Origin
Montopolis, TX
Morning in Montopolis on Friday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 57m
Distance
105.3 mi
169 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeside, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
The drive from Montopolis, TX to Lakeside, TX covers 105.3 miles and takes about 1h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Texas State Highway 71, State Highway 71 South, US Highway 90A for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.7 miles on Texas State Highway 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.7 miles from Montopolis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 105.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
This is a 1h 57m highway drive covering 105.3 miles, with most of the trip on Texas State Highway 71 and State Highway 71 South. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.7 miles on Texas State Highway 71.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and State Highway 71 South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Depart toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn straight onto 71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto FM 102 / Lakeside Drive
Navigation decision point
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Montopolis, TX to Lakeside, TX, road signs begin pointing toward El Campo along the way.
El Campo
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 78.7 mi | 1h 23m |
| State Highway 71 South | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| US Highway 90A | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| East State Highway 71 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Bastrop Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Lakeside Drive | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South McCarty Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Bergstrom Expressway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Montopolis, TX and Lakeside, TX.
Start on this road
Merge onto 183 Toll
Continue on US 183
Take the exit
Continue on TX 71
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
Continue on TX 71
Continue on TX 71
Take the exit
Continue on TX 71
Turn right onto TX 71
Turn left onto US 90 Alt
Continue on US 90 Alt
Continue on US 90 Alt
Continue on US 90 Alt; FM 102
Turn right onto FM 102
Arrive at destination
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.
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 23 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.7 miles or 56m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeside, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Montopolis, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Montopolis, TX
This is one driving day of about 105.3 miles and 1h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.7 mi from Montopolis, TX · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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.
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 52.7 miles from Montopolis, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.7 miles.
The final approach into Lakeside, 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.
Regular Gas
$15.91 one way
$31.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $17.42 | $34.83 |
| premium | $4.54 | $18.80 | $37.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.25 | $46.50 |
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: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.06 | $5.05 |
| Efficient EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.21 | $4.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.74 | $6.74 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Montopolis on Friday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Lakeside on Friday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
63°F
La Grange, TX
53 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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