Origin
Memphis, TX
Afternoon in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
2:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Memphis, TX to Austin, TX
Drive Time
6h 38m
Distance
404.8 mi
652 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Memphis to Austin covers 404.8 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 38 minutes of time behind the wheel. Because this journey stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will notice a consistent landscape as you head south. With a fuel budget of approximately $60, it is a manageable trip to complete in a single day if you start early. While the route involves navigating through local streets like Burnett Street and Avenue F Northwest, the overall experience is straightforward enough to tackle without an overnight stay. You should expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, so plan your schedule accordingly to account for slower speeds through various town centers.
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
202.4 miles from Memphis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a unique driving experience that differs significantly from a standard interstate slog. This route is defined by its turn-heavy local nature, requiring you to stay alert as you navigate through various stretches rather than relying on long, monotonous highway cruising. Interestingly, the highway share for this trip is 0%, emphasizing the winding, localized feel of the journey. You will not find any long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, as the longest stretch on Highway 287 is 0 miles. Consequently, the drive demands your full attention, providing a more tactile experience behind the wheel as you transition between local roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 287 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 38m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Memphis, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 287 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Burnett Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue F Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 287 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lloyd Ruby Overpass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 287
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Boykin Drive
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Boykin Drive
2
Turn slight right onto US Highway 287
14 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 287
3
Continue on Burnett Street
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
Burnett Street
4
Continue on US Highway 287
14 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 287
5
Continue on Avenue F Northwest
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue F Northwest
6
Continue on US Highway 287
54 mi
·
58 min
·
US Highway 287
7
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
8
Continue on US Highway 287 East
41 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 287 East
9
Continue on Northwest Freeway
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Northwest Freeway
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Northwest Freeway
11
Merge slight left onto Central Freeway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
12
Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
13
Continue on Central East Freeway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
14
Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway
97 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Central East Freeway
16
Continue straight
4.6 mi
·
4 min
17
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
18
Take the exit slight left toward I 35W Express Toll South
0.6 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 35W Express Toll South
19
Merge slight left onto I 35W TEXpress
4.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
20
Merge slight right onto North South Freeway
85 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
North South Freeway
21
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
22
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
23
Keep slight left
56 mi
·
58 min
24
Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
25
Take the exit slight right toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
26
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
27
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
28
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
358 ft
·
18 sec
·
Congress Avenue
29
Turn left onto East 5th Street
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
East 5th Street
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour and 38-minute drive, plan to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue on the more technical sections of the road. Since this is a turn-heavy route, having a reliable GPS is essential to navigate the transitions between Burnett Street, Avenue F Northwest, and other local connectors. You should budget for at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $60 fuel estimate in mind. Given that there are no long highway stretches to zone out on, use your one required stop to reset your focus for the remaining local segments. Staying flexible with your pace is your biggest advantage here, as the lack of high-speed interstate miles means your travel time can fluctuate depending on local traffic.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 202.4 miles from Memphis, TX, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
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 89 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 202.4 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 39m
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 Memphis, 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 Memphis, TX
This is one driving day of about 404.8 miles and 6h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Memphis, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 202.4 mi from Memphis, TX · 3h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
202 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 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 202.4 miles from Memphis, 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
$61.84 one way
$123.67 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
142 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $67.76 | $135.53 |
| premium | $4.59 | $73.17 | $146.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $89.93 | $179.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 121.4 | 1 | $42.50 | $19.43 |
| Efficient EV | 101.2 | 1 | $35.42 | $16.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 161.9 | 2 | $56.67 | $25.91 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
47 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
Afternoon in Austin on Sunday
Local time
2:16 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
13 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
6h 38m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Memphis, TX to Austin, TX covers 404.8 miles and takes about 6h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 287, Burnett Street, Avenue F Northwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 202.4 miles from Memphis, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 38m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Memphis, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Memphis, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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