Dallas travelers now have a new way to hop around to other Texas cities, and it comes with Wi-Fi, leather seats, and a guaranteed Buc-ee’s stop: On Monday, May 25, a transportation startup called Shutto will launch luxury van service from Dallas to Austin, Houston Galleria, and The Woodlands, offering travelers a comfortable alternative to flying or driving.
Bookings are now available online. Fares start at $87 per person to Austin and $97 per person to Houston, positioning Shutto in a similar lane to Dallas-based Vonlane, which also serves major Texas cities.
Unlike other regional transit options, Shutto builds Texas road-trip culture into every journey. Each route includes a pit stop at Buc-ee’s pit stop so riders can stock up on Beaver Nuggets, brisket, and drinks.
“Our mission is simple: make it easier for people to move between Texas cities without the stress of driving, parking, airports, or unpredictable rideshare costs,” says Alberto Salcedo, Founder of Shutto, in a release. “Dallas is a key market for us, and connecting Dallas with Austin, Houston Galleria, and The Woodlands is a natural next step as we continue building the smartest way to travel between cities."
Shutto will depart from Cafe Brazil near SMU in Dallas.Photo courtesy of Shutto
Shutto, which launched service in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston last fall, enters the market at a time when highway congestion is a hotter topic than ever. With high-speed rail still years in the future, its model aims to provide fast, predictable service at commuter prices - for business, family visits, weekend trips, events, college travel, and airport-connected plans, they say.
The startup touts an on-time departure guarantee and a relaxed ride. Only 12 passengers fit inside each Mercedes Sprinter van.
Beyond the scheduled routes, Shutto offers private, customizable trips anywhere in the country, a service the company expects will appeal to corporate retreat planners, wedding parties, and tourists wanting to make a day of crawling Hill Country wineries and breweries.
In Dallas, the day-to-day service picks up at at Café Brazil on University Boulevard, directly across from SMU and Mockingbird Station.
In Austin, vans depart from the Pershing East Café parking lot at 2501 E. Fifth St., while Houston riders board at Paparuchos in the Galleria District, with additional service to The Woodlands.
“We are not just moving passengers from one city to another,” Salcedo says. “We are building a better travel experience for Texas — one that is more human, more comfortable, and designed around how people actually move today.”
Per the release, here's a breakdown of the new Dallas routes:
Dallas to Austin- Starting at $87 per person
- Dallas pickup: Café Brazil, University Boulevard, near SMU and Mockingbird Station
- Austin arrival: The Pershing Café, East Downtown Austin
- Starting at $97 per person
- Dallas pickup: Café Brazil, University Boulevard
- Houston arrival: Paparuchos, Galleria District
- Service launching as part of Shutto's North Texas expansion, details to come.
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Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this story.
Grape Creek Vineyards has three locations in the Hill Country. Courtesy of Grape Creek Vineyards 