Origin
Temple, TX
Evening in Temple on Sunday
Local time
5:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Temple, TX to Austin, TX
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
67.7 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Temple, TX
Mark Direen
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Temple and Austin covers 68.2 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the journey. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you do not need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting roughly $10 for fuel should cover your needs for this trek. Because the drive is straightforward and relatively short, it offers a practical way to move between these two Central Texas hubs without the exhaustion of a major cross-country expedition.
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
33.9 miles from Temple, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will navigate via West Adams Avenue, Airport Road, and North General Bruce Drive to complete the journey. With a 0% highway share, this route keeps you off the major high-speed interstates and focused on local road conditions. Because there is no single long-distance stretch—the longest segment being 0 miles on West Adams Avenue—you should prepare for a drive that requires your full attention at intersections and turns. The personality of this trip is defined by its local character, keeping you engaged behind the wheel for the duration of the 68.2-mile trek.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in near I 35.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 67.7 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 8.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.4 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
8.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
64.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
66.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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...
6
67.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
East 6th Street
Turn right onto East 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| West Adams Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Airport Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North General Bruce Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Congress Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 55.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Temple, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Spur 290
11 ft
·
4 sec
·
North 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto TX 53
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Adams Avenue
3
Continue on TX 53
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Airport Road
4
Turn left onto North General Bruce Drive
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North General Bruce Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 South
6
Merge onto I 35
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
13
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You can easily complete the entire 1 hour and 11 minute drive in one go, so there is no need to worry about pacing your travel with rest breaks. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local route, you should double-check your GPS directions before leaving Temple to ensure you stay on track through the various local road transitions. Having your $10 fuel budget ready before you depart ensures a smooth, uninterrupted run down to Austin. Enjoy the ease of a quick transit that avoids the typical stressors of long-haul highway driving.
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 33.9 miles from Temple, TX, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 67.7 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 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 Temple, 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 Temple, TX
This is one driving day of about 67.7 miles and 1h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Temple, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Temple, TX · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 67.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Temple, 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
$10.34 one way
$20.68 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $11.33 | $22.67 |
| premium | $4.59 | $12.24 | $24.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.04 | $30.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.48 | $4.33 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
5:13 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
4 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
1h 14m 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 Temple, TX to Austin, TX covers 67.7 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Purple Heart Trail, West Adams Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 miles from Temple, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.34 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 67.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.4 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Temple, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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