If you need medical help in Austin, you can find hospitals, urgent care clinics, and 24-hour pharmacies across the Austin metro area. Most minor health issues can be treated at urgent care clinics or pharmacies, while hospitals handle serious emergencies. The sections below map out your best options by neighborhood so you can get care fast. For emergency numbers and safety advice, see Is Austin safe for tourists?
Quick decision guide: where to go for medical help in Austin
- Minor illness or injury (fever, sprain, ear infection): visit an urgent care clinic. No appointment needed at most locations.
- Prescription refill or minor medication question: head to a 24-hour CVS or Walgreens pharmacy. Pharmacists can advise on over-the-counter options too.
- Serious emergency (chest pain, difficulty breathing, major bleeding, stroke symptoms, seizures, loss of consciousness): call 911 or go directly to a hospital emergency room.
- Poison exposure: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Emergency rooms near Downtown Austin
St. David's Medical Center at 919 E. 32nd Street is a full-service hospital northeast of the UT campus, near I-35. It operates a 24-hour emergency room and covers a wide range of specialties including heart and stroke care.
Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas at 1500 Red River Street is on the eastern edge of Downtown, adjacent to the Red River Cultural District. It is the primary teaching hospital for UT Dell Medical School and runs a Level I trauma center, making it the go-to facility for the most serious emergencies in central Austin.
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin at 1201 W. 38th Street provides another full-service emergency option for travelers staying in Central Austin. It is a large regional hospital with a 24-hour ER and specialist services.
Hospitals serving South Austin, East Austin, and The Domain
St. David's South Austin Medical Center at 901 W. Ben White Blvd is the primary hospital for travelers staying along South Congress or in the South Austin neighborhoods. It runs a 24-hour emergency room and is about two miles south of the SoCo strip.
St. David's North Austin Medical Center at 12221 N. Mopac Expressway covers travelers staying near The Domain or in the northwest corridor. The hospital has a full emergency department and is accessible from the Domain area in under ten minutes by car.
For East Austin, Dell Seton Medical Center on Red River Street remains the nearest major ER.
Austin urgent care and walk-in clinics
Baylor Scott & White Urgent Care+ at 6001 W. William Cannon Drive, Suite 302 is a NextCare clinic in South Austin. It's open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, and you can book a visit ahead on the clinic's page. Call 512-288-3627.
CommUnityCare Health Centers runs several clinics serving East Austin residents and visitors. Find the nearest clinic and its hours at communitycaretx.org/locations. CommUnityCare operates on a sliding-fee scale, which can help uninsured patients manage costs.
24-hour pharmacies near Downtown Austin, South Congress, and East Austin
CVS Pharmacy at 2402 Guadalupe Street, across from the UT campus, is a 24-hour store a short ride north of Downtown. The store never closes, but the pharmacy counter does: it's open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Call 512-474-2323.
For East Austin and South Congress, there are two 24-hour stores on East Riverside Drive: Walgreens at 1920 E. Riverside Drive (512-326-5228) and CVS Pharmacy at 4405 E. Riverside Drive (512-447-7272). Both pharmacy counters close at night. The CVS counter is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
If you need a pharmacist in the middle of the night, the Walgreens at 6200 W. William Cannon Drive in Southwest Austin keeps its pharmacy counter open 24 hours, apart from a meal break from 1:30 to 2 a.m. Call 512-892-1933.
For travelers near The Domain, use the CVS store locator or Walgreens store finder to find the nearest late-night pharmacy and confirm current hours before you go.
Austin medical facilities at a glance
| Facility | Type | Neighborhood served | 24-hour ER or pharmacy | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Seton Medical Center at UT | Hospital with Level I trauma center | Downtown / Red River | Yes, 24-hour ER | 512-324-7000 |
| St. David's Medical Center | Full-service hospital | Northeast of UT / near I-35 | Yes, 24-hour ER | 512-544-7111 |
| Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin | Full-service hospital | Central Austin | Yes, 24-hour ER | 512-324-1000 |
| St. David's South Austin Medical Center | Full-service hospital | South Austin / South Congress | Yes, 24-hour ER | 512-447-2211 |
| St. David's North Austin Medical Center | Full-service hospital | The Domain / North Austin | Yes, 24-hour ER | 512-901-1000 |
| Baylor Scott & White Urgent Care+ (W. William Cannon) | Urgent care walk-in | Oak Hill / Southwest Austin | No (8am-8pm weekdays, 8am-4pm weekends) | 512-288-3627 |
| CommUnityCare | Community health / urgent care | East Austin | No (call for hours) | 512-978-9015 |
| Walgreens (6200 W. William Cannon Dr) | 24-hour pharmacy | Southwest Austin | Yes, store and pharmacy 24hr (pharmacy closed 1:30-2am) | 512-892-1933 |
| Walgreens (1920 E. Riverside Dr) | 24-hour store | East Riverside | Store 24hr, pharmacy closes at night | 512-326-5228 |
| CVS (2402 Guadalupe St) | 24-hour store | West Campus / UT | Store 24hr, pharmacy 9am-9pm weekdays | 512-474-2323 |
| CVS (4405 E. Riverside Dr) | 24-hour store | East Riverside | Store 24hr, pharmacy 9am-10pm weekdays | 512-447-7272 |
Practical tips for getting medical care in Austin
- Download the Solv app (solvhealth.com) before your trip. It lets you book a same-day slot at urgent care clinics across Austin, which saves time at busy locations.
- Uninsured patients can ask about a sliding fee at CommUnityCare Health Centers in East Austin; eligibility depends on income, family size and address. Call 512-978-8130 (option 1) with fee questions before your visit.
- For a prescription refill, call your home pharmacy first. Ask whether it can transfer the prescription to an Austin store, which may be faster than visiting a clinic.
- If you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to reach a hospital from Austin-Bergstrom Airport, the airport's Mobility Assistance Zone is free and operates daily from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Taxi companies serving the airport include ATX Co-Op Taxi at 512-333-5555 and Z-Trip at 512-452-9999.
- CapMetro Route 20 Riverside runs from the airport through Downtown every 15 to 30 minutes for $1.25 a ride ($1.50 from January 10, 2027).
Sustainable travel and healthcare access in Austin
Choosing a clinic or pharmacy you can reach by CapMetro bus rather than a rideshare cuts both cost and emissions. Route 801 (North Lamar/South Congress) and Route 803 (Burnet/South Lamar) connect major visitor neighborhoods to Central Austin, putting several urgent care clinics and pharmacies within a short walk of a MetroRapid stop.
Official sources for medical and emergency information
- Austin Public Health: city health department with clinic locations, immunization services, and public health alerts.
- Texas Poison Center Network: call 1-800-222-1222 for poison emergencies, 24 hours a day.
- Texas Health and Human Services: state-level health resources including Medicaid and CHIP for travelers who need coverage assistance.
- CapMetro trip planner: plan a bus route to the nearest hospital or pharmacy using real-time schedules.
Frequently asked questions
What's the closest emergency room to Downtown Austin?＋
Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, at 1500 Red River Street, is on the eastern edge of Downtown and runs a Level I trauma center with a 24-hour emergency room. St. David's Medical Center at 919 E. 32nd Street is another option northeast of the UT campus, near I-35, also with a 24-hour ER.
Where can I find a 24-hour pharmacy near South Congress in Austin?＋
Two 24-hour stores on East Riverside Drive are a short drive from South Congress: Walgreens at 1920 E. Riverside Drive and CVS at 4405 E. Riverside Drive. Both pharmacy counters close at night. If you need a pharmacist after hours, the Walgreens at 6200 W. William Cannon Drive keeps its pharmacy open 24 hours, apart from a meal break from 1:30 to 2 a.m.
What's the best urgent care option near The Domain in Austin?＋
St. David's North Austin Medical Center at 12221 N. Mopac Expressway has a full emergency department for serious cases. The Solv app also lets you book a same-day visit at nearby walk-in clinics.
What should I do if I'm exposed to poison while visiting Austin?＋
Call the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222. The line is staffed 24 hours a day by medical professionals who can advise on next steps. For severe symptoms such as loss of consciousness or difficulty breathing, call 911 rather than waiting to reach Poison Control.
Is there urgent care in East Austin for travelers?＋
CommUnityCare Health Centers runs clinics in East Austin and operates on a sliding-fee scale, which can help patients without insurance, depending on income, family size and address. Dell Seton Medical Center on Red River Street is the nearest hospital ER for East Austin visitors. Call CommUnityCare at 512-978-9015 to confirm current hours before visiting.
How do I get to a hospital from Austin-Bergstrom Airport without a car?＋
CapMetro Route 20 Riverside runs from the airport through Downtown Austin every 15 to 30 minutes for $1.25 a ride ($1.50 from January 10, 2027), putting you within reach of Downtown hospitals and pharmacies. For a direct ride, taxi companies at the airport include ATX Co-Op Taxi at 512-333-5555 and Z-Trip at 512-452-9999. Rideshare pickup is under the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, accessible by tram from the Red Garage.
