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Trip from Pelican Bay, 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

3h 38m

Distance

216.9 mi

349 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 26m ★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Pelican Bay, TX, TX

Pelican Bay, TX

Tori Pezzulla❤️

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Pelican Bay, TX to Austin, TX covers 216.9 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Long Circle, Long Boulevard, Sandy Beach Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.77 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

108.5 miles from Pelican Bay, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .

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 3h 38m. Total distance: 216.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 38m drive with frequent turns across 216.9 miles of local and secondary 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.
Long Circle 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.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 38m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pelican Bay, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Long Circle
Long Boulevard
Sandy Beach Road
Northwest Parkway
TX 199 East
Jacksboro Highway
Lake Worth Boulevard
North Henderson Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Long Circle — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pelican Bay, TX and Austin, TX.

1

Start on Sheila Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Sheila Drive
2

At the end of the road, turn right onto Long Circle

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Long Circle
3

Turn right onto Long Boulevard

384 ft · 22 sec · Long Boulevard
4

Turn left onto Sandy Beach Road

1.4 mi · 5 min · Sandy Beach Road
5

Turn left

2.1 mi · 4 min
6

Turn left onto Northwest Parkway

443 ft · 9 sec · Northwest Parkway
7

Take the ramp slight left toward TX 199 East

0.2 mi · 24 sec · TX 199 East
8

Merge slight left onto Jacksboro Highway

8.7 mi · 9 min · Jacksboro Highway
9

Continue on Lake Worth Boulevard

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lake Worth Boulevard
10

Continue on Lake Worth Boulevard

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lake Worth Boulevard
11

Continue on Lake Worth Boulevard

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Lake Worth Boulevard
12

Continue on Jacksboro Highway

4.5 mi · 7 min · Jacksboro Highway
13

Continue on North Henderson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Henderson Street
14

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wind Roundabout

112 ft · 2 sec · Wind Roundabout
15

Exit the rotary onto North Henderson Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · North Henderson Street
16

Turn left onto West Lancaster Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Lancaster Avenue
17

Keep slight right to continue on East Lancaster Avenue

0.3 mi · 27 sec · East Lancaster Avenue
18

Turn right onto South Freeway

92 ft · 2 sec · South Freeway
19

Take the ramp straight toward I 35W South

0.1 mi · 16 sec · I 35W South
20

Merge slight left onto South Freeway

84 mi · 1 hr 26 min · 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

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 108.5 miles from Pelican Bay, TX, or about 1h 49m 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 48 miles or 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.5 miles or 1h 49m 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 59m

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 Pelican Bay, 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 Pelican Bay, TX

This is one driving day of about 216.9 miles and 3h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Pelican Bay, 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 108.5 mi from Pelican Bay, TX · 1h 49m into the drive

city in McLennan County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West, TX

108 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

Fort Worth, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.5 miles from Pelican Bay, 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

$32.77 one way

$65.55 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $35.87 $71.75
premium $4.54 $38.73 $77.45
diesel $5.61 $47.89 $95.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.1 0 $22.77 $10.41
Efficient EV 54.2 0 $18.98 $8.68
EV Truck/SUV 86.8 1 $30.37 $13.88

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Pelican Bay, TX

Late night in Pelican Bay on Saturday

Local time

4:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Saturday

Local time

4:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°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

18 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 38m 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 Pelican Bay, TX to Austin, TX covers 216.9 miles and takes about 3h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Long Circle, Long Boulevard, Sandy Beach Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 108.5 miles from Pelican Bay, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.77 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 is a straightforward 3h 38m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pelican Bay, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Pelican Bay, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Pelican Bay, TX or browse trips ending in Austin, TX.

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