Trip from Odessa, TX to Austin, TX

Drive Time

5h 45m

Distance

337 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Odessa, TX to Austin, TX covers 337 miles and takes about 5h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Grant Avenue, Interstate 20, I 20 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.14 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

168.5 miles from Odessa, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 45m drive with frequent turns across 337 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North Grant Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Grant Avenue	0 mi	0m
Interstate 20	0 mi	0m
I 20 East	0 mi	0m
TX 158	0 mi	0m
Garden City Highway	0 mi	0m
Highway 158	0 mi	0m
Highway 87 North	0 mi	0m
4th Street	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: North Grant Avenue — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on North Grant Avenue

2

Continue on North Grant Avenue

3

Turn left onto East Interstate 20

4

Take the ramp slight left toward I 20 East: Midland

5

Merge slight left

6

Take the exit slight right toward TX 158, FM 715: Garden City, San Angelo

7

Turn straight onto East Interstate 20

8

Turn right onto Garden City Highway

9

Continue on East State Highway 158

10

Merge slight left onto US Highway 87 North

11

Continue on 4th Street

12

Continue on US Highway 87 South

13

Continue straight

14

Turn right onto Bridge Street

15

Turn left onto State Highway 71

16

Turn left

17

Turn right onto Bessemer Avenue

18

Continue on Ford Street

19

Turn left

20

Continue on State Highway 71 West

21

Continue straight

22

Merge slight right onto West US Highway 290

23

Take the exit straight toward US 290 East, TX 71 East

24

Merge slight left onto West US Highway 290

25

Continue straight

26

Take the exit slight right toward Loop 1 North

27

Merge slight left onto South Mopac Expressway

28

Take the exit slight right toward 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Street

29

Keep slight left to continue on West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard

30

Keep slight right to continue on 5th Street

31

Turn straight onto West 5th Street

32

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 168.5 miles from Odessa, TX.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 168.5 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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 Odessa, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Odessa, TX

This is one driving day of about 337 miles and 5h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Odessa, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Leander, TX

169 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.

Popular next leg

Leander, TX to Austin, TX

26.7 mi · 30m

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 168.5 mi from Odessa, TX

Live Oak, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Leander, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 168.5 miles from Odessa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.78	$50.14	$100.28
midgrade	$4.25	$56.41	$112.83
premium	$4.59	$60.91	$121.82
diesel	$3.99	$52.98	$105.96

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 117.9 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Odessa, TX to Austin, TX covers 337 miles and takes about 5h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Grant Avenue, Interstate 20, I 20 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 168.5 miles from Odessa, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.14 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.