Trip from Sunray, TX to Austin, TX

Drive Time

10h 1m

Distance

558.7 mi

899 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$85

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 53m ★

6 AM

10h 2m

8 AM

10h 20m

10 AM

10h 8m

12 PM

10h 6m

3 PM

10h 9m

5 PM

10h 19m

8 PM

9h 57m

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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Sunray, TX

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Austin, TX

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Trip Overview

The drive from Sunray, TX to Austin, TX covers 558.7 miles and takes about 10h 1m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, US Highway 84, State Highway 153 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 103.7 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $85.34 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

279.4 miles from Sunray, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 52m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 558.7 miles and 10h 1m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US Highway 84.

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

There are about 54 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Marshall Formby Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 103.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US Highway 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 63.8 miles in near US 287.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 558.7 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 63.8 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 192 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 302.3 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 30 key points

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

63.8 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | US 287

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 toward US 287 South: Taylor Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 287 South: Taylor Street

192 mi into trip | ~3h 21m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive

302.3 mi into trip | ~5h 15m in | US 84

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

549.5 mi into trip | ~9h 48m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South

557 mi into trip | ~9h 58m in

Keep slight left at fork toward West 5th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward West 5th Street

Towns Along This Route

Between Sunray, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Loop 289, Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater and San Angelo.

Loop 289

183.3 mi in | ~3h 10m

Sh 70 South

308.7 mi in | ~5h 21m

Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater

308.7 mi in | ~5h 21m

San Angelo

308.7 mi in | ~5h 21m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway	103.7 mi	1h 43m
US Highway 84	73.9 mi	1h 14m
State Highway 153	69 mi	1h 14m
US 287	51.8 mi	56m
US 183	44.5 mi	49m
South US Highway 183	35.3 mi	38m
US Highway 84 East	29.2 mi	33m
East Highway 84	26.9 mi	26m

Longest stretch: Marshall Formby Memorial Highway — 103.7 mi, about 1h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on FM 119; FM 281

37 ft · 0 sec · Main Street

Continue on FM 119; FM 281

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Highway Avenue

Continue on FM 119

13 mi · 13 min · FM 119

Turn left onto US 287

50 mi · 51 min · US 287

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287

1.9 mi · 4 min · US 287

Toward US 287 South: Taylor Street Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn slight left onto US 287

14 mi · 15 min · Canyon Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 27

104 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Exit 536B Toward Loop 289

Turn straight onto North Interstate 27

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Interstate 27

Turn left onto North Loop 289

0.2 mi · 24 sec · North Loop 289

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Merge onto Loop 289

7.5 mi · 8 min · Loop 289

Take the exit

421 ft · 10 sec

Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive

Keep slight right at fork

233 ft · 5 sec

Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive

Turn straight onto Southeast Loop 289

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Southeast Loop 289

Turn right onto Spur 331

1.9 mi · 2 min · Southeast Drive

Merge onto US 84

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Slaton Road

Continue on US 84

6.9 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 20 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East 15th Street

Turn right onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Ralls Road

Turn straight onto TX 207

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Avenue F

At end of road, turn left onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US Highway 84

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

6.5 mi · 6 min · US 84

Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Exit 244 Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo

Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Southwest Georgia Avenue

Turn right onto TX 70

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street

Continue on TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70

Turn left onto TX 153

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153

Continue on TX 153

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street

Continue on TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283

9.4 mi · 10 min · US 84; US 283

Continue on US 67; US 84

21 mi · 24 min · US 67; US 84

Turn right onto US 84; US 183

1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive

Continue on US 84; US 183

29 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East

Turn right onto US 183; TX 16

22 mi · 25 min · US 183; TX 16

Continue on US 183; US 190

15 mi · 15 min · US 183; US 190

Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281

260 ft · 4 sec · North US Highway 281

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

2.3 mi · 4 min · North Key Avenue

Continue on US 183

35 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · this road

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll

14 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

7.5 mi · 8 min · US 183

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward Loop 1: Mopac Boulevard Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Toward Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto Loop 1

2.4 mi · 2 min · North Mopac Expressway

Take the exit

423 ft · 10 sec

Toward Express 1 Toll Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto Express 1 Toll

3.9 mi · 4 min · Express 1 Toll

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward West 5th Street Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Turn straight onto West 5th Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · West 5th Street

Use the straight lane.

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 279.4 miles from Sunray, TX, or about 4h 52m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 123 miles or 2h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 279.4 miles or 4h 52m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 279.4 miles or 4h 52m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 54m

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 Sunray, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Sunray, TX

Aim for roughly 279 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Austin, TX

Aim for roughly 279 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 123 miles from Sunray, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 103.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 279.4 mi from Sunray, TX · 4h 52m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Lubbock, TX

184 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Lubbock, TX to Killeen, TX

333.4 mi · 6h 4m

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Killeen, TX

369 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Killeen, TX

Popular next leg

Killeen, TX to Austin, TX

67.3 mi · 1h 17m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Rotan, TX

279 mi · about 5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Rotan, TX after about 279 miles or 5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Anton, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 123 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rotan, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 280.1 miles from Sunray, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 280 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Austin, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free near mile 38.6

View on nps.gov

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

National Monument

13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.

16 mi from route ~39 min detour Free near mile 38.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$85.34 one way

$170.69 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 196 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$93.53	$187.05
premium	$4.59	$100.98	$201.97
diesel	$5.64	$124.12	$248.25

Estimated Tolls: $1.00

183A Toll Road (14.3 mi) $1.00

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

$85

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$216–$326

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 195.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $59 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	167.6	2	$58.66	$26.82
Efficient EV	139.7	1	$48.89	$22.35
EV Truck/SUV	223.5	2	$78.22	$35.76

Gas CO2

195 kg

EV CO2

65 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 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 3 days ago

Origin

Sunray, TX

Morning in Sunray on Monday

Local time

10:24 AM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Morning in Austin on Monday

Local time

10:24 AM

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

20 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

10h 1m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Sunray, TX to Austin, TX covers 558.7 miles and takes about 10h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, US Highway 84, State Highway 153. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 279 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 279.4 miles from Sunray, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $85.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Sunray, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Loop 289, Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater and San Angelo.

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Return Trip

Austin, TX to Sunray, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

559.8 mi 10h 2m

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Trip from Sunray, 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

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Austin, TX

National Parks Near This Route

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Sunray, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

20 degrees warmer at arrival

10h 1m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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