Origin
Austin, TX
Late night in Austin on Friday
Local time
2:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Monte Alto, TX
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
5h 35m
Distance
307.1 mi
494 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 22m
★
6 AM
5h 35m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Monte Alto, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Trip Overview
The drive from Austin, TX to Monte Alto, TX covers 307.1 miles and takes about 5h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Nueces Street, I 37, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66.2 miles on South Nueces Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.40 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
153.6 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 307.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
The drive from Austin, TX to Monte Alto, TX covers 307.1 miles and takes about 5h 35m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Nueces Street is the longest continuous segment at about 66.2 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 0.5 miles in near North Interstate 35.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 307.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Interstate 35
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
I 410 / Connally Loop
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410 / Connally Loop toward I 410 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 410 South
8
82 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
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.
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
7
82.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
7
294.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward FM 2812
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12
Toward FM 2812
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 Monte Alto, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
Corpus Christi
82 mi in
|
~1h 31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Nueces Street | 66.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 37 | 60.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 58.3 mi | 1h 3m |
| Falfurrias Expressway | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| US 281 South | 15.2 mi | 19m |
| I 69C | 14.1 mi | 15m |
| Connally Loop | 11 mi | 12m |
| FM 2812 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
South Nueces Street
— 66.2 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Monte Alto, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 35 South
4
Merge onto I 35; US 290
46 mi
·
50 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Connally Loop
Toward I 410 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 37
60 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi
·
19 min
·
US 281 South
Toward US 281 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
South Nueces Street
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 69C; US 281
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi
·
58 min
·
Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 12
Toward FM 2812
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Expressway 281
19
Turn left onto FM 2812
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
FM 2812
20
Turn left onto FM 493; FM 2812
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
La Blanca Road
21
Turn right onto FM 2812
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 2812
22
Turn left onto FM 88
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 88
23
Turn left onto Lackland Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Lackland Street
24
Arrive at destination
Lackland Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 153.6 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.2 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 68 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.6 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monte Alto, 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 307.1 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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 South Nueces Street for about 66.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 153.6 mi from Austin, TX · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
154 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 153.6 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Nueces Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.2 miles.
Arriving in Monte Alto, TX
The final approach into Monte Alto, 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 Monte Alto, 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
$46.40 one way
$92.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
107 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $50.79 | $101.58 |
| premium | $4.54 | $54.83 | $109.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $67.80 | $135.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.1 | 1 | $32.25 | $14.74 |
| Efficient EV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.87 | $12.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 122.8 | 1 | $42.99 | $19.65 |
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Monte Alto, TX
Late night in Monte Alto on Friday
Local time
2:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
5h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Monte Alto, TX covers 307.1 miles and takes about 5h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Nueces Street, I 37, Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 153.6 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 $46.40 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 307.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Austin, TX to Monte Alto, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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