Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
4h 12m
Distance
218.1 mi
351 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
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
Potosi, TX
Mark Direen
The drive from Austin, TX to Potosi, TX covers 218.1 miles and takes about 4h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North US Highway 183, North Neches Street, US 84 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.6 miles on North US Highway 183. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.96 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
109 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 218.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
The drive from Austin, TX to Potosi, TX covers 218.1 miles and takes about 4h 12m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 218.1 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 0.3 miles (Red River Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Red River Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto East 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 183 North: Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North US Highway 183 | 72.6 mi | 1h 18m |
| North Neches Street | 34.9 mi | 39m |
| US 84 | 30.4 mi | 34m |
| East Commerce Street | 22 mi | 25m |
| 183A Toll | 14.6 mi | 14m |
| US 183 | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| Wallis Avenue | 9.2 mi | 10m |
| US 83 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Potosi, TX.
Start on East 5th Street
Turn left onto Red River Street
Turn right onto East 7th Street
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35; US 290
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
Take the exit
Merge onto US 183
Continue on 183A Toll
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 183; TX 16
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283
Turn right onto US 84; US 283; TX 206
Continue on US 83; US 84
Take the exit
Turn right onto FM 204
At end of road, turn right onto FM 1750
Turn left onto Potosi Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 48 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109 miles or 2h 3m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Potosi, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 218.1 miles and 4h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109 mi from Austin, TX · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 109 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North US Highway 183 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.6 miles.
The final approach into Potosi, 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 Potosi, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$32.96 one way
$65.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $36.07 | $72.14 |
| premium | $4.54 | $38.94 | $77.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.15 | $96.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.90 | $10.47 |
| Efficient EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.08 | $8.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.2 | 1 | $30.53 | $13.96 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Austin on Friday
Local time
2:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Potosi on Friday
Local time
2:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
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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