If you are planning a quick excursion from Austin to Nixon, expect a straightforward 73.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. You will primarily navigate via US 183, Bastrop Highway, and TX 80 as you traverse the Great Plains region. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel is a safe estimate for the drive. Because the route is relatively short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Austin is a city of about 1,054,000 (2026) surpassing Fort Worth to become the 4th most populous city in Texas. It is on the southeast edge of the Hill Country region of Texas, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and the 11th-largest in the country. It is the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of an alternative culture away from the major cities on the US coasts, though the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the Live Music Capital of the World due to the large number of venues.
Top landmarks
•Texas State Capitol — capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas
•Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin,...
•Texas State Cemetery — historic cemetery in Austin, Texas, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 73.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 66% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major thoroughfares. The road maintains a steady pace, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 27 miles along TX 80. You will find that the drive transitions smoothly between these primary roads, offering a consistent driving experience rather than a series of tight, technical turns. It is a functional, efficient route that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads. Stay focused on the road ahead, as the highway-heavy nature of this trip keeps traffic moving at a reliable clip for the duration of your 1.5-hour trek.
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.
TX 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 27 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
599 ft341 ft
Total Climb
338 ft
Total Descent
430 ft
Highest Point
599 ft
~18.4 mi in
Elevation Range
259 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 80 and Bastrop Highway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 5th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (East 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Red River Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East 5th Street
Depart onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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.
5
16.8 mi into trip|~23m in|TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway
Merge onto TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
26.6 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 470
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
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 Nixon, TX, road signs point toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart and San Antonio.
183 Toll South: Lockhart
3.9 mi in|~6m
San Antonio
16.5 mi in|~22m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TX 80
27 mi
30m
Bastrop Highway
11.7 mi
15m
US 183
10.1 mi
11m
Pickle Parkway
9.8 mi
8m
North Colorado Street
4.9 mi
8m
North Magnolia Avenue
4.2 mi
6m
East 7th Street
3 mi
4m
Bergstrom Expressway
0.8 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
TX 80
— 27 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Nixon, 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
12 mi·15 min·Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll South: Lockhart, San Antonio
10
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
9.8 mi·8 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 470Toward US 183 South: LockhartUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 183
0.5 mi·35 sec·United States Highway 183
13
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·North Colorado Street
14
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
15
Continue on US 183
4.2 mi·6 min·North Magnolia Avenue
16
Continue on TX 80
27 mi·30 min·TX 80
17
Turn left onto US 87
59 ft·0 sec·East Central Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
US 87
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever fits your schedule best without needing a complex itinerary. There are no mandatory stops required to reach your destination, so you can easily complete the drive in one go. Keep in mind that with 73.7 miles to cover, you should ensure your tank has enough fuel to cover the estimated $11 cost before you leave Austin. Because the route relies on US 183 and TX 80, monitor local traffic reports for these specific roads to avoid any unexpected delays. Having this flexibility allows you to focus on arriving in Nixon feeling refreshed and ready for your day.
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 36.8 miles from Austin, TX, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 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 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nixon, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Austin, TX
This is one driving day of about 73.7 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Austin, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on TX 80 for about 27 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.8 mi from Austin, TX
· 47m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.14 one way
$22.27 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$12.19
$24.38
premium
$4.54
$13.16
$26.32
diesel
$5.61
$16.27
$32.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Lakehills Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
PIE AE TRAVIS CO DC 1
Austin, TX
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC4
Austin, TX
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 2
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
Efficient EV
18.4
0
$6.45
$2.95
EV Truck/SUV
29.5
0
$10.32
$4.72
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Austin, TX
Night
in Austin on Friday
Local time
11:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Rain Showers
SSE 5 to 10 mph55% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:44AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:28AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Nixon, TX
Night
in Nixon on Friday
Local time
11:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:44AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:28AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
63°F
Brownsboro, TX
37 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
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 30m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Austin, TX to Nixon, TX covers 73.7 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 80, Bastrop Highway, US 183. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.8 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 $11.14 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 73.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (East 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Red River Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Austin, TX and Nixon, TX, road signs point toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart and San Antonio.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 341 ft to 599 ft elevation with about 338 ft of total climbing.
