Welcome to Austin! If you just landed a travel assignment here, finding housing is probably the most stressful part. Most apartments want a 12-month lease, short-term rentals get expensive fast, and you need a place that’s furnished, close to your hospital, and quiet enough to sleep after a long shift.
Renting a room in a shared home is one of the easiest ways to cover a contract. Our homes in Austin and Manor have furnished rooms, utilities already set up, and a 3-month minimum lease that lines up with a typical 13-week assignment. Below are drive times from each of our homes to Austin’s major hospitals, plus what to know about stipends and licensing.
How far are our homes from Austin’s hospitals?
These are drive times without traffic from each of our homes to Austin’s major hospitals. Rush hour on I-35, MoPac, and US 183 adds time, so plan ahead for your first few shifts.
| Compare | Arborside | Caballo Blanco | Chapala | Mary Lewis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Seton Medical Center (downtown) | 14 | 15 | 20 | 20 |
| St. David’s Medical Center | 13 | 17 | 18 | 21 |
| Dell Children’s Medical Center | 12 | 17 | 18 | 24 |
| Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin | 16 | 21 | 20 | 26 |
| St. David’s Heart Hospital of Austin | 15 | 20 | 20 | 26 |
| St. David’s North Austin Medical Center | 13 | 27 | 21 | 36 |
| Ascension Seton Northwest | 15 | 25 | 23 | 34 |
| St. David’s South Austin Medical Center | 23 | 15 | 28 | 17 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Austin | 29 | 20 | 34 | 24 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Pflugerville | 17 | 22 | 15 | 42 |
| St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center | 20 | 36 | 29 | 44 |
Drive times are estimates without traffic, door to door from each home.
Which home fits my hospital?
- Arborside (North Austin) has many hospitals within a short drive: Dell Children’s, St. David’s Medical Center, St. David’s North Austin, Dell Seton, the Heart Hospital, and Ascension Seton Northwest are all about 12 to 16 minutes away.
- Caballo Blanco (East Austin) is about 15 minutes from both Dell Seton downtown and St. David’s South Austin, and close to the airport for flights home between assignments.
- Chapala (Manor) is about 15 minutes from Baylor Scott & White in Pflugerville and under 20 minutes from St. David’s Medical Center and Dell Children’s. Every bedroom there is furnished.
- Mary Lewis (South Austin) is about 17 minutes from St. David’s South Austin and 20 minutes from Dell Seton.
Why do nurses like living in a shared home?
Nurses who have lived with us tell us what they value most: coming home to a quiet house, having everything already set up, and knowing home is a safe, drama-free space after a hard shift.
That’s by design. Everyone in our homes is a screened, working adult, and we keep house rules simple: be respectful, keep shared spaces clean, and be considerate of housemates’ schedules. Utilities, internet, and monthly cleaning of shared spaces are handled, so there’s nothing to set up when you arrive.
Will my housing stipend cover a room?
Usually with room to spare. Travel nursing stipends are commonly tax-free up to the maximum set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), though agencies aren’t required to pay the full amount. For Austin, the GSA lodging rate is $184 a night for October 2026 through September 2027, which works out to about $5,520 for 30 nights.
Our rooms currently range from $700 to $1,050 a month, plus your share of utilities, internet, and cleaning, typically $100 to $150 a month per room. Your recruiter can tell you exactly how your stipend works, and a tax professional can help with the rules on tax-free stipends.
Do I need a Texas nursing license?
Maybe not. Texas is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so if you hold a multistate license from another compact state, you can generally practice in Texas without a separate Texas license. Check with the Texas Board of Nursing for your situation.
Can I rent a room for a 13-week contract?
Yes. Most travel nurse contracts run about 13 weeks, and our minimum lease is 3 months, so a standard contract fits. Some assignments are shorter, as short as 8 weeks, so if yours is, reach out and we’ll see what we can do. If your contract gets extended, just let us know and we’ll talk about staying longer.
Which rooms are open right now?
These are our open rooms. Prices, bathroom setup, furnishing, and move-in dates are on each room’s page.
Caballo Blanco — Unit B
Private room with private bath
Available October 2026
Chapala — Unit B
Furnished private room with private bath
Available October 2026
Chapala — Unit C
Furnished private room with private bath
Available October 2026
Chapala — Unit E
Furnished private room with shared bath
Available October 2026
Mary Lewis — Unit D
Private room with shared bath
Available October 2026
How does this compare with Furnished Finder?
Furnished Finder is the best-known site for travel nurse housing and doesn’t charge travelers booking fees, but most of its Austin listings are whole apartments and houses priced well above a room. If you want your own place, it’s worth a look. If you’d rather save more of your stipend and come home to a set-up, screened household, a room with us is the simpler option. For the full cost picture, see Renting a Room vs an Apartment in Austin.
How do I rent a room as a travel nurse?
- Fill out the interest form with your hospital, start date, and contract length.
- We’ll set up a short intro call and a virtual tour if you’re still out of state.
- Complete the application and background check.
- Sign the lease and pay the deposit and first month’s rent to reserve the room.
Frequently asked questions
Do you rent rooms to travel nurses in Austin?
Yes. Our minimum lease is 3 months, which fits a typical 13-week travel nurse contract, and many of our rooms are furnished.
How far are your homes from Dell Seton Medical Center?
About 14 to 20 minutes without traffic, depending on the home: Arborside about 14, Caballo Blanco about 15, and Chapala and Mary Lewis about 20.
Are utilities included?
Utilities, internet, and monthly cleaning of shared spaces are set up for you and split evenly, typically $100 to $150 a month per room. It varies with usage.
What if my contract is shorter than 13 weeks?
Our minimum lease is 3 months, but reach out with your dates and we’ll see what we can do.
Do I need a Texas nursing license to work in Austin?
Texas is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses with a multistate license from another compact state can generally practice in Texas. Check with the Texas Board of Nursing for your situation.