SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Texas State University’s Transportation Services has announced that a charter bus will begin providing weekend transportation from San Marcos to Austin, Grand Prairie, Waco, Dallas and Houston for students, faculty and staff.

The service starts this weekend and will run each weekend through Nov. 18. Texas State says it is working with the Kerrville Bus Company to charter the students. The shuttle will have on-board restrooms, reclining seats, and free Wi-Fi.

Texas State Junior, Ed Makin says the drive to Dallas is exhausting. “It takes like a quarter of your day away making that drive, so maybe if you had a bus that you could just sit in and chill and knock out some homework on the way, that will definitely make it more accessible,” he said.

The shuttle will leave from the Texas State campus on Fridays and return Sundays.

“It provides another avenue for the students to go home and their parents don’t have to leave their job to come get them. It’s just a great opportunity for everyone to reconnect through the semester,” said Texas State University Transportation Services Director Steve Herrera.

A round trip can be as cheap as $10, but depending on demand the price may fluctuate.

“It’s more expensive to take an Uber to the square than it is to take a bus to Dallas, that’s awesome!” said Makin.

Herrera says the best way to lock in the cheapest rate is to book your trip early.

“Looking at our numbers for this weekend, it’s our first weekend for service and we are pretty close to sold out, so that’s exciting,” said Herrera. “And next weekend we’re almost halfway sold out.”

Students taking the bus will meet at the LBJ Student Center bus loop. For more information about purchasing tickets and the pickup/drop-off locations, visit the Kerrville Bus Company website.

KXAN’s Lauren Lanmon talks more with Herrera about the shuttle service tonight on KXAN News at 6.