Origin
Austin, TX
Evening in Austin on Thursday
Local time
6:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Riesel, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
113.9 mi
183 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Riesel, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
This 113.9-mile drive from Austin, TX to Riesel, TX is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on the Purple Heart Trail and East State Highway 6 (TX 6). With an estimated fuel cost of $17, it's an economical journey. Both Austin and Riesel are situated in the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape throughout your travels. This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, suggesting a more engaging experience than a straightforward interstate cruise. Given its manageable length and straightforward nature, no overnight stays are recommended.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.9 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 113.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" experience on this route, rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While 13% of the journey involves highway driving, the majority will likely be on more localized roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 94.4 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, offering a significant period of consistent travel before potential turns or changes in road type. As you progress, the character of the road will likely shift between these more open highway sections and the more intricate, turn-filled local segments, requiring your attention.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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 94.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 113.9 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 0.3 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
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.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Interstate 35
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
95.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward TX 6 South, Loop 340 North: Marlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 330A
Toward TX 6 South, Loop 340 North: Marlin
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 Riesel, TX, road signs point toward Loop 340 North: Marlin and Loop 340 North.
Loop 340 North: Marlin
95.4 mi in
|
~1h 41m
Loop 340 North
97.3 mi in
|
~1h 45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 94.4 mi | 1h 39m |
| East State Highway 6 | 9.1 mi | 9m |
| TX 6 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| North Memorial Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Interstate 35 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Loop 340 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East 5th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 94.4 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Riesel, 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
94 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 330A
Toward TX 6 South, Loop 340 North: Marlin
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Interstate 35
10
Turn slight right
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 6 South, Loop 340 North: Marlin
11
Turn straight onto South Loop 340
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Loop 340
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward TX 6 South, Loop 340 North
13
Merge onto TX 6; Loop 340
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
TX 6; Loop 340
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
15
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East State Highway 6
16
Continue on TX 6
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Memorial Street
17
Turn left onto FM 1860
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Frederick Street
18
Turn right onto South Jena Street
100 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Jena Street
19
Arrive at destination
South Jena Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 2-hour, 4-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though an early morning start will allow for a relaxed pace and ample time upon arrival in Riesel. With no specific stops recommended in the data, you can decide on breaks as needed, perhaps breaking up the 94.4-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $17 for the entire 113.9 miles. The "turn-heavy local drive" profile suggests being prepared for frequent adjustments in direction, so pre-familiarizing yourself with the TX 6 segment could be beneficial.
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 56.9 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.4 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 25 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.9 miles or 1h 1m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riesel, 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 113.9 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Austin, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 94.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.9 mi from Austin, TX · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.9 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 94.4 miles.
Arriving in Riesel, TX
The final approach into Riesel, 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 Riesel, 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
$17.21 one way
$34.42 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $18.84 | $37.68 |
| premium | $4.54 | $20.34 | $40.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.15 | $50.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.96 | $5.47 |
| Efficient EV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.97 | $4.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.6 | 0 | $15.95 | $7.29 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Riesel, TX
Evening in Riesel on Thursday
Local time
6:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Belton, TX
57 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
16 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
2h 4m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Austin, TX to Riesel, TX covers 113.9 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, East State Highway 6, TX 6. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.9 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 $17.21 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 113.9 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 0.3 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.
Between Austin, TX and Riesel, TX, road signs point toward Loop 340 North: Marlin and Loop 340 North.
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