Origin
Lone Star, TX
Evening in Lone Star on Thursday
Local time
8:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lone Star, TX to Austin, TX
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
5h 31m
Distance
291 mi
468 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 18m
★
6 AM
5h 32m
8 AM
5h 58m
10 AM
5h 41m
12 PM
5h 38m
3 PM
5h 42m
5 PM
5h 57m
8 PM
5h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lone Star, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 291-mile drive from Lone Star, TX to Austin, TX will take approximately 5 hours and 31 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-35, with sections of TX 155 and Purple Heart Trail mixed in. Expect a fuel cost of around $44 for this journey. The route offers a highway-focused experience as you travel across the Great Plains region of Texas. With only one recommended stop, it’s designed for efficient travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight break.
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
145.5 miles from Lone Star, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 31m. Total distance: 291 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with 65% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 55.8 miles on I-35, offering a consistent pace for much of the trip. While the majority is on major roads, expect some transitions onto state highways like TX 155 and Purple Heart Trail, which can offer a slight change of pace. The overall feel is one of steady progress, typical of a route connecting two points efficiently through the Texas landscape.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and TX 155. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 128.8 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 291 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 128.8 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 231.8 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 287.6 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 27 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
128.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m in
|
TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
231.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 27m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
287.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 26m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
8
290 mi into trip
|
~5h 29m in
Take the exit toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson Univer...
7
291 mi into trip
|
~5h 31m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| TX 155 | 41.6 mi | 47m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 40.3 mi | 42m |
| State Highway 31 East | 30.9 mi | 35m |
| West State Highway 31 | 18.8 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 31 | 17.2 mi | 17m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 31 West | 9.7 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 55.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lone Star, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on East Germany Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Germany Street
2
Turn left onto US 259
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
North Main Street
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
4
Keep slight right at fork
302 ft
·
8 sec
5
Merge onto TX 155
16 mi
·
17 min
·
TX 155
6
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Wood Street
7
Turn straight onto TX 155
13 mi
·
15 min
·
TX 155
8
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto TX 155
13 mi
·
14 min
·
TX 155
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto US 271; TX 155
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 271
11
Turn right onto Loop 323
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Northeast Loop 323
12
Continue on Loop 323
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Northwest Loop 323
13
Continue on Loop 323
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Southwest Loop 323
14
Turn right onto TX 31
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Chandler Highway
15
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 31 West
16
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Highway 31
17
Continue on TX 31
21 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 31 East
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
19
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jed Robinson Loop
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
21
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft
·
14 sec
22
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 31 West
23
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Royall Boulevard
24
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 31 East
25
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
26
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
27
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
West State Highway 31
28
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
29
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
30
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East US Highway 84
31
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
32
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Waco Drive
33
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
35
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Use the slight right lane.
40
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
41
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
42
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
43
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
44
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
For this 5.5-hour drive, starting early from Lone Star is a good idea to maximize your daylight and arrive in Austin with time to spare. While the drive is feasible in one day, plan for one stop to refuel and stretch. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 55 miles on I-35, so be mindful of your fuel levels before embarking on those longer highway segments. Keep an eye out for signs for TX 155 and Purple Heart Trail as you transition off the main interstate, ensuring you stay on track for Austin.
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 145.5 miles from Lone Star, TX, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 64 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.5 miles or 2h 53m 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 34m
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 Lone Star, 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 Lone Star, TX
This is one driving day of about 291 miles and 5h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Lone Star, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 145.5 mi from Lone Star, TX · 2h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 145.5 miles from Lone Star, 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
$43.97 one way
$87.94 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $48.13 | $96.26 |
| premium | $4.54 | $51.96 | $103.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.25 | $128.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.3 | 1 | $30.55 | $13.97 |
| Efficient EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.46 | $11.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.4 | 1 | $40.74 | $18.62 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Destination
Austin, TX
Evening in Austin on Thursday
Local time
8:24 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
17 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
5h 31m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lone Star, TX to Austin, TX covers 291 miles and takes about 5h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, TX 155, Purple Heart Trail. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 145.5 miles from Lone Star, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.97 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 291 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 128.8 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 231.8 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 287.6 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lone Star, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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