Drive Time
5h 23m
Distance
300 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
Photo: Thomas balabaud
The drive from Hughes Springs, TX to Austin, TX covers 300 miles and takes about 5h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street, South Main Street, North Wood Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.63 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
150 miles from Hughes Springs, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 23m drive with frequent turns across 300 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Wood Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 271 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Northeast Loop 323 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Northwest Loop 323 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Southwest Loop 323 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Hughes Springs, TX and Austin, TX.
Start on Ward
Turn right onto 1st Street
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left onto South Main Street
Take the exit slight right
Keep slight right
Merge slight left
Turn left onto North Wood Street
Turn straight
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
Turn left
Turn right onto US Highway 271
Turn right onto East Northeast Loop 323
Continue on West Northwest Loop 323
Continue on South Southwest Loop 323
Turn right onto Chandler Highway
Continue on State Highway 31 West
Continue on East Highway 31
Continue on State Highway 31 East
Take the exit right
Merge slight left onto Jed Robinson Loop
Take the exit slight right
Keep slight left
Turn right onto State Highway 31 West
Continue on East Royall Boulevard
Continue on State Highway 31 East
Continue on Northwest 2nd Street
Turn left onto Corsicana Bypass
At the end of the road, turn left onto West State Highway 31
Continue on Hubbard Bypass
Continue on State Highway 31
Continue on East US Highway 84
Continue on Bellmead Drive
Turn straight onto East Waco Drive
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Take the ramp straight toward I 35 South, US 77 South
Merge slight left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail
Take the exit slight right toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
Turn right onto East 6th Street
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150 miles or 2h 41m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Austin, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hughes Springs, 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 Hughes Springs, TX
This is one driving day of about 300 miles and 5h 23m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150 mi from Hughes Springs, TX · 2h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 150 miles from Hughes Springs, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$44.63 one way
$89.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $50.22 | $100.44 |
| premium | $4.59 | $54.22 | $108.45 |
| diesel | $3.99 | $47.16 | $94.32 |
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: 105 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90 | 1 | $31.50 | $14.40 |
| Efficient EV | 75 | 0 | $26.25 | $12.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120 | 1 | $42.00 | $19.20 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Hughes Springs on Saturday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Austin on Saturday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Dallas, TX
150 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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