Origin
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Friday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Lakeside, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
109.3 mi
176 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Lakeside, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Trip Overview
The drive from Austin, TX to Lakeside, TX covers 109.3 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Texas State Highway 71, State Highway 71 South, US Highway 90A for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.7 miles on Texas State Highway 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.52 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
54.6 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 109.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 3m highway drive covering 109.3 miles, with most of the trip on Texas State Highway 71 and State Highway 71 South. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.7 miles on Texas State Highway 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Texas State Highway 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and State Highway 71 South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East 7th Street
Turn right onto East 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom Internation...
5
7.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway
Turn straight onto 71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 T...
5
88.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Camp...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Austin, TX and Lakeside, TX, road signs point toward 71 Toll East and El Campo.
71 Toll East
7.9 mi in
|
~11m
|
via 71 Toll
El Campo
88.9 mi in
|
~1h 38m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 78.7 mi | 1h 23m |
| State Highway 71 South | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| US Highway 90A | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| East 7th Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| East State Highway 71 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Bastrop Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Lakeside Drive | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South McCarty Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Texas State Highway 71
— 78.7 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Lakeside, 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
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
East 7th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto Loop 111
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
5
Continue on US 183
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
7
Merge onto 183 Toll
0.8 mi
·
47 sec
·
Bergstrom Expressway
8
Continue on US 183
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on TX 71
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
·
East State Highway 71
13
Continue on TX 71
79 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
365 ft
·
8 sec
Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo
15
Continue on TX 71
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
TX 71
Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo
16
Turn right onto TX 71
9.7 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 71 South
17
Turn left onto US 90 Alt
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
US Highway 90A
18
Continue on US 90 Alt
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South McCarty Avenue
19
Continue on US 90 Alt
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Boothe Drive
20
Continue on US 90 Alt; FM 102
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Main Street
21
Turn right onto FM 102
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Lakeside Drive
22
Arrive at destination
FM 102
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 54.6 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.7 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.6 miles or 1h 1m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeside, 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 109.3 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Austin, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Texas State Highway 71 for about 78.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.6 mi from Austin, TX · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.6 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.7 miles.
Arriving in Lakeside, TX
The final approach into Lakeside, 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 Lakeside, 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
$16.52 one way
$33.03 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $18.08 | $36.16 |
| premium | $4.54 | $19.51 | $39.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.13 | $48.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.48 | $5.25 |
| Efficient EV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.56 | $4.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.30 | $7.00 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Lakeside, TX
Afternoon in Lakeside on Friday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Colorado, TX
55 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 3m 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 Lakeside, TX covers 109.3 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Texas State Highway 71, State Highway 71 South, US Highway 90A. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.6 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 $16.52 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 is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Austin, TX and Lakeside, TX, road signs point toward 71 Toll East and El Campo.
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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