ACL Fest: Welcome Back to Hell, You Sun-Burnt Morons

Alright, listen up, you pitiful basement dwellers. ACL Fest is back, and surprise, surprise... it's hot. Like, surface of the sun hot. But hey, at least there’s overpriced food, right? Don’t forget your reusable water bottle. Empty, please, because they can’t trust you not to smuggle in some contraband hooch. And sunscreen? Sure, but it better not be in an aerosol can, because rules. Band-aids and TP? Yeah, bring those too. Those headliner toilet runs are gonna be a real treat.

When and Where You’re Gonna Suffer?

ACL Fest WEEKEND TWO is Oct. 11-13 at Zilker Park. Gates open at noon on Fridays and 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Music starts at 12:55 p.m. Fridays, and noon on each Saturday and Sunday.

Need a break from this madness? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

What to see on Friday? Chris Stapleton, blink-182, and other "faves."

Can I Still Buy Tickets to This Sweatfest?

Only premium tickets remain on the ACL Fest website, but at press time, ScalpersRUs Ticketmaster’s verified ACL Fest resale site has three-day passes available for $302 and up. Single-day passes are $223 minimum for each day of the festival.

Other secondary markets might also have tickets available.

Do you know the ACL Fest 2024 lineup? Take our artist trivia quiz to find out.

Who’s Playing at This Glorified Sweat Shop?

It’s no "Small Thing" that blink-182 is headlining the Honda stage opposite country crooner Chris Stapleton. Foster the People, Leon Bridges, and the season's catchiest Austin hater, Dasha, also play both Fridays. Dua Lipa is drumming up excitement for her Saturday headlining spot after Houston’s Khruangbin. Actress-turned-pop-star Reneé Rapp, rapper Vince Staples, and DJ/producer Pretty Lights are also on the bill Saturday.

Sunday’s lineup packs serious heat with breakout star Chappell Roan slated to slam festival grounds with sardine-packed fans, who will likely be unable and unwilling to move for the subsequent Tyler, the Creator set. Sturgill Simpson headlines the Honda stage on the other side of the park on Sunday, following rapper mike., a late add to the festival's bill. DJ/producer Dom Dolla and rapper That Mexican OT also play Sunday.

Getting to This Circle of Hell

It's ... complicated, we'll tell you that much.

Your best bet? Convince a nice friend or family member to drop you off as close as possible to the entry gates. Here’s a breakdown of the others:

Rideshares: Use "Austin City Limits Music Festival" or "Zilker Park" as your destination. When you leave, you must walk away from the park to request a ride. Once you’ve crossed the river, South Lamar Boulevard or MoPac Boulevard's frontage road, you’ll be able to use your rideshare app like normal, but expect long waits and surge pricing.

Driving Yourself: Parking is very limited and likely to sell out. No parking for fest-goers at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods. Reserving a parking place near the festival is your best bet. LAZ Parking is a one-mile walk away for $40 and up. 360 transportation at 1000 Mopac Circle is one of the closest parking spots starting at $50 and up. The Austin High School parking lot is also a convenient option, priced at $55 and up.

Bikes and Scooters: Biking or scooting are two of the best ways to get there. You can lock up your bike on Stratford Drive or Toomey Road. You can drop off a MetroBike at Barton Springs Road and Sterzing Street.

Bus: ACL Fest provides complimentary shuttles to and from Zilker Park. Shuttles run from Republic Square at the corner of Fourth and San Antonio streets starting at noon on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday each weekend.

Walking: Get dropped off or park close to the Ann and Roy Butler Trail and walk to the park.

Entry Points to This Sweltering Madness

There are two entrances on Barton Springs Road and the Lady Bird entrance at Stratford Drive. The Azie Morton Road entrance is usually the busiest.

Pro-tip: Plan to see some early afternoon sets. Yes, it's hot, but crowds will be heavier and your wait time will be significantly longer by late afternoon.

Pro-tip: Google Maps’ new destination guidance will automatically light up the entrances for Zilker Park as you approach it, in addition to showing you nearby parking lots. Festivals are notorious for spotty cell service, but Google Maps offline might help.

Can You Leave and Come Back?

You can leave and re-enter on the same day two more times after your first entry. Make sure you scan your badge out if you exit. You will have to go through security again to come back.

What Can You Bring to This Hell Hole?

Bags: Bags larger than 6-by-9 inches must be clear and not bigger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches. Small purses and fanny packs that are 6-by-9 inches do not need to be clear, but they can't have more than one pocket.

Some allowed items: Sunscreen is allowed (and encouraged) but must be in non-aerosol containers. Personal hand sanitizer, baby strollers, blankets, towels, factory-sealed Narcan kits, personal-use cameras, and chairs in designated areas away from the front of each stage.

Some prohibited items: Coolers, hammocks, glass containers, outside food and drink, umbrellas, tents or other shade structures, fireworks, and weapons of any kind.

See the full list of what's allowed and not allowed at ACL Fest: support.aclfestival.com.

Always pack: A bandana, sunglasses, earplugs, lip balm with sunscreen, a light long-sleeved shirt or scarf for sun protection and warmth after dark, band-aids, and a portable phone charger.

Pro-tip: If you don't want to carry a chair, pack a pillowcase to spread on the ground when you need to sit.

Time to Talk Water Bottles

You absolutely must bring a reusable water bottle. October in Austin is still hot and sweaty, shade in the park is limited, and you're going to be reaching for water all day. Water stations are dispersed throughout festival grounds for you to refill. Make sure your water bottle is empty at entry. Hydration packs, such as CamelBaks, are allowed but must be empty of all liquid before entering the park.

Pro-tip: Hydration/electrolyte packets in factory-sealed single-serving packages are allowed and we've found them to be clutch on hot days.

What Should You Wear?

October in Austin can bring a mixed bag of weather. Combine high temperatures, no shade, and dense crowds, and you get the perfect outfit dilemma.

Western wear is big this year, so expect to see a lot of cowboy hats and boots. Lighter fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, and chambray are good for staying as cool as possible. Walking a lot means prioritizing comfort over style.

What’s it Like in the Park?

The fest has seven main music stages, with the headlining Honda and American Express stages on opposite ends of Zilker. The IHG Hotels & Resorts Stage is across Barton Springs Road, and can be a more chill experience. Tito's Handmade Vodka is under a tent and the crowd can spill out during packed sets. The eighth and ninth stages are the Kiddie Limits and the Bonus Tracks stages.

What Else Is There to Do During the Fest?

Stop by the Bonus Tracks stage for drag shows and dance parties. Grab your favorite artist T-shirt in the merch tent or head over to the air-conditioned ACL merch store for official festival gear. Buy your favorite band shirt early; sizes often sell out.

What About the Children? Check Out Austin Kiddie Limits

Austin Kiddie Limits runs both weekends from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Children ages 8 and under can attend the fest for free when they're with a ticketed adult. Two children are allowed per adult.

Let’s Talk About Food. All That Festing Makes You Hungry, Right?

The traditional ACL Eats set up, with rows of vendors stationed on both north and south sides of the fest grounds, will feature over 70 food vendors. The park itself will be divided into seven main food, drink, and merch areas. The Big Tent (formerly Barton Springs Beer Hall) will now serve pizzas from Bambino alongside craft beers and kegged cocktails. La Pachanga Eatery, curated by Taco Mafia, is also new to the festival. Elsewhere in the park, ACL Eats and ACL Sweets will be offering a majority of the food.

What Are This Year’s Drink Options?

In addition to canned beer, cocktails will be found at bars around the park. This year, the name of ACL festival's main beer hall has changed from Barton Springs Beer Hall to the Big Tent.

Pick your poison: Barton Beach Club and Tiki Bar will be mixing rum drinks and El Patioville (a riff on the Tex-Mex spot El Patio) has tequila. Both locations will be offering light snacks as well.

What About Desserts?

Those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth will find all of the dessert options at the festival in one location: ACL Sweets. Vendors include ACL Fest veterans Amy’s Ice Creams, GoodPop, Bananarchy, Sno-Beach, Tiff's Treats, and Tiny Pies. ACL Sweets will offer three new selections, all of which serve variations of ice cream: CVT Soft Serve, Dulce Amor Mio, and Gelato Paradiso.

Will There Be Road Closures?

Stratford Drive on the west end of the park will be closed daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting Sept. 23 to 27, with more extensive closures beginning Oct. 3, the day before the festival.

Closures along Barton Springs Road, the main road into the park, begin Sept. 30 and run through the first weekend of the festival. Barton Springs Road reopens to traffic on Oct. 7. It will close again for the second weekend of the festival at 7 p.m. Oct. 10. Partial closures will continue until Oct. 18.

See the full details and list of closures on a traffic impact grid released by the city of Austin.

What's Up With the ACL Nights Shows?

If standing in Zilker Park with the masses isn't your thing, Hulu will broadcast live sets from the festival during weekend one.

You also might be able to catch your favorite artist at one of this year's ACL Fest Nights shows, Oct. 2-12. ACL Fest Nights offers an opportunity to buy a single ticket for a show without a wristband. Prices vary by venue and show, and a festival pass does not grant admission to these evening shows. Some highlights: Remi Wolf (Oct. 11) at Emo’s; Orville Peck (Oct. 12) at Stubb’s Amphitheater.

Full list of shows at aclfestival.com/nights.

UPDATE: This story was updated to include information on a Capital Metro bus route.