Origin
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Thursday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Colorado City, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
279.1 mi
449 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 57m
★
6 AM
5h 10m
8 AM
5h 37m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 17m
3 PM
5h 21m
5 PM
5h 36m
8 PM
5h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Colorado City, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
The drive from Austin, TX to Colorado City, TX covers 279.1 miles and takes about 5h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Red River Street, East 7th Street, Interstate 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
139.6 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 279.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 10m drive with frequent turns across 279.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Red River Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 10m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, TX to Colorado City, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Red River Street | — | — |
| East 7th Street | — | — |
| Interstate 35 | — | — |
| I 35 North | — | — |
| Purple Heart Trail | — | — |
| US 183 North | — | — |
| Highway 183 | — | — |
| South Key Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Red River Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Colorado City, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
East 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Red River Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Red River Street
3
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 7th Street
4
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, US 290 East
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 35 North, US 290 East
6
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Purple Heart Trail
7
Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 183 North: Lampasas
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 183 North: Lampasas
9
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
13 min
10
Continue straight
15 mi
·
14 min
11
Continue on North US Highway 183
36 mi
·
38 min
·
North US Highway 183
12
Continue on South Key Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
South Key Avenue
13
Continue on North US Highway 281
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
North US Highway 281
14
Keep slight left to continue on North US Highway 183
37 mi
·
40 min
·
North US Highway 183
15
At the end of the road, turn left
30 mi
·
34 min
16
Turn left onto Early Boulevard
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Early Boulevard
17
Continue on East Commerce Street
22 mi
·
25 min
·
East Commerce Street
18
Keep slight left to continue on US 67
22 mi
·
23 min
·
US 67
19
Continue on 2nd Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
20
Continue on US 67
15 mi
·
15 min
·
US 67
21
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
24 mi
·
25 min
·
North Broadway Street
22
Turn left onto West Main Street
12 mi
·
12 min
·
West Main Street
23
Turn slight right
259 ft
·
9 sec
24
Turn straight onto East 10th Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
East 10th Street
25
Continue on Hillcrest Street
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Hillcrest Street
26
Continue on North State Highway 208
17 mi
·
16 min
·
North State Highway 208
27
Turn straight
25 mi
·
25 min
28
Turn left onto Westpoint Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Westpoint Avenue
29
Continue on East 2nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
30
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
Chestnut Street
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.6 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 61 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.6 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colorado City, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Austin, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Austin, TX
This is one driving day of about 279.1 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Austin, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 139.6 mi from Austin, TX · 2h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
140 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 139.6 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Colorado City, TX
The final approach into Colorado City, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Colorado City, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.17 one way
$84.35 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $46.16 | $92.32 |
| premium | $4.54 | $49.83 | $99.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.62 | $123.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.7 | 1 | $29.31 | $13.40 |
| Efficient EV | 69.8 | 0 | $24.42 | $11.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.6 | 1 | $39.07 | $17.86 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Colorado City, TX
Afternoon in Colorado City on Thursday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Austin, TX to Colorado City, TX covers 279.1 miles and takes about 5h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Red River Street, East 7th Street, Interstate 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 139.6 miles from Austin, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 10m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, TX to Colorado City, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Austin, TX to Colorado City, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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