Trip from Austin, TX to Sam Rayburn, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 18m

Distance

272.5 mi

439 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 5m ★

6 AM

5h 18m

8 AM

5h 45m

10 AM

5h 28m

12 PM

5h 25m

3 PM

5h 29m

5 PM

5h 44m

8 PM

5h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Sam Rayburn, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

The drive from Austin, TX to Sam Rayburn, TX covers 272.5 miles and takes about 5h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 190, TX 21, TX 30 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.2 miles on US 190. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.18 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

136.2 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 272.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 18m highway drive covering 272.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 190 and TX 21. The longest continuous stretch is about 101.2 miles on US 190.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 190 is the longest continuous segment at about 101.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 190 and TX 21. 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 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 15 significant decision points across 272.5 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 1.5 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | Red River Street

Turn left onto Red River Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | East 7th Street

Turn right onto East 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

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.

4.4 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 290

Take the exit onto US 290 toward US 290 East: Houston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 238B Toward US 290 East: Houston

269.2 mi into trip | ~5h 13m in | RE 255 / Sam Rayburn Parkway

Turn left onto RE 255 / Sam Rayburn Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 190	101.2 mi	1h 54m
TX 21	59 mi	1h 4m
TX 30	49.1 mi	58m
East US Highway 290	29 mi	33m
North Wheeler Street	8.1 mi	8m
Manor Expressway	6.2 mi	6m
Purple Heart Trail	3.5 mi	4m
Sam Rayburn Parkway	3.3 mi	4m

Longest stretch: US 190 — 101.2 mi, about 1h 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Sam Rayburn, TX.

Start on East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East 5th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Red River Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Red River Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto East 7th Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 7th Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Interstate 35

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 35 North, US 290 East

Merge onto I 35; US 290

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Purple Heart Trail

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290

2.9 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 290

2.5 mi · 3 min · US 290

Exit 238B Toward US 290 East: Houston Use the slight right lane.

Continue on 290 Toll

6.2 mi · 6 min · Manor Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 290

29 mi · 33 min · East US Highway 290

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Keep slight left at fork

280 ft · 13 sec

Turn left onto TX 21

54 mi · 58 min · TX 21

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 21

5.5 mi · 6 min · TX 21

Turn right onto FM 158

1.0 mi · 1 min · West William J Bryan Parkway

Continue on FM 158

2.2 mi · 3 min · East William J Bryan Parkway

Continue on FM 158

3.2 mi · 4 min · Boonville Road

Continue on FM 158

0.8 mi · 1 min · Farm-to-Market Road 158

Continue on TX 30

49 mi · 58 min · TX 30

Continue on US 190

101 mi · 1 hr 54 min · US 190

Turn left onto South Main Street

2.3 mi · 4 min · South Main Street

Merge onto US 96

8.1 mi · 8 min · North Wheeler Street

Turn left onto RE 255

3.3 mi · 4 min · Sam Rayburn Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto FM 1007

214 ft · 5 sec · FM 1007

Arrive at destination

FM 1007

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 136.2 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 40m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.2 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 60 miles or 1h 10m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 136.2 miles or 2h 40m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sam Rayburn, 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 272.5 miles and 5h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 US 190 for about 101.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 136.2 mi from Austin, TX · 2h 40m into the drive

city in Brazos County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

College Station, TX

136 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

Lexington, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

College Station, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 136.2 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 190 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.2 miles.

Arriving in Sam Rayburn, TX

The final approach into Sam Rayburn, 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 Sam Rayburn, TX.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.18 one way

$82.35 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 95 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$45.07	$90.14
premium	$4.54	$48.65	$97.31
diesel	$5.61	$60.16	$120.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 95.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	81.8	1	$28.61	$13.08
Efficient EV	68.1	0	$23.84	$10.90
EV Truck/SUV	109	1	$38.15	$17.44

Gas CO2

95 kg

EV CO2

32 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Evening in Austin on Thursday

Local time

6:57 PM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Partly Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 16 at 4:14AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:13AM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

Sam Rayburn, TX

Evening in Sam Rayburn on Thursday

Local time

6:57 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°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

25 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 18m 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 Sam Rayburn, TX covers 272.5 miles and takes about 5h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 190, TX 21, TX 30. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 136.2 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 $41.18 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.