Origin
Highland Park, TX
Night in Highland Park on Wednesday
Local time
9:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland Park, TX to Austin, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 9m
Distance
200.3 mi
322 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 58m
★
6 AM
3h 10m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 15m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland Park, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Highland Park, TX to Austin, TX covers 200.3 miles and takes about 3h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Byron Avenue, Beverly Drive, Hillcrest Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.1 miles from Highland Park, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 9m drive with frequent turns across 200.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Byron Avenue 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 3h 9m 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 Highland Park, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Byron Avenue | — | — |
| Beverly Drive | — | — |
| Hillcrest Avenue | — | — |
| Harvard Avenue | — | — |
| Cole Avenue | — | — |
| Monticello Avenue | — | — |
| North Central Expressway | — | — |
| US 75 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Byron Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Park, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Cornell Avenue
295 ft
·
17 sec
·
Cornell Avenue
2
Turn right onto Byron Avenue
423 ft
·
26 sec
·
Byron Avenue
3
Turn left onto Beverly Drive
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Beverly Drive
4
Turn right onto Hillcrest Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Hillcrest Avenue
5
Turn left onto Harvard Avenue
420 ft
·
16 sec
·
Harvard Avenue
6
Turn right onto Cole Avenue
374 ft
·
16 sec
·
Cole Avenue
7
Turn left onto Monticello Avenue
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Monticello Avenue
8
Turn right onto North Central Expressway
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Central Expressway
9
Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 South
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 75 South
10
Merge slight left onto North Central Expressway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Expressway
11
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
502 ft
·
12 sec
·
Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
12
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Expressway
13
Turn right onto Elm Street
305 ft
·
11 sec
·
Elm Street
14
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Pearl Expressway
15
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Young Street
16
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Harwood Street
17
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Canton Street
18
Take the ramp slight left toward I 30 West
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 30 West
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
20
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
220 ft
·
5 sec
·
I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
21
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South: Waco
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 35E South: Waco
22
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
23
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
89 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
24
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
25
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
26
Keep slight left
56 mi
·
58 min
27
Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
28
Take the exit slight right toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
29
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
30
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
31
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
358 ft
·
18 sec
·
Congress Avenue
32
Turn left onto East 5th Street
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
East 5th Street
33
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 100.1 miles from Highland Park, TX, or about 1h 34m 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 44 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.1 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
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 Highland Park, 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 Highland Park, TX
This is one driving day of about 200.3 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Highland Park, 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 100.1 mi from Highland Park, TX · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 100.1 miles from Highland Park, 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
$30.27 one way
$60.53 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $33.13 | $66.26 |
| premium | $4.54 | $35.76 | $71.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.22 | $88.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.1 | 0 | $21.03 | $9.61 |
| Efficient EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.53 | $8.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.1 | 1 | $28.04 | $12.82 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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
Austin, TX
Night in Austin on Wednesday
Local time
9:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
9 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
3h 9m 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 Highland Park, TX to Austin, TX covers 200.3 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Byron Avenue, Beverly Drive, Hillcrest Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.1 miles from Highland Park, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.27 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 9m 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 Highland Park, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Highland Park, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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