Origin
Mansfield, TX
Afternoon in Mansfield on Sunday
Local time
3:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mansfield, TX to Austin, TX
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
180.2 mi
290 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mansfield, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Mansfield to Austin, prepare for a 179.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 51 minutes. Because this route focuses on local roads rather than major interstates, it functions best as a focused day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the one-way trek. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the drive. This itinerary is ideal if you prefer a hands-on driving experience away from the heavy traffic of typical high-speed corridors.
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
90.1 miles from Mansfield, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on East Broad Street, South Main Street, and Farm-to-Market Road 917 to navigate the terrain. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be cruising at high speeds on wide-open freeways. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on East Broad Street, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns and transitions. It is a technical drive that keeps you engaged with the road rather than letting you drift into autopilot.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 63.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 35. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 12.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.9 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 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
12.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35W South
6
13 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W toward I 35W South: Waco
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W South: Waco
8
176.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m 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
179.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m 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
180.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 63.5 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 40.3 mi | 42m |
| East FM 917 | 9 mi | 14m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 917 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South 2nd Avenue | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 63.5 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mansfield, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on East Broad Street
182 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Broad Street
2
Continue on East Broad Street
335 ft
·
20 sec
·
East Broad Street
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
4
Turn right onto FM 917
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 917
5
Continue on FM 917
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
South 2nd Avenue
6
Continue on FM 917
9.0 mi
·
14 min
·
East FM 917
7
Turn left onto South Burleson Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Burleson Boulevard
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 35W South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 35W
63 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W South: Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
18
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one well-timed stop will make the journey more comfortable. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means your travel time might fluctuate based on local traffic conditions on the smaller roads. Budgeting around $27 for gas is a solid baseline, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Mansfield to ensure you don't need to hunt for a station on the backroads. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to map your turns carefully in advance, as the reliance on Farm-to-Market roads requires more frequent navigation checks than a simple highway route.
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 90.1 miles from Mansfield, TX, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.5 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.1 miles or 1h 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 2h 41m
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 Mansfield, 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 Mansfield, TX
This is one driving day of about 180.2 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mansfield, 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 35W for about 63.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.1 mi from Mansfield, TX · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.1 miles from Mansfield, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35W if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.5 miles.
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
$27.53 one way
$55.05 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $30.17 | $60.33 |
| premium | $4.59 | $32.57 | $65.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $40.03 | $80.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.92 | $8.65 |
| Efficient EV | 45.1 | 0 | $15.77 | $7.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.23 | $11.53 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Afternoon in Austin on Sunday
Local time
3:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
14 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 17m 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 Mansfield, TX to Austin, TX covers 180.2 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, I 35, 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 90.1 miles from Mansfield, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.53 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 12.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.9 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 Mansfield, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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