Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
63.5 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Live Oak, TX
Phil Evenden
The drive from Austin, TX to Live Oak, TX covers 63.5 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, North Pan Am Expressway, Interstate Highway 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 63.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 1h 9m drive with frequent turns across 63.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 5th Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Depart onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 35 South
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 58.3 mi | 1h 3m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| East 5th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Live Oak, TX.
Start on East 5th Street
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35; US 290
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.7 mi from Austin, TX · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.7 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Live Oak, 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.
Regular Gas
$9.60 one way
$19.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $10.50 | $21.01 |
| premium | $4.54 | $11.34 | $22.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.02 | $28.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.67 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.89 | $4.06 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Austin on Thursday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Live Oak on Thursday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
62°F
San Marcos, TX
32 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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