Trip from Sherman, TX to Austin, TX

Drive Time

4h 35m

Distance

258.6 mi

416 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 22m ★

6 AM

4h 36m

8 AM

5h 3m

10 AM

4h 45m

12 PM

4h 42m

3 PM

4h 46m

5 PM

5h 1m

8 PM

4h 28m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Sherman, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Sherman to Austin covers 263.4 miles, a journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 4 minutes of driving time. Because this route is best completed in a single day, you won't need to worry about overnight lodging unless you prefer a slower pace. You should budget approximately $39 for fuel to complete the trip. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region, the landscape remains consistent throughout your transit. Navigating via South Walnut Street, East Houston Street, and the South Sam Rayburn Freeway provides a direct, albeit turn-heavy, experience. It is a straightforward trip for those comfortable with local road navigation rather than high-speed interstate travel.

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

129.3 miles from Sherman, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway share. You will navigate through various local segments, meaning your attention must remain sharp as you transition between roads like South Walnut Street and East Houston Street. Because there is no extended highway stretch, the longest uninterrupted segment on South Walnut Street is 0 miles, requiring frequent adjustments behind the wheel. The journey demands a more active driving style than a standard freeway trek. Prepare for a road environment that emphasizes local connectivity over high-speed transit.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 89.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Walnut Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 258.6 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 0.1 miles (South Walnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Walnut Street

Turn left onto South Walnut Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

62.5 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

64.6 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

255.2 mi into trip | ~4h 30m 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

257.6 mi into trip | ~4h 33m 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...

Towns Along This Route

Between Sherman, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco and Dallas Zoo.

Downtown

62.5 mi in | ~1h 7m

Denton

64.5 mi in | ~1h 11m

Waco

64.6 mi in | ~1h 11m

Dallas Zoo

65.5 mi in | ~1h 13m | via I 35E

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
North Central Expressway	45.7 mi	49m
Purple Heart Trail	40.3 mi	42m
North Collins Freeway	10.1 mi	10m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
South Sam Rayburn Freeway	6.6 mi	7m
East Houston Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on TX 56

327 ft · 16 sec · East Lamar Street

Turn left onto South Walnut Street

367 ft · 17 sec · South Walnut Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn left onto TX 56

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Houston Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn left onto South Sam Rayburn Freeway

0.2 mi · 32 sec · South Sam Rayburn Freeway

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Merge onto US 75

6.4 mi · 6 min · South Sam Rayburn Freeway

Continue on US 75

10 mi · 10 min · North Collins Freeway

Continue on US 75

45 mi · 48 min · North Central Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

501 ft · 12 sec

Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway Use the slight left lane.

Continue on North Central Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Central Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Elm Street

304 ft · 10 sec · Elm Street

Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Pearl Expressway

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Young Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Young Street

Turn left onto South Harwood Street

315 ft · 8 sec · South Harwood Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Canton Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Canton Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 30 West

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Exit 234B Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 27 sec · North Interstate 35

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto East 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto Congress Avenue

357 ft · 17 sec · Congress Avenue

Turn left onto East 5th Street

28 ft · 0 sec · East 5th Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a 4-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic conditions, especially when navigating through local streets. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive, which will help you stay alert given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Keep your fuel budget of $39 in mind and consider topping off your tank before leaving Sherman to ensure a smooth transition between the various local roads. Because the route lacks long highway stretches, you have the advantage of flexibility to adjust your pace as needed. Focus on staying well-hydrated and taking breaks whenever the frequency of turns becomes taxing.

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 129.3 miles from Sherman, TX, or about 2h 18m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 129.3 miles or 2h 18m 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 44m

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 Sherman, 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 Sherman, TX

This is one driving day of about 258.6 miles and 4h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sherman, 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 R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.3 mi from Sherman, TX · 2h 18m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Grand Prairie, TX

129 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

Dallas, TX

Fuel and coffee

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

Arlington, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.3 miles from Sherman, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.

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

$39.50 one way

$79.01 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$43.29	$86.58
premium	$4.59	$46.74	$93.48
diesel	$5.64	$57.45	$114.90

Estimated Tolls: $3.65

Central Expressway (45.7 mi) $3.65

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

$40

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	77.6	0	$27.15	$12.41
Efficient EV	64.7	0	$22.63	$10.34
EV Truck/SUV	103.4	1	$36.20	$16.55

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Sherman, TX

Afternoon in Sherman on Sunday

Local time

4:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Afternoon in Austin on Sunday

Local time

4:00 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

3 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 35m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Sherman, TX to Austin, TX covers 258.6 miles and takes about 4h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South R L Thornton Freeway, I 35, North Central Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 129.3 miles from Sherman, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.50 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.

Between Sherman, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco and Dallas Zoo.

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Trip from Sherman, TX to Austin, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Austin, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Sherman, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 35m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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