Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Muenster, TX to Austin, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 40m
Distance
265.4 mi
427 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
22 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 27m
★
6 AM
4h 41m
8 AM
5h 7m
10 AM
4h 50m
12 PM
4h 47m
3 PM
4h 51m
5 PM
5h 6m
8 PM
4h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Muenster, TX
Mark Direen
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Muenster to Austin is 265.4 miles and takes about 4h 40m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains and continuing through the same region towards your destination in Austin. It's primarily a highway route, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. You can expect a consistent pace for most of the drive, with a predictable fuel cost. Consider this a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
132.7 miles from Muenster, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 85 mi | 1h 28m |
| North South Freeway | 84.6 mi | 1h 27m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 40.3 mi | 42m |
| I 35W | 17.2 mi | 18m |
| I 35W TEXpress | 16.7 mi | 16m |
| Division Street | 12.7 mi | 14m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| North Interstate 35 | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 85 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muenster, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on FM 373
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 82
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Division Street
3
Turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Interstate 35
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
5
Merge onto I 35
29 mi
·
29 min
·
I 35
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit onto I 35W
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 35W
Exit 467
Toward I 35W South, FM 1515: Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W Express
17 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35W
85 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
17
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 40m drive, leaving Muenster in the morning is a good idea to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $40, you have flexibility. The longest stretch on I 35 is 85 miles, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering that section, especially if you're not familiar with the availability of services. Since it's a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning's activities in Muenster.
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 132.7 miles from Muenster, TX, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85 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 58 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.7 miles or 2h 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 3h 48m
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 Muenster, 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 Muenster, TX
This is one driving day of about 265.4 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Muenster, 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 85 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132.7 miles from Muenster, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
TA
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Road Ranger
2 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, right off the route
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 265.4
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteFort Worth Herd
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 75.8
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websiteExplorium Denton Children's Museum a Program of Denton County Friends of The Family.
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
mile 37.9
Denton, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19403205444
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
mile 265.4
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Forest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, ~10 min detour
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
mile 75.8
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteBarton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
mile 265.4
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 43.1 and 265.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
43.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 35W
Take the exit onto I 35W toward I 35W South, FM 1515: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 467
Toward I 35W South, FM 1515: Fort Worth
6
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
I 35W Express / I 35W TEXpress
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W Express / I 35W TEXpress
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
262 mi into trip
|
~4h 35m 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
264.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 38m 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
265.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.10 one way
$80.21 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $43.90 | $87.79 |
| premium | $4.54 | $47.39 | $94.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.60 | $117.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
22 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Fort Worth, TX
Tesla
20 DCFC
The Foundry District - Tesla Supercharger
Fort Worth, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Red River Stop - Tesla Supercharger
Gainesville, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Rudy's BBQ - Tesla Supercharger
Fort Worth, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Fuel City Haltom City - Tesla Supercharger
Haltom City, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Denton, TX
Tesla
8 DCFC
Walmart EV Charging
Fort Worth, TX
WALMART
8 DCFC
Walmart EV Charging
North Richland Hills, TX
WALMART
8 DCFC
Tesla: 7
MERCEDES_BENZ: 5
Electrify America: 2
eVgo Network: 2
Blink Network: 2
WALMART: 2
Non-Networked: 1
CIRCLE_K: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.87 | $12.74 |
| Efficient EV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.22 | $10.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.2 | 1 | $37.16 | $16.99 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Muenster, TX
Afternoon in Muenster on Saturday
Local time
3:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Saturday
Local time
3:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
N 15 mph
58% chance
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 40m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 164.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 80% of this 265.4-mile trip on highways, mainly I 35. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 85 miles. Expect a mostly highway profile, meaning you'll encounter a good number of exits and potentially some merging traffic as you get closer to urban areas. The remaining portion will be on surface roads, offering a change of pace.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and North South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.1 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 265.4 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 43.1 miles (I 35W): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.3 miles (I 35W Express / I 35W TEXpress): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 262 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Muenster, TX to Austin, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fm 1515: Fort Worth along the way.
Fm 1515: Fort Worth
43.1 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 35W
About the Cities
Arriving in Austin, TX
Full guide →“City of the Violet Crown” · Founded 1835
Austin is a city of about 1,054,000 (2026) surpassing Fort Worth to become the 4th most populous city in Texas. It is on the southeast edge of the Hill Country region of Texas, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and the 11th-largest in the country. It is the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of an alternative culture away from the major cities on the US coasts, though the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the Live Music Capital of the World due to the large number of venues.
Top landmarks
- • Texas State Capitol — capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas
- • Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin,...
- • Texas State Cemetery — historic cemetery in Austin, Texas, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 265.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Austin, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.1 miles (I 35W): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.3 miles (I 35W Express / I 35W TEXpress): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 262 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Austin, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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