Origin
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Thursday
Local time
4:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Kempner, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
69.5 mi
112 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Kempner, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
This straightforward 69.5-mile drive from Austin, TX, to Kempner, TX, will take you about 1 hour and 26 minutes. It's a perfect day trip, easily accomplished in a single stretch without needing an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route primarily follows North US Highway 183 and 183A Toll before transitioning to Farm-to-Market Road 2657, offering a mixed driving experience. Both Austin and Kempner are situated within the Great Plains region, so you'll experience consistent prairie landscapes throughout your journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 69.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this trip, with 49% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.3 miles along North US Highway 183, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the road will transition from major highways to more local farm-to-market roads, providing a change of pace. This route offers a blend of quicker highway travel and more subdued local road driving, keeping the experience varied.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North US Highway 183 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.5 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 0.6 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Red River Street
Turn left onto Red River Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East 7th Street
Turn right onto East 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Interstate 35
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
5.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward US 183 North: Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 240B
Toward US 183 North: Lampasas
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North US Highway 183 | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| 183A Toll | 14.6 mi | 14m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 2657 | 14.4 mi | 19m |
| US 183 | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| FM 2808 | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 1 mi | 1m |
| FM 2657 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North US Highway 183
— 16.3 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Kempner, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto Red River Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Red River Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 7th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 290 East
6
Merge onto I 35; US 290
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Purple Heart Trail
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 240B
Toward US 183 North: Lampasas
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 183
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on 183A Toll
15 mi
·
14 min
·
183A Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 183
16 mi
·
18 min
·
North US Highway 183
12
Turn right onto Walker Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Walker Street
13
Turn right onto Loop 308
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Loop 308
14
Continue on FM 2657
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 2657
15
Continue on FM 2657
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 2657
16
Turn left onto FM 2808
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
FM 2808
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 190
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
18
Turn right onto FM 2313
181 ft
·
10 sec
·
FM 2313
19
Turn left onto Depot Avenue
161 ft
·
7 sec
·
Depot Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Depot Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.7 mi from Austin, TX · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.7 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kempner, TX
The final approach into Kempner, 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
$10.50 one way
$21.00 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.49 | $22.99 |
| premium | $4.54 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.34 | $30.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.30 | $3.34 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.73 | $4.45 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Kempner, TX
Afternoon in Kempner on Thursday
Local time
4:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
4 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 26m 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 Kempner, TX covers 69.5 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North US Highway 183, 183A Toll, Farm-to-Market Road 2657. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.7 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 $10.50 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 69.5 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.
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 0.6 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Austin, TX to Kempner, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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