Origin
Austin, TX
Morning in Austin on Monday
Local time
8:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Socorro, TX
Drive Time
9h 27m
Distance
562.5 mi
905 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$86
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 19m
★
6 AM
9h 28m
8 AM
9h 45m
10 AM
9h 34m
12 PM
9h 32m
3 PM
9h 35m
5 PM
9h 44m
8 PM
9h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Socorro, TX
Jan van der Wolf
Trip Overview
The drive from Austin, TX to Socorro, TX covers 562.5 miles and takes about 9h 27m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Brazos Street, East 6th Street, Atlanta Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $85.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
281.3 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 562.5 miles and 9h 27m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Brazos Street and East 6th Street.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Brazos Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 9h 27m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 27m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, TX to Socorro, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 6th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Atlanta Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Loop 1 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Mopac Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 290 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 290 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 290 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Brazos Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Socorro, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
417 ft
·
16 sec
·
East 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Brazos Street
358 ft
·
23 sec
·
Brazos Street
3
Turn left onto East 6th Street
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East 6th Street
4
Turn left onto Atlanta Street
233 ft
·
7 sec
·
Atlanta Street
5
Take the ramp straight toward Loop 1 South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Loop 1 South
6
Merge slight left onto South Mopac Expressway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South Mopac Expressway
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
8
Keep slight left to continue on US 290 West, TX 71 West
318 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 290 West, TX 71 West
9
Merge slight left
3.7 mi
·
4 min
10
Continue on West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
446 ft
·
6 sec
·
West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
11
Continue on West US 290 Frontage Rd
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West US 290 Frontage Rd
12
Turn straight onto West US 290 Bypass Lanes
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
West US 290 Bypass Lanes
13
Continue on West US Highway 290
377 ft
·
5 sec
·
West US Highway 290
14
Continue on West US Highway 290
30 mi
·
37 min
·
West US Highway 290
15
Merge slight left onto South US Highway 281
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South US Highway 281
16
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
17
Continue on West US Highway 290
27 mi
·
30 min
·
West US Highway 290
18
Continue on East Main Street
3.5 mi
·
7 min
·
East Main Street
19
Continue on West US Highway 290
39 mi
·
42 min
·
West US Highway 290
20
Take the exit straight toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 West: Fort Stockton
21
Merge slight left
439 mi
·
6 hr 53 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward FM 1281: Horizon City, Socorro
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
FM 1281: Horizon City, Socorro
23
Continue on Gateway Boulevard West
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Gateway Boulevard West
24
Keep slight right to continue on Gateway Boulevard West
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Gateway Boulevard West
25
Turn left onto Horizon Boulevard
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Horizon Boulevard
26
Continue on Buford Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Buford Road
27
Turn right onto Socorro Road
249 ft
·
6 sec
·
Socorro Road
28
Turn right
138 ft
·
10 sec
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 281.3 miles from Austin, TX, or about 4h 43m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 124 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 281.3 miles or 4h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 281.3 miles or 4h 43m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Socorro, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Austin, TX
Aim for roughly 281 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Socorro, TX
Aim for roughly 281 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 124 miles from Austin, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 281.3 mi from Austin, TX · 4h 43m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
186 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
371 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in McCamey, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
281 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Junction, TX after about 281 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 124 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 281.3 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 281 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
Arriving in Socorro, TX
The final approach into Socorro, 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 Socorro, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Socorro, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$85.93 one way
$171.85 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
197 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $94.16 | $188.33 |
| premium | $4.59 | $101.67 | $203.34 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $124.97 | $249.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$86
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 196.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 168.8 | 2 | $59.06 | $27.00 |
| Efficient EV | 140.6 | 1 | $49.22 | $22.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 225 | 2 | $78.75 | $36.00 |
Gas CO2
197 kg
EV CO2
66 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Socorro, TX
Morning in Socorro on Monday
Local time
7:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
52°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 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
9h 27m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Socorro, TX covers 562.5 miles and takes about 9h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Brazos Street, East 6th Street, Atlanta Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 281 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 281.3 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 $85.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 27m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, TX to Socorro, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Austin, TX to Socorro, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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