meters away, Highland Station is 0.70 miles away, and Google Maps data shows 20 to 25 minutes by bike to UT. Updated November 2, 2026 - **Stops are close**The 1016 and 1017 Camino La Costa/La Posada bus stops are 341 and 501 meters away in a straight line. - **Red Line at 0.70 miles**Highland Station is 0.70 miles away in a straight line and about 1.3 miles on foot. - **Bike to UT: 20 to 25 min**Google Maps data from 2026-11-02 gave 3.9 to 4.9 miles by bike. - **Transit to UT: 48 to 56 min**Google Maps data from 2026-11-02, about 9 pm, with one transfer. - **Test before you sign**Ride your route once at your real hour. Schedules change, and we did not measure daytime transit. ## What does a car-free commute from Highland take? A car-free commute from Centro takes four checks: the distance, the nearest stop, the route at your hour, and one test ride. The first two checks use measured numbers from this page. The last two you must do yourself, because schedules change and one query is not a promise. Centro Studio Homes is at 824 Camino La Costa, Austin, TX 78752. Its bus stops are 341 to 501 meters away in a straight line. Highland Station on the Red Line is 0.70 miles away. Centro lists bike storage and Echelon bikes among its amenities. The [car-light living glossary entry](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/car-light-living) defines the idea, and our [getting around Highland pillar page](https://centro.multisites.ai/getting-around-highland-without-a-car) gives the full route list. ## How do you plan the commute, step by step? Follow five steps in order. Each one narrows the options before you spend time on a test ride. The whole process takes about an hour at a desk and one trip on the ground. 1. **Write down the destination and the hour.** Name the address and the time you must arrive. A 9 am class and a 9 pm shift face different bus service. 2. **Look up the distance.** Open the [Highland commute table](https://centro.multisites.ai/guides/highland-commute-table). Read the straight-line and road distances. Note which have bike or transit figures and which say “not measured.” 3. **Find the nearest stop.** The stops near Centro are listed below. Pick the one that sits on your route. 4. **Run CapMetro’s trip planner.** Enter Centro’s address and your destination for your real arrival time. Use the planner’s times, not ours, for daily planning. 5. **Ride it once.** Do the trip on a weekday at your real hour before you sign a lease. Note the walk to the stop, the wait, the transfer and the walk at the end. ## Which stops and stations are near Centro? Four bus stops and two rail stations sit within about 1.8 kilometers of the address in a straight line. The table lists the ones we measured, with the routes that Google Maps data showed boarding there on 2026-11-02. Stop or station Straight line from Centro Routes shown or listed Basis 1016 Camino La Costa/La Posada 341 m 337 OpenStreetMap stop; Google Maps transit data 1017 Camino La Costa/La Posada 501 m 337 OpenStreetMap stop; Google Maps transit data 900 St Johns/Bennett 406 m 300 OpenStreetMap stop; Google Maps transit data 801 St Johns/Bennett 432 m 300 OpenStreetMap stop; Google Maps transit data Highland Station (Red Line) 1,120 m (0.70 miles) 550 rail; buses 7, 324, 337, 350 list it OpenStreetMap; CapMetro; Wikipedia Crestview Station (Red Line) 1,774 m (1.10 miles) 550 rail; route 7 begins nearby OpenStreetMap; CapMetro The walk to the first Camino La Costa/La Posada stop is about 0.3 miles and about 7 minutes by Google’s steps. Stops on Roland Johnson near Huntland are 286 and 299 meters away, but we did not read which routes use them. ## How do you get to Highland Station and the Red Line? You have three choices: walk, ride a bus, or bike. Highland Station is at Airport Boulevard and Highland Mall Boulevard, directly across from the old Highland Mall site. CapMetro’s route 550, the Red Line, has 10 stations from Downtown to Leander, including Highland (ACC). Walking is about 1.3 miles and 28 to 33 minutes by Google Maps data. The straight line is 0.70 miles, and the longer walk goes around the I-35 frontage road. Routes 7, 324, 337 and 350 list Highland Station as a destination in CapMetro schedules effective August 16, 2026 to January 9, 2027. Route 337 boards on Camino La Costa per Google Maps data. We did not verify the start points of the other three. Bike time to the station is not measured. We did not read the Red Line frequency from the route 550 timetable, so look it up before you plan around a train. Our [Metrorail Red Line glossary entry](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/metrorail-red-line) and [Highland Station entry](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/highland-station) define each term. ## How do you get to ACC Highland without a car? ACC Highland is 0.61 miles from Centro in a straight line, but the walking route is 1.2 miles and 26 to 28 minutes by Google Maps data. The route goes around the I-35 frontage road, which is why it is twice the straight-line figure. A drive is about 1.2 miles and 3 minutes by an OSRM estimate without traffic. Four routes list ACC Highland as a destination: 7, 324, 337 and 350. ACC Highland is a campus of Austin Community College at 6101 Highland Campus Dr. See [apartments near ACC Highland](https://centro.multisites.ai/apartments-near-acc-highland) for campus facts, and the [ACC Highland glossary entry](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/acc-highland) for a definition. Our post on [getting to ACC Highland from Centro](https://centro.multisites.ai/blog/getting-to-acc-highland-from-centro) covers the options in more detail. ## How do you get to UT Austin and Downtown without a car? Transit to UT takes 48 to 56 minutes in the data we have, and a bike ride takes 20 to 25. The UT campus is 3.58 miles from Centro in a straight line. Google Maps data from 2026-11-02, about 9 pm, showed two transit options, each with one transfer. Mode to UT Austin Distance Time Basis Transit: route 337 plus route 320 9.4 miles 48 min Google Maps data, 2026-11-02, about 9 pm Transit: route 337 plus route 1 6.6 miles 56 min Google Maps data, 2026-11-02, about 9 pm Bike 3.9 to 4.9 miles 20 to 25 min Google Maps data, 2026-11-02 Drive 5.0 miles about 11 min OSRM estimate, no traffic We did not measure daytime transit times, and we did not measure the Downtown transit time. Downtown (1100 Congress Ave) is 4.21 miles in a straight line and 5.4 miles by road, about 9 minutes without traffic. Read [apartments near UT Austin and Downtown](https://centro.multisites.ai/apartments-near-ut-austin-and-downtown) and our post on [Highland to Downtown without a car](https://centro.multisites.ai/blog/highland-to-downtown-without-a-car) for more. ## What is the bike route near Centro? Mapped bike lanes start at the door. OpenStreetMap tags Camino La Costa with a bike lane, and E St Johns Ave and Cameron Rd with cycle tracks. Airport Blvd has a track, a lane or a separate cycleway in places, and the Red Line Trail is mapped as concrete cycleway segments near Highland and Crestview stations. OpenStreetMap can lag the street. A “track” on the map may not be a protected lane on the ground. Ride the route in daylight and check the surface, the crossings and the places where the lane ends. Google Maps data gave 3.9 to 4.9 miles and 20 to 25 minutes to UT by way of Camino La Costa and Duval St or Red River St. Centro lists [bike storage](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/bike-storage) on property. Ask the leasing office how it works. ## Which trips are hard without a car? Trips without a measured transit time need a plan. The Domain is 5.12 miles from Centro in a straight line and 6.1 miles by road, about 11 minutes without traffic. We did not verify a Red Line path from Highland Station to The Domain, and we did not measure the transit time. Austin-Bergstrom airport is 8.54 miles in a straight line. OSRM gives 12.8 miles and about 16 minutes by road. Apartments.com gives 16.7 miles and 26 minutes. We did not measure a transit time to the airport. Mueller is 2.18 miles away in a straight line, and we did not confirm a bus or rail path, so see [apartments near Mueller](https://centro.multisites.ai/apartments-near-mueller). Read the [Highland to Mueller routes post](https://centro.multisites.ai/apartments-near-mueller) and the [The Domain page](https://centro.multisites.ai/apartments-near-the-domain) for the facts we do have. Trip Straight line Road estimate Transit time Mueller (Thinkery) 2.18 miles 3.3 miles, about 6 min not measured The Domain 5.12 miles 6.1 miles, about 11 min not measured Austin-Bergstrom airport 8.54 miles 12.8 miles, about 16 min (OSRM) not measured Dell Children’s Medical Center 1.94 miles 2.9 miles, about 6 min not measured Road estimates are OSRM free-flow figures with no traffic. We make no claim about care or quality at any hospital. ## How do you choose between bus, rail and bike for each trip? Match the mode to the distance and to what you measured. Use the table as a starting point, then confirm each row in the CapMetro trip planner. Trip Option with a measured basis Option with no measured basis Highland Station Walk 1.3 miles, 28 to 33 min (Google Maps data) Bike time, bus wait ACC Highland Walk 1.2 miles, 26 to 28 min (Google Maps data) Bike time, bus wait Crestview Station Route 300 ride, 6 min from the St Johns/Bennett stop (Google Maps data) Walk and bike time UT Austin Bike 20 to 25 min; transit 48 to 56 min (Google Maps data) Daytime transit Downtown Straight line 4.21 miles, road 5.4 miles Transit and bike time Where the right column has an entry, you have homework: run the planner, or ride it yourself. Do not assume a number that no source gave you. ## What if you still need a car sometimes? Centro lists reserved parking as available. It does not publish a price or a space count on its site. Ask the leasing office before you apply. A mixed approach is common in Austin. Use the bus or bike for short trips, and keep a drive-or-rideshare plan for the trips in the table above with no transit time. Count the cost of both choices, not only the rent. Our [total monthly price glossary entry](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/total-monthly-price) and [studio apartment costs guide](https://centro.multisites.ai/guides/studio-apartment-costs-austin) show how to add up the full monthly picture. Centro lists homes starting at $699, listed 2026-11-02. Prices change daily, so check current pricing on the [floor plans page](https://centro.multisites.ai/floorplans). ## What should you check before you sign? Check the stop, the schedule and the walk at your real hour. Use this short list on your tour, and write the answers down. 1. Walk from the studio door to the 1016 Camino La Costa/La Posada stop. Time it. 2. Open the CapMetro trip planner and enter your destination at your arrival time. 3. Check whether route numbers changed. CapMetro made service changes in June 2026, including extending route 337 to the Expo Center Park & Ride. 4. Ride your route once at your hour, including the return trip. 5. Ask the leasing office about bike storage and parking. The [apartment tour checklist](https://centro.multisites.ai/guides/apartment-tour-checklist) has more questions to ask. ## Next step Book a tour at [Schedule a tour](https://centro.multisites.ai/scheduletour) and walk to the stop yourself, or call (737) 317-8369 to ask about bike storage and parking. ## Questions renters ask How do I plan a car-free commute from Highland? Pick your destination, check its distance in the commute table, find the nearest bus stop or station, then test the route at your real hour in CapMetro's trip planner. Ride it once before you sign a lease. Schedules change, and the figures here come from one day of queries. Can I take the Red Line from Centro? Yes, with a first leg to Highland Station. The station is 0.70 miles away in a straight line and about 1.3 miles on foot, 28 to 33 minutes by Google Maps data. A bus that lists Highland Station as a destination can cover the first leg. Check the route 550 timetable for train times. Which bus goes to ACC Highland? Routes 7, 324, 337 and 350 list ACC Highland as a destination in CapMetro schedules effective August 16, 2026 to January 9, 2027. Route 337 boards at the Camino La Costa/La Posada stops, per Google Maps data. We did not verify which of the others stops near Centro. How long does a bike ride to UT take? Google Maps data from 2026-11-02 showed 3.9 to 4.9 miles and 20 to 25 minutes by bike to the UT campus, using Camino La Costa and Duval St or Red River St. Hills, wind and traffic change that. Test the route on a weekend before you rely on it. What is the bus ride to UT like? Google Maps data from 2026-11-02, about 9 pm, showed 48 minutes (route 337 plus route 320, 9.4 miles) to 56 minutes (route 337 plus route 1, 6.6 miles), each with one transfer. We did not measure daytime times. Check the CapMetro planner for your hour. Is a car-free commute always possible from Centro? No. Some trips have no measured transit time, such as The Domain and Austin-Bergstrom airport. Drive estimates are 11 and 16 minutes without traffic. Decide how often you will make those trips. Centro lists reserved parking as available, so ask the leasing office about it. ## Sources 1. [CapMetro: Rail](https://www.capmetro.org/rail)Route 550, also known as the Red Line, has 10 stations from Downtown to Leander, with stations in popular areas including Highland (ACC) and McKalla (Q2 stadium). 2. [Wikipedia: Highland station (CapMetro Rail), bus routes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_station_(CapMetro_Rail))The station is served by CapMetro Bus routes: #7 Duval/Dove Springs #324 Ohlen/Georgian #337 Koenig/Colony Park #350 Airport Blvd. 3. [CapMetro: Route 7 Duval / Dove Springs](https://www.capmetro.org/high-frequency/route7)Route 7 Duval / Dove Springs - a big ol' route that begins near Crestview Station and ends near William Cannon and I-35, Route 7 serves Hyde Park & campus up north and Riverside & Pleasant Valley down south. 4. [CapMetro: Route 337 schedule](https://www.capmetro.org/docs/default-source/scheduled-routes/337.pdf)337 Koenig/Colony Park (WEEKDAY HIGH-FREQUENCY ROUTE) ... DESTINATIONS • ACC Highland • Highland Station • JD's Supermarket 5. [CapMetro: Route 350 schedule](https://www.capmetro.org/docs/default-source/scheduled-routes/350.pdf)350 Airport Blvd. ... DESTINATIONS • IDEA Montopolis • Allison Elementary School • ACC Highland • Highland Station 6. [CapMetro: June 2026 service changes](https://www.capmetro.org/servicechange/june-2026-service-changes)Route 337 Koenig/Colony Park will be extended to the Expo Center Park & Ride. 7. [Google Maps directions data: transit to UT (queried 2026-11-02, evening)](https://maps.firecrawl.dev/directions?origin=824+Camino+La+Costa%2C+Austin%2C+TX+78752&destination=University+of+Texas+at+Austin%2C+Austin%2C+TX&mode=transit)Take 337 toward Decker EB from 1017 Camino La Costa/La Posada to 4701 Loyola/Manor 8. [Google Maps directions data: transit durations to UT (queried 2026-11-02)](https://maps.firecrawl.dev/directions?origin=824+Camino+La+Costa%2C+Austin%2C+TX+78752&destination=University+of+Texas+at+Austin%2C+Austin%2C+TX&mode=transit)"distance\_text":"9.4 miles","duration\_text":"48 min" 9. [Google Maps directions data: bicycling to UT (queried 2026-11-02)](https://maps.firecrawl.dev/directions?origin=824+Camino+La+Costa%2C+Austin%2C+TX+78752&destination=University+of+Texas+at+Austin%2C+Austin%2C+TX&mode=bicycling)"distance\_text":"3.9 miles","duration\_text":"20 min" ... "distance\_text":"4.9 miles","duration\_text":"25 min" 10. [Google Maps directions data: walking to ACC Highland and Highland Station (queried 2026-11-02)](https://maps.firecrawl.dev/directions?origin=824+Camino+La+Costa%2C+Austin%2C+TX+78752&destination=ACC+Highland+Campus%2C+6101+Highland+Campus+Dr%2C+Austin%2C+TX+78752&mode=walking)"distance\_text":"1.2 miles","duration\_text":"27 min" (ACC Highland); "distance\_text":"1.3 miles","duration\_text":"28 min" (Highland Station) 11. [OpenStreetMap via Overpass: cycleways near Centro](https://overpass-api.de/api/interpreter)Camino La Costa tertiary cycleway=lane; East Saint John's Avenue cycleway=track; Cameron Road cycleway=track; Red Line Trail highway=cycleway surface=concrete 12. [Austin Community College: Highland Campus](https://www.austincc.edu/campuses/highland-campus/)6101 Highland Campus Dr. Austin, TX 78752 13. [Apartments.com: Centro Studio Homes, airport drive](https://www.apartments.com/centro-studio-homes-austin-tx/cc9vfmg/)Austin-Bergstrom International | Drive: | 26 min | 16.7 mi ## Come see your studio. Tour in person or by live video. Book a time and we will show you the studios available now. [Book a tour](https://centro.multisites.ai/scheduletour) [(737) 317-8369](tel:+17373178369) Leasing office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM; Sunday, closed.