Trip from Austin, TX to Bloomington, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

134.7 mi

217 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 35m ★

6 AM

2h 45m

8 AM

3h 7m

10 AM

2h 53m

12 PM

2h 51m

3 PM

2h 54m

5 PM

3h 6m

8 PM

2h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Bloomington, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

This 134.7-mile drive from Austin, TX to Bloomington, TX is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 2 hours and 45 minutes. You'll primarily be on North United States Highway 183 and East Broadway Street, with a significant portion, 48%, being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $20. Since it's a relatively short drive within the Great Plains region, it offers flexibility for departure times and allows for a relaxed pace. You'll likely encounter a mixed driving profile, so keep an eye on your surroundings as you transition between road types.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

67.3 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive features a mixed profile, meaning you'll experience varying road conditions. With 48% of the route on highways, expect some faster-paced stretches, punctuated by sections on local roads like East Broadway Street and Bastrop Highway. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is 43.5 miles along North United States Highway 183. This blend means you'll need to adjust your driving style as the road character shifts, offering a dynamic experience behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate grind.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North United States Highway 183 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 134.7 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Red River Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | Red River Street

Turn left onto Red River Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | East 7th Street

Turn right onto East 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

16.8 mi into trip | ~23m in | TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway

Merge onto TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

26.6 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart

122.1 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in | US 87 / East Goodwin Avenue

Turn left onto US 87 / East Goodwin Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Austin, TX to Bloomington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward San Antonio along the way.

San Antonio

16.5 mi in | ~22m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North United States Highway 183	43.5 mi	47m
East Broadway Street	23.8 mi	27m
Bastrop Highway	11.7 mi	15m
US 183	10.1 mi	11m
Pickle Parkway	9.8 mi	8m
North Laurent Street	6.4 mi	9m
Shepley Street	5.6 mi	8m
East Pierce Street	5 mi	6m

Longest stretch: North United States Highway 183 — 43.5 mi, about 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Bloomington, TX.

Start on East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East 5th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Red River Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Red River Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto East 7th Street

3.0 mi · 4 min · East 7th Street

Use the right lane.

Turn straight onto Loop 111

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Airport Boulevard

Continue on US 183

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Ed Bluestein Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart

Merge onto 183 Toll

0.8 mi · 47 sec · Bergstrom Expressway

Continue on US 183

12 mi · 15 min · Bastrop Highway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll South: Lockhart, San Antonio

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

9.8 mi · 8 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Magnolia Avenue

Turn left onto US 90; US 183

5.0 mi · 6 min · East Pierce Street

Continue on US 183

43 mi · 47 min · North United States Highway 183

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

1.6 mi · 2 min · North Esplanade Street

Turn left onto US 87

24 mi · 27 min · East Broadway Street

Continue on US 87

3.9 mi · 6 min · North Main Street

Turn left onto US 87; US 59 Bus; US 77 Bus

0.3 mi · 26 sec · East Rio Grande Street

Turn right onto US 87

0.5 mi · 51 sec · North Navarro Street

Turn left onto US 87

0.3 mi · 30 sec · East Goodwin Avenue

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 87

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Port Lavaca Drive

Turn right onto TX 185

6.4 mi · 9 min · North Laurent Street

Continue on TX 185

5.6 mi · 8 min · Shepley Street

Turn left onto 1st Street East

120 ft · 5 sec · 1st Street East

Arrive at destination

1st Street East

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 45-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, so you can leave Austin at your leisure. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to make it a spontaneous trip. The longest stretch without a break is 43.5 miles, so plan for a quick stop around that mark if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach Bloomington; the estimated cost is $20, but local prices can vary. A specific tip for this route: be aware that North United States Highway 183 can see varied traffic, so factor that into your departure time for the smoothest journey.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 67.3 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 22m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 miles.

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 30 miles or 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67.3 miles or 1h 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, 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 134.7 miles and 2h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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.

The longest stretch is on North United States Highway 183 for about 43.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67.3 mi from Austin, TX · 1h 22m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gonzales, TX

67 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

Brownsboro, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gonzales, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.3 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bloomington, TX

The final approach into Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, 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

$20.35 one way

$40.71 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$22.28	$44.56
premium	$4.54	$24.05	$48.10
diesel	$5.61	$29.74	$59.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.4	$14.14	$6.47
Efficient EV	33.7	$11.79	$5.39
EV Truck/SUV	53.9	$18.86	$8.62

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Night in Austin on Wednesday

Local time

9:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, TX

Night in Bloomington on Wednesday

Local time

9:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

64°F

Gonzales, TX

67 mi in

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

22 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

2h 45m 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 Bloomington, TX covers 134.7 miles and takes about 2h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North United States Highway 183, East Broadway Street, Bastrop Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 67.3 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 $20.35 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.