Lakehills, TX to Austin, TX is 108.7 miles and takes about 2h 9m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the same region, staying within the state. Expect a drive characterized by frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. With a recommended one-day duration and a reasonable fuel cost, this route is a practical option for a short hop between these Texas locations. It's a straightforward journey, ideal if you're looking for a direct path without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.3 miles from Lakehills, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Austin is a city of about 1,054,000 (2026) surpassing Fort Worth to become the 4th most populous city in Texas. It is on the southeast edge of the Hill Country region of Texas, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and the 11th-largest in the country. It is the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of an alternative culture away from the major cities on the US coasts, though the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the Live Music Capital of the World due to the large number of venues.
Top landmarks
•Texas State Capitol — capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas
•Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin,...
•Texas State Cemetery — historic cemetery in Austin, Texas, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 108.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is primarily a turn-heavy local drive, with only about 5% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through local roads like Purple Heart Trail, Anderson Loop, and Bandera Road, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 58.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The character of the drive is consistent, focusing on navigating local thoroughfares rather than open highway cruising. This means you'll likely experience more varied scenery and potentially slower speeds as you transition through different local areas.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 58.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.8 miles in near North Loop 1604 West.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 108.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.8 miles (North Loop 1604 West): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
23.8 mi into trip|~35m in|North Loop 1604 West
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
44.5 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
7
45 mi into trip|~58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 North: Austin
7
107.9 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward 6th - 12th Streets
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 234C
Toward 6th - 12th Streets
7
108.7 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lakehills, TX to Austin, TX, road signs begin pointing toward San Antonio along the way.
Step-by-step road directions between Lakehills, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Upland Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Upland Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto PR 37
6.0 mi·9 min·Park Road 37
3
Continue on PR 37
4.0 mi·6 min·Park Road 37
4
Turn right onto TX 16
0.3 mi·18 sec·State Highway 16 South
5
Continue on TX 16
3.6 mi·4 min·Bandera Road
6
Continue on TX 16
7.1 mi·9 min·Bandera Road
7
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·29 sec
8
Continue on FM 1560
2.0 mi·3 min·FM 1560 North
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on West Hausman Road
0.1 mi·13 sec·West Hausman Road
10
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.3 mi·29 sec·North Loop 1604 West
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
12
Merge onto Loop 1604
20 mi·21 min·Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 35: San Antonio, AustinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35 North, I 35 South: Austin, San Antonio
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: AustinUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 35
1.6 mi·1 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 35
47 mi·50 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·24 sec
Exit 234CToward 6th - 12th StreetsUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn left onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 6th Street
22
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft·17 sec·Congress Avenue
23
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft·0 sec·East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, this is easily a same-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time in Austin. The fuel cost is estimated at $16, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart Lakehills. Since the drive is relatively short and turn-heavy, pay close attention to your navigation to avoid missing turns. There are no specific recommended stops in the data, so you can decide on spontaneous breaks as needed. Keep an eye on local traffic, especially as you approach Austin, as it can impact your travel time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.3 miles from Lakehills, TX, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.6 miles.
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 24 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.3 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
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 Lakehills, 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 Lakehills, TX
This is one driving day of about 108.7 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Lakehills, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 58.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.3 mi from Lakehills, TX
· 1h 9m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.42 one way
$32.85 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$17.98
$35.96
premium
$4.54
$19.41
$38.82
diesel
$5.61
$24.00
$48.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.6
0
$11.41
$5.22
Efficient EV
27.2
0
$9.51
$4.35
EV Truck/SUV
43.5
0
$15.22
$6.96
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Lakehills, TX
Late night
in Lakehills on Saturday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Late night
in Austin on Saturday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 12:44AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
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
5 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
2h 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lakehills, TX to Austin, TX covers 108.7 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, Anderson Loop, Bandera Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.3 miles from Lakehills, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 108.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.8 miles (North Loop 1604 West): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lakehills, TX to Austin, TX, road signs begin pointing toward San Antonio along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
