Pelican Bay, TX to Austin, TX is 209.9 miles and takes about 3h 55m via South Freeway and I 35, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you across the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a straightforward trip. You'll primarily be on major interstates, so expect a consistent pace. Given the relatively short duration, this is easily a same-day journey, allowing for a flexible departure time. This route is a practical choice for getting between these two Texas locations efficiently.
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
104.9 miles from Pelican Bay, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Freeway
83.9 mi
1h 27m
I 35
55.8 mi
58m
Purple Heart Trail
40.3 mi
42m
Jacksboro Highway
13.2 mi
16m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
7m
FM 730
2.1 mi
4m
Lake Worth Boulevard
2 mi
3m
North Henderson Street
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
South Freeway
— 83.9 mi, about 1h 27m
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 end of road, turn right onto Long Circle
0.1 mi·31 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 onto FM 730
2.1 mi·4 min·FM 730
6
Turn left onto Northwest Parkway
442 ft·8 sec·Northwest Parkway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward TX 199 East
8
Merge onto TX 199
8.7 mi·9 min·Jacksboro Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on TX 199
0.7 mi·1 min·Lake Worth Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Continue on TX 199
0.8 mi·1 min·Lake Worth Boulevard
11
Continue on TX 199
0.5 mi·52 sec·Lake Worth Boulevard
12
Continue on TX 199
4.5 mi·7 min·Jacksboro Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on TX 199
0.5 mi·1 min·North Henderson Street
14
Enter roundabout onto TX 199
113 ft·1 sec·North Henderson Street
15
Continue on TX 199
1.1 mi·1 min·North Henderson Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto West Lancaster Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·West Lancaster Avenue
17
Keep slight right at fork onto East Lancaster Avenue
0.3 mi·26 sec·East Lancaster Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto South Freeway
91 ft·1 sec·South Freeway
Use the right lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 35W South
20
Merge onto I 35W; US 287 Bus
84 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
2.4 mi·3 min·Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton StreetUse the slight left lane.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 234BToward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson UniversityUse the slight right lane.
26
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft·17 sec·Congress Avenue
29
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft·0 sec·East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
30
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under 4 hours and easily completed in a single day, you have flexibility with your departure. Leaving Pelican Bay in the morning will allow you to arrive in Austin with plenty of daylight. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major town can be a significant 83.9 miles. While there's only one recommended stop in the data, planning for a quick break around the halfway point of your 209.9-mile journey can help you stay refreshed. Consider this a straightforward drive where planning for fuel and a brief rest is the main practical consideration.
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 104.9 miles from Pelican Bay, TX, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.9 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 46 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 2h 3m 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 14m
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 209.9 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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.
The longest stretch is on South Freeway for about 83.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 21.9 and 209.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
21.9 mi into trip|~37m in|East Lancaster Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto East Lancaster Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
22.1 mi into trip|~37m in|South Freeway
Turn right onto South Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
206.5 mi into trip|~3h 50m 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
208.9 mi into trip|~3h 53m 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
209.8 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.72 one way
$63.43 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$34.72
$69.43
premium
$4.54
$37.48
$74.95
diesel
$5.61
$46.34
$92.69
Estimated Tolls: $0.01
Northwest Parkway
(0.1 mi)$0.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63
0
$22.04
$10.08
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.37
$8.40
EV Truck/SUV
84
1
$29.39
$13.43
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Pelican Bay, TX
Afternoon
in Pelican Bay on Saturday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Afternoon
in Austin on Saturday
Local time
3:16 PM
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 55m 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.
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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 112.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 71% of this route on highways, you're in for a predominantly high-speed experience. Expect the longest uninterrupted stretch to be about 83.9 miles on the South Freeway. This drive offers a highway-focused profile, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major arteries like I 35. While not overly complex, the continuous interstate travel demands your attention, especially during peak traffic. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, emphasizing forward momentum from start to finish.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.9 mi on South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.9 miles in near East Lancaster Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 209.9 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 21.9 miles (East Lancaster Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles (South Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 206.5 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 209.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.9 miles on South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.01 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 21.9 miles (East Lancaster Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles (South Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 206.5 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
