When we relocated to Austin, it took us a while to figure out alternate names and proper pronunciation of some of Austin’s well traveled roads, most of which you’re just supposed to know. Not pronouncing the streets properly is the fastest way for Austinites to know you’re not from here and its most certainly followed by either a laugh or an awkward glare. To help you figure this out faster than we did and avoid looking like an idiot, we’ve put together a crash course (no pun intended) on Austin streets and proper pronunciation. So…here it goes!

Austin Street Map

Use this interactive Google map to explore the area and follow along with our Crash Course.

Downtown Streets Named for Texas Rivers

For some strange reason, Downtown Austin street names follow Texas rivers, going in the same order they run through Texas with the exception of Congress Ave.

From east to west, you’ve got (IH-35 Frontage Road), Sabine, Red River, Neches, Trinity, San Jacinto, Brazos, (Congress), Colorado, Lavaca, Guadalupe, San Antonio, Nueces and Rio Grande.

Austin Highways – Names and Numbers

When first moving to Austin, we heard so many different names and numbers of Freeways and Streets, it was difficult to keep them straight. Here’s your Austin Highways Cheat Sheet.

MoPac is Loop 1

Mopac stands for Missouri Pacific, not Monument Pack Expressway like our GPS thinks

Capital of Texas Highway is 360

U.S. 183 is Research Blvd, Anderson Lane, Ed Bluestein Blvd and Old Bastrop Highway

2222 is Bull Creek Road, Northland Drive or Allandale Rd or Koenig Lane

IH-35 is something we go out of our way to avoid because its always a parking lot and would highly recommend you do the same

Austin Streets and Freeways – Name Changes

If you look at a map, you’ll sometimes see different names for the same road. No, you’re not going crazy and yes its confusing. Here is a handy guide to help you get to know the name changes.

Enfield Road changes to 15th Street at Windsor Road

Windsor Road changes to 24th Street just before N Lamar Blvd

Dean Keeton Street changes to 26th Street at Guadalupe

19th Street changes to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at IH-35

1st Street in Downtown Austin is also called Cesar Chavez Street

6th St in Downtown Austin is also called Old Pecan St

FM 1325 is also called Louis Henna, Burnet Rd or MoPac

RM 620 is also called Marshall Ford Road

RM 2244 is also called Bee Cave Road

Texas 71 is also called Ben White Boulevard or U.S. 290

Unique Austin Pronunciations

Possibly the most important category. Commit them to memory and you’ll fit right in from the moment you get off the plane.

Manchaca is pronounced MAN-chack. Manchaca is a city in Hays and Travis Counties and a street in Austin.

The city of Manor and Manor Road is pronounced MAY-ner.

The ‘e’ at the end of is silent. Guadalupe (main street near UT) is pronounced Gwada-LOOP.

Koenig Lane is pronounced KAE-nig, not KOE-nig.

Burnet Road is pronounced BURN-it, not Bur-NET.

The old Austin airport (Robert Mueller) is pronounced Robert Miller and was on Airport Blvd.

The new Austin airport is nowhere near Airport Blvd nor is it in the city of Austin. Its called Austin-Bergstrom Airport and its in the city of Del Valle, pronounced Dell Valley.

Relocating to Austin?

We can help you learn the area and find out the best place for you and your family to live. Check out our Guide to Relocating to Austin to learn more tips to make your relocation stress free. Then call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@11OaksRealty.com to schedule a no obligation consultation.