Origin
Austin, TX
Morning in Austin on Saturday
Local time
10:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to La Coste, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 58m
Distance
103 mi
166 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 50m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
La Coste, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Austin, TX to La Coste, TX covers 103 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Interstate 35, I 35 South, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.5 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Austin, TX
Full guide →“City of the Violet Crown” · Founded 1835
Austin is a city of about 1,054,000 (2026) surpassing Fort Worth to become the 4th most populous city in Texas. It is on the southeast edge of the Hill Country region of Texas, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and the 11th-largest in the country. It is the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of an alternative culture away from the major cities on the US coasts, though the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the Live Music Capital of the World due to the large number of venues.
Top landmarks
- • Texas State Capitol — capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas
- • Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin,...
- • Texas State Cemetery — historic cemetery in Austin, Texas, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 103 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m 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 1h 58m drive with frequent turns across 103 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Interstate 35 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Austin, TX to La Coste, TX is easy. At 1h 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, TX to La Coste, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate 35 | — | — |
| I 35 South | — | — |
| Purple Heart Trail | — | — |
| Highway 35 | — | — |
| North Pan Am Expressway | — | — |
| I 410 West | — | — |
| Connally Loop | — | — |
| US 90 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Interstate 35
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and La Coste, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Interstate 35
3
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 South
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 35 South
4
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
46 mi
·
50 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
5
Continue on Interstate Highway 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
6
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
7
Continue on North Pan Am Expressway
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 410 West, Loop 368 South
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 410 West, Loop 368 South
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 410 West
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 410 West
10
Merge slight left onto Connally Loop
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Connally Loop
11
Take the exit slight right toward US 90 West: Del Rio
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 90 West: Del Rio
12
Merge slight left onto Cleto Rodriguez Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Cleto Rodriguez Freeway
13
Continue on West US Highway 90
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West US Highway 90
14
Turn left onto County Road 482
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 482
15
At the end of the road, turn left onto FM 471 South
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 471 South
16
Turn left onto South Front Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Front Street
17
Turn right
154 ft
·
7 sec
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.5 miles from Austin, TX, or about 59m 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.5 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Coste, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Austin, TX
This is one driving day of about 103 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Austin, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.5 mi from Austin, TX · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.5 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in La Coste, TX
The final approach into La Coste, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.56 one way
$31.13 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $17.04 | $34.07 |
| premium | $4.54 | $18.39 | $36.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.74 | $45.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.94 |
| Efficient EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.01 | $4.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
La Coste, TX
Morning in La Coste on Saturday
Local time
10:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 58m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 La Coste, TX covers 103 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Interstate 35, I 35 South, Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.5 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 $15.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Austin, TX to La Coste, TX is easy. At 1h 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, TX to La Coste, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Austin, TX to La Coste, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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