Origin
Fort Davis, TX
Afternoon in Fort Davis on Monday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Davis, TX to Austin, TX
Drive Time
6h 49m
Distance
426.2 mi
686 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 38m
★
6 AM
6h 49m
8 AM
7h 13m
10 AM
6h 58m
12 PM
6h 55m
3 PM
6h 59m
5 PM
7h 12m
8 PM
6h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Davis, TX to Austin, TX covers 426.2 miles and takes about 6h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10 East, US 290 East, Highway 290 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $65.10 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
213.1 miles from Fort Davis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 49m drive with frequent turns across 426.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 East 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 49m, 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 Fort Davis, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 290 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 290 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 281 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Loop 1 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Mopac Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 10 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Davis, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on State Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
2
Turn right
31 mi
·
37 min
3
At the end of the road, turn right
7.4 mi
·
11 min
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East: Fort Stockton
267 mi
·
4 hr 10 min
·
I 10 East: Fort Stockton
5
Take the exit slight right toward US 290 East: Fredericksburg
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 290 East: Fredericksburg
6
Continue on US Highway 290
39 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 290
7
Continue on West Main Street
3.5 mi
·
7 min
·
West Main Street
8
Continue on East US Highway 290
27 mi
·
30 min
·
East US Highway 290
9
Continue on West Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
10
Take the exit slight right
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
11
Merge slight left onto South US Highway 281
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South US Highway 281
12
Turn slight left onto East US Highway 290
31 mi
·
37 min
·
East US Highway 290
13
Continue on West US Highway 290
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
West US Highway 290
14
Take the exit slight left
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
15
Continue on West US Highway 290
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West US Highway 290
16
Continue straight
1.6 mi
·
1 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward Loop 1 North
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Loop 1 North
18
Merge slight left onto South Mopac Expressway
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Mopac Expressway
19
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
20
Keep slight left to continue on West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard
21
Keep slight right to continue on 5th Street
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
5th Street
22
Turn straight onto West 5th Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West 5th Street
23
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 213.1 miles from Fort Davis, TX, or about 3h 24m 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 94 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 213.1 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 51m
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 Fort Davis, 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 Fort Davis, TX
This is one driving day of about 426.2 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Fort Davis, 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 213.1 mi from Fort Davis, TX · 3h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
213 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 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 213.1 miles from Fort Davis, 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
$65.10 one way
$130.21 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
149 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $71.35 | $142.69 |
| premium | $4.59 | $77.03 | $154.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $94.69 | $189.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 127.9 | 1 | $44.75 | $20.46 |
| Efficient EV | 106.6 | 1 | $37.29 | $17.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 170.5 | 2 | $59.67 | $27.28 |
Gas CO2
149 kg
EV CO2
50 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.
Destination
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Monday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
14 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
6h 49m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fort Davis, TX to Austin, TX covers 426.2 miles and takes about 6h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10 East, US 290 East, Highway 290. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 213.1 miles from Fort Davis, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $65.10 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 1 meaningful break 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 6h 49m, 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 Fort Davis, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fort Davis, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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