Trip from Pinehurst, TX to Austin, TX

Drive Time

2h 29m

Distance

138.2 mi

222 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 19m ★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 23m

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

Downtown Pinehurst, TX, TX

Pinehurst, TX

Thomas balabaud

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Pinehurst, TX to Austin, TX covers 138.2 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Farm-to-Market Road 1488, FM 1488, US 290 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.11 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

69.1 miles from Pinehurst, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 29m drive with frequent turns across 138.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Farm-to-Market Road 1488 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Pinehurst, TX to Austin, TX is easy. At 2h 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Farm-to-Market Road 1488 Unavailable Refreshing
FM 1488 Unavailable Refreshing
US 290 West Unavailable Refreshing
Manor Expressway Unavailable Refreshing
I 35 South Unavailable Refreshing
Purple Heart Trail Unavailable Refreshing
8th–3rd Streets Unavailable Refreshing
Interstate 35 Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Farm-to-Market Road 1488 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Farm to Market Road 1774

5.1 mi · 7 min · Farm to Market Road 1774
2

Turn left onto Farm-to-Market Road 1488

17 mi · 25 min · Farm-to-Market Road 1488
3

Turn right onto FM 1488

4.0 mi · 5 min · FM 1488
4

Turn slight right

161 ft · 6 sec
5

Take the ramp slight right

0.3 mi · 40 sec
6

Merge slight left

24 mi · 26 min
7

Take the exit slight right toward US 290 West: Austin

53 mi · 59 min · US 290 West: Austin
8

Continue straight

21 mi · 25 min
9

Continue on Manor Expressway

6.1 mi · 6 min · Manor Expressway
10

Continue straight

1.6 mi · 1 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, US 290 West

1.1 mi · 2 min · I 35 South, US 290 West
12

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

1.0 mi · 1 min · Purple Heart Trail
13

Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail

2.4 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Trail
14

Take the exit slight right toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University

0.2 mi · 27 sec · 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
15

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 27 sec · North Interstate 35
16

Turn right onto East 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street
17

Turn left onto Congress Avenue

358 ft · 18 sec · Congress Avenue
18

Turn left onto East 5th Street

26 ft · 1 sec · East 5th Street
19

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 69.1 miles from Pinehurst, TX, or about 1h 14m 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 80 miles or 1h 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 69.1 miles or 1h 14m 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 2m

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 Pinehurst, 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 Pinehurst, TX

This is one driving day of about 138.2 miles and 2h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pinehurst, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 69.1 mi from Pinehurst, TX · 1h 14m into the drive

Downtown houston-tx

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Houston, TX

69 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

Houston, TX to Austin, TX

162 mi · 2h 59m

Pacing Suggestions

Killeen, TX

Fuel and coffee

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

Houston, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 69.1 miles from Pinehurst, 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

$21.11 one way

$42.22 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $23.13 $46.27
premium $4.59 $24.98 $49.96
diesel $5.64 $30.70 $61.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 48.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 41.5 0 $14.51 $6.63
Efficient EV 34.6 0 $12.09 $5.53
EV Truck/SUV 55.3 0 $19.35 $8.84

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Pinehurst, TX

Afternoon in Pinehurst on Sunday

Local time

3:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Afternoon in Austin on Sunday

Local time

3:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°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

23 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

2h 29m 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 Pinehurst, TX to Austin, TX covers 138.2 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Farm-to-Market Road 1488, FM 1488, US 290 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.1 miles from Pinehurst, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.11 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Pinehurst, TX to Austin, TX is easy. At 2h 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pinehurst, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Pinehurst, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Austin, TX to Pinehurst, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

137.9 mi 2h 49m

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

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