Origin
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Thursday
Local time
4:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Johnson City, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
47.8 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Johnson City, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick getaway from Austin, the 47.8-mile trek to Johnson City is a straightforward trip that typically takes just over an hour. You will primarily navigate via South Mopac Expressway, West US Highway 290, and South US Highway 281. Since this journey is entirely contained within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of about $7, it is an economical choice for a spontaneous outing. Whether you are heading out for a change of pace or a specific errand, the simplicity of this connection makes it a very manageable drive.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 47.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 93 percent of this route keeps you moving on major thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 30.5 miles along West US Highway 290, allowing you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. While you start your departure on the bustling Mopac Expressway, the transition to highway driving defines the character of this trip. The road personality here is consistent and efficient, prioritizing speed and directness over winding backroads. You will find that the transitions between these three main roads are relatively seamless, keeping the drive feeling cohesive from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West US Highway 290 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,401 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
1,244 ft
Total Descent
534 ft
Highest Point
1,401 ft
~44.4 mi in
Elevation Range
915 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West US Highway 290 and South US Highway 281. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Brazos Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Brazos Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (East 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (Atlanta Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Brazos Street
Turn left onto Brazos Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 6th Street
Turn left onto East 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Atlanta Street
Turn left onto Atlanta Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, L...
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
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 Johnson City, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Llano along the way.
Llano
6.2 mi in
|
~10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West US Highway 290 | 30.5 mi | 37m |
| South US Highway 281 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| South Mopac Expressway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| US 290 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| East 6th Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West US 290 Bypass Lanes | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West US 290 Frontage Rd | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West US Highway 290
— 30.5 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Johnson City, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
417 ft
·
15 sec
·
East 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Brazos Street
357 ft
·
23 sec
·
Brazos Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto East 6th Street
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Atlanta Street
233 ft
·
6 sec
·
Atlanta Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Loop 1 South
6
Merge onto Loop 1
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
319 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
9
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
447 ft
·
6 sec
·
West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
11
Continue on West US 290 Frontage Rd
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West US 290 Frontage Rd
12
Turn straight onto West US 290 Bypass Lanes
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
West US 290 Bypass Lanes
13
Continue on US 290
378 ft
·
4 sec
·
West US Highway 290
14
Continue on US 290
30 mi
·
37 min
·
West US Highway 290
Use the left lane.
15
Merge onto US 281; US 290
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South US Highway 281
16
Turn left onto US 290
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
Toward Fredericksburg
17
Turn right onto Spur 356
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Nugent Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Spur 356
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.9 mi from Austin, TX · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Johnson City, TX
The final approach into Johnson City, 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
$7.22 one way
$14.45 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $7.91 | $15.81 |
| premium | $4.54 | $8.53 | $17.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.55 | $21.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.69 | $3.06 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Johnson City, TX
Afternoon in Johnson City on Thursday
Local time
4:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 1m 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 Johnson City, TX covers 47.8 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West US Highway 290, South US Highway 281, South Mopac Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.9 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 $7.22 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Brazos Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (East 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (Atlanta Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Austin, TX to Johnson City, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Llano along the way.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 487 ft to 1,401 ft elevation with about 1,244 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park.
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