Trip from Texarkana, TX to Austin, TX

Drive Time

6h 32m

Distance

373 mi

600 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$57

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Texarkana, TX

Thomas balabaud

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 375.1 miles across the heart of Texas, this journey from Texarkana to Austin takes approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes of active driving time. Since you will be navigating local routes like Main Street, West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, and Summerhill Road rather than major interstates, you should plan for a full day of travel. Budgeting roughly $56 for fuel is a smart move for this trek, which remains entirely within the Great Plains region. While it is technically possible to complete this drive in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the roads means you should be prepared for a focused day behind the wheel. It serves as a practical, direct connection between these two Texas cities for travelers who prefer local roads over high-speed highway 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

186.5 miles from Texarkana, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route consists entirely of local roads with zero highway share. The personality of this trip is defined by a turn-heavy profile, requiring your full attention as you navigate through various street-level transitions. Because you are avoiding major highways, you will encounter a steady, methodical pace rather than the monotonous rhythm of an interstate grind. You will need to stay alert for frequent directional changes while moving through the landscape. This is a drive that rewards drivers who enjoy the intricacies of local navigation and want to avoid the typical traffic patterns found on larger thoroughfares.

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

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 173.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 178.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 373 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 178.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

178.3 mi into trip | ~3h 7m in

Take the exit toward I 35E: Denton, Waco

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 46A Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco

178.9 mi into trip | ~3h 8m in

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

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

Use the none lane. Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

179 mi into trip | ~3h 8m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

369.6 mi into trip | ~6h 27m 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

372 mi into trip | ~6h 30m 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 Texarkana, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton and Dallas Zoo.

Waco

178.3 mi in | ~3h 7m

Denton

178.9 mi in | ~3h 8m

Dallas Zoo

179.9 mi in | ~3h 10m | via I 35E

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 30	173.3 mi	2h 58m
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
Purple Heart Trail	40.3 mi	42m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
New Boston Road	2.1 mi	3m
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard	0.8 mi	1m
Summerhill Road	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 30 — 173.3 mi, about 2h 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 67; US 82

298 ft · 10 sec · West 7th Street

Turn left onto Main Street

384 ft · 15 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto US 67; US 82

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto TX 93

0.8 mi · 1 min · Summerhill Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto US 82

2.1 mi · 3 min · New Boston Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Sowell Lane

474 ft · 9 sec · Sowell Lane

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Merge onto I 369; US 59

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Jarvis Parkway

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 46 sec

Toward I 30 West: Dallas

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Merge onto I 30

173 mi · 2 hr 58 min · I 30

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 46A Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the none / 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 none lane.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the none / 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

To make the most of this 375.1-mile journey, aim for an early morning departure to account for the technical, turn-heavy nature of the roads. With only one planned stop necessary, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself, but try to time your break to coincide with the middle of your drive to maintain focus. Since you are navigating local streets like Summerhill Road and West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, stay diligent with your GPS navigation to avoid missing turns in unfamiliar areas. Keep your $56 fuel budget handy and consider refueling midway to ensure you don't run low during more isolated sections. Given the duration of over five and a half hours, staying hydrated and taking brief, purposeful breaks will keep you sharp until you reach Austin.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 186.5 miles from Texarkana, TX, or about 3h 17m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 173.3 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 82 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 186.5 miles or 3h 17m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 27m

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 Texarkana, 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 Texarkana, TX

This is one driving day of about 373 miles and 6h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Texarkana, 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 I 30 for about 173.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 186.5 mi from Texarkana, TX · 3h 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dallas, TX

187 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

Dallas, TX to Austin, TX

195.3 mi · 3h 26m

Pacing Suggestions

Wylie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dallas, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 186.5 miles from Texarkana, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 173.3 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.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$56.98 one way

$113.96 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 131 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$62.44	$124.88
premium	$4.59	$67.42	$134.84
diesel	$5.64	$82.87	$165.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$57

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$82–$107

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 130.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	111.9	1	$39.16	$17.90
Efficient EV	93.3	1	$32.64	$14.92
EV Truck/SUV	149.2	1	$52.22	$23.87

Gas CO2

131 kg

EV CO2

44 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Texarkana, TX

Afternoon in Texarkana on Sunday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Afternoon in Austin on Sunday

Local time

2:16 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

6h 32m on the road

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Texarkana, TX to Austin, TX covers 373 miles and takes about 6h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 30, South R L Thornton Freeway, I 35. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 186.5 miles from Texarkana, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.98 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 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 Texarkana, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton and Dallas Zoo.

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Trip from Texarkana, TX to Austin, TX

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

Texarkana, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

Very similar conditions

6h 32m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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