Origin
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Saturday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Pelican Bay, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
209.9 mi
338 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Pelican Bay, TX
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
Austin, TX to Pelican Bay, TX is 209.9 miles and takes about 3h 56m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward Texas drive. Expect a mix of highway cruising and more intricate local roads as you head north. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and potential detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
105 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 129.2 mi | 2h 14m |
| I 35W | 50.4 mi | 52m |
| Jacksboro Highway | 13.3 mi | 17m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Boyd Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Lake Worth Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
| Sandy Beach Road | 1.4 mi | 5m |
| Henderson Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 129.2 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Pelican Bay, 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
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
50 mi
·
52 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 51A
Toward I 30 West: Abilene
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 13B
Toward TX 199: Henderson Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
231 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Henderson Street
14
Keep slight right at fork
325 ft
·
8 sec
Use the right lane.
15
Turn slight right onto TX 199
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Henderson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto North Henderson Street
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Henderson Street
17
Continue on North Henderson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Henderson Street
18
Continue on TX 199
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Jacksboro Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on TX 199
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Worth Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Take the exit onto TX 199
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Jacksboro Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward FM 730: Boyd
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto Northwest Parkway
484 ft
·
12 sec
·
Northwest Parkway
23
Turn right onto FM 730
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Boyd Road
24
Turn right onto Sandy Beach Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Sandy Beach Road
25
Turn right onto Long Boulevard
380 ft
·
21 sec
·
Long Boulevard
26
Turn left onto Long Circle
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Long Circle
27
Turn left onto Sheila Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheila Drive
28
Arrive at destination
Sheila Drive
Trip Plan
With a total drive time under 4 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day, so feel free to depart mid-morning to avoid early rush hour. You have flexibility in planning stops, but consider breaking up the 129.2-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway stretches are limited, and refueling opportunities might be more spaced out on the local roads. The entire trip is within Texas, so you'll be familiar with the general road conditions.
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 105 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.2 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 46 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pelican Bay, 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 209.9 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 129.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 188.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
7
136.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
187.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 30 West: Abilene
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51A
Toward I 30 West: Abilene
7
188.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward TX 199: Henderson Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13B
Toward TX 199: Henderson Street
7
188.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.72 one way
$63.43 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $34.72 | $69.43 |
| premium | $4.54 | $37.48 | $74.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.34 | $92.69 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.01
Northwest Parkway
(0.1 mi)
$0.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63 | 0 | $22.04 | $10.08 |
| Efficient EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.37 | $8.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84 | 1 | $29.39 | $13.43 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Pelican Bay, TX
Afternoon in Pelican Bay on Saturday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
18 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
3h 56m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 101.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 27% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a dynamic road profile, moving from faster sections to more engaging local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 129.2 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a substantial period of consistent driving before transitions occur. Be prepared for frequent changes in speed limits and road conditions as you navigate through various towns and local thoroughfares.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 129.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 East 7th Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 209.9 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 (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 136.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Austin, TX
Full guide →“City of the Violet Crown” · Founded 1835
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 209.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Austin, TX to Pelican Bay, TX covers 209.9 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, I 35W, Jacksboro Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105 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 $31.72 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 209.9 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 (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 136.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Austin, TX to Pelican Bay, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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