Origin
Big Spring, TX
Afternoon in Big Spring on Sunday
Local time
3:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Spring, TX to Austin, TX
Drive Time
4h 59m
Distance
292.6 mi
471 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 46m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Spring, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Big Spring, TX to Austin, TX covers 292.6 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Gregg Street, Highway 87, US 87 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.70 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
146.3 miles from Big Spring, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 59m drive with frequent turns across 292.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Gregg Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Big Spring, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Gregg Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 87 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| William B Crooker Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 87 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bridge Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 71 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Gregg Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Spring, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on West 4th Street
82 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto South Gregg Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Gregg Street
3
Continue on South US Highway 87
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South US Highway 87
4
Take the ramp straight toward US 87 South: San Angelo
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 87 South: San Angelo
5
Merge slight left onto William B Crooker Memorial Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
William B Crooker Memorial Highway
6
Continue on 4th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Street
7
Continue on US Highway 87 South
15 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 87 South
8
Continue straight
104 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
9
Turn right onto Bridge Street
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Bridge Street
10
Turn left onto State Highway 71
47 mi
·
50 min
·
State Highway 71
11
Turn left
2.8 mi
·
3 min
12
Turn right onto Bessemer Avenue
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Bessemer Avenue
13
Continue on Ford Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ford Street
14
Turn left
58 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
15
Turn left onto Bee Caves Road
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Bee Caves Road
16
Continue on Bee Cave Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bee Cave Road
17
Continue on Bee Caves Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Bee Caves Road
18
Turn left onto South Mopac Service Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Mopac Service Road
19
Take the ramp slight left toward Loop 1 North
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Loop 1 North
20
Merge slight left onto South Mopac Expressway
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Mopac Expressway
21
Take the exit slight right toward 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Street
22
Keep slight left to continue on West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard
23
Keep slight right to continue on 5th Street
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
5th Street
24
Turn straight onto West 5th Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West 5th Street
25
Arrive at your destination
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 146.3 miles from Big Spring, TX, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.3 miles or 2h 29m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Austin, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Big Spring, 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 Big Spring, TX
This is one driving day of about 292.6 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Big Spring, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.3 mi from Big Spring, TX · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 146.3 miles from Big Spring, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Austin, TX
The final approach into Austin, 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 Austin, 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
$44.70 one way
$89.39 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $48.98 | $97.96 |
| premium | $4.59 | $52.89 | $105.77 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $65.01 | $130.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.8 | 1 | $30.72 | $14.04 |
| Efficient EV | 73.2 | 0 | $25.60 | $11.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117 | 1 | $40.96 | $18.73 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Sunday
Local time
3:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
63°F
Ames, TX
146 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
13 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
4h 59m 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 Big Spring, TX to Austin, TX covers 292.6 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Gregg Street, Highway 87, US 87 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146.3 miles from Big Spring, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.70 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.
This is a straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Big Spring, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Big Spring, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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