Origin
Southlake, TX
Evening in Southlake on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southlake, TX to Austin, TX
Drive Time
3h 49m
Distance
208.9 mi
336 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 37m
★
6 AM
3h 50m
8 AM
4h 15m
10 AM
3h 58m
12 PM
3h 56m
3 PM
4h 0m
5 PM
4h 14m
8 PM
3h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southlake, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Southlake to Austin covers 214.2 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience consistent landscape transitions throughout the drive. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $32 on fuel for the trip, making it a relatively affordable excursion. While the distance is manageable, the navigation requires your full attention due to the local road focus. This is a practical choice for travelers who prefer a direct, purposeful drive between these two Texas hubs.
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
104.5 miles from Southlake, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate via West Southlake Boulevard, Davis Boulevard, and Precinct Line Road, which keeps you off the major high-speed corridors. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on West Southlake Boulevard, you should be prepared for frequent turns and constant adjustments. The road's personality is defined by its local character, demanding a more engaged driving style compared to a typical highway trek. This route offers a consistent pace that remains focused on local infrastructure throughout the entire 214.2-mile distance.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North South Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 85 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North 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 10 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 208.9 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 10 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles (TX 121 / Airport Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
10 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the ramp toward TX 121 South, TX 183 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward TX 121 South, TX 183 West
9
12.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
TX 121 / Airport Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121 / Airport Freeway toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25A
Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth
8
19.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South:...
8
205.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 44m 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 mi into trip
|
~3h 47m 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 Southlake, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth and Ft Worth.
Fort Worth
12.5 mi in
|
~21m
|
via TX 121
Ft Worth
12.8 mi in
|
~21m
|
via TX 121
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North South Freeway | 85 mi | 1h 28m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 40.3 mi | 42m |
| Airport Freeway | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Precinct Line Road | 4.9 mi | 9m |
| West Southlake Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Davis Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
North South Freeway
— 85 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southlake, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on FM 1709
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Southlake Boulevard
2
Continue on FM 1709
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Southlake Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto FM 1938
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Davis Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto FM 3029
4.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Precinct Line Road
5
Turn right onto Airport Freeway
431 ft
·
8 sec
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward TX 121 South, TX 183 West
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto TX 121; TX 183
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Airport Freeway
Exit 25A
Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on TX 121
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Airport Freeway
Exit 24B
Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Ft Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: Waco
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 35W; US 287; US 377
85 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
20
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, plan to depart early in the day to navigate the busier intersections with better visibility and less stress. You should budget for at least one planned stop during the 3-hour and 16-minute duration to keep your focus sharp through the winding local roads. Keep a close watch on your GPS, as the lack of highway segments means you will be making more frequent directional changes than on a standard interstate route. With $32 allocated for fuel, filling up before you leave Southlake helps avoid unnecessary detours for gas. Take advantage of the trip's flexibility by pacing your stop to coincide with your personal energy levels, ensuring you remain alert for the more technical segments of the drive.
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 104.5 miles from Southlake, TX, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.5 miles or 1h 58m 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 8m
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 Southlake, 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 Southlake, TX
This is one driving day of about 208.9 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Southlake, 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 North South Freeway for about 85 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.5 mi from Southlake, TX · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.5 miles from Southlake, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North South Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85 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
$31.91 one way
$63.82 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $34.97 | $69.94 |
| premium | $4.59 | $37.76 | $75.52 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.41 | $92.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.93 | $10.03 |
| Efficient EV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.28 | $8.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.6 | 1 | $29.25 | $13.37 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Destination
Austin, TX
Evening in Austin on Sunday
Local time
5:05 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 49m 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 Southlake, TX to Austin, TX covers 208.9 miles and takes about 3h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North South Freeway, I 35, Purple Heart Trail. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.5 miles from Southlake, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.91 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 208.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 10 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles (TX 121 / Airport Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Southlake, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth and Ft Worth.
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