Origin
Live Oak, TX
Night in Live Oak on Thursday
Local time
10:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Live Oak, TX to Austin, TX
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
66.7 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Live Oak, TX
Phil Evenden
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Live Oak to Austin? This 66.7-mile drive will take you about 1 hour and 15 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on the Purple Heart Trail and North Pan Am Expressway before merging onto Interstate Highway 35. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $10, this route is budget-friendly. The journey is entirely within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for maximum flexibility.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 66.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (10%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This drive presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter more intersections and changes in direction than a straightforward interstate cruise. While only 10% of the route is on highways, the longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 58.6 miles along the Purple Heart Trail. Expect a dynamic driving experience, shifting between local roads and expressway segments. The character of the drive will evolve as you navigate through various local road systems before reaching your destination.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (Judson Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward Judson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 170
Toward Judson Road
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Judson Road
Turn left onto Judson Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Merge onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
65.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
66.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 58.6 mi | 1h 3m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Interstate 35 North | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Congress Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Judson Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 5th Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 58.6 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Live Oak, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on I 35
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 170
Toward Judson Road
Use the slight right lane.
3
Turn straight onto Interstate 35 North
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Interstate 35 North
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Turn left onto Judson Road
249 ft
·
12 sec
·
Judson Road
5
Turn left onto Interstate 35 North
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Interstate 35 North
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 35 North
7
Merge onto I 35
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
47 mi
·
50 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 234C
Toward 6th - 12th Streets
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
13
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
14
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.3 mi from Live Oak, TX · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.3 miles from Live Oak, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.08 one way
$20.16 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.03 | $22.06 |
| premium | $4.54 | $11.91 | $23.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.73 | $29.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 Thursday
Local time
10:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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
1h 15m 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 Live Oak, TX to Austin, TX covers 66.7 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, North Pan Am Expressway, Interstate Highway 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.3 miles from Live Oak, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.08 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (Judson Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Live Oak, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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