Trip from Texas City, TX to Austin, TX

Drive Time

3h 19m

Distance

213.2 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Texas City, TX to Austin, TX covers 213.2 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 6th Street, 9th Avenue North, Palmer Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.72 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

106.6 miles from Texas City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 19m drive with frequent turns across 213.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

6th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
6th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
9th Avenue North	Unavailable	Refreshing
Palmer Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Emmett F Lowry Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Gulf Freeway	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 10 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
Katy Freeway	Unavailable	Refreshing
TX 71 West	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: 6th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on the route

2

Turn left onto 6th Street

3

Turn left onto 9th Avenue North

4

Continue on Palmer Highway

5

Continue on Emmett F Lowry Expressway

6

Merge slight left onto Gulf Freeway

7

Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West: San Antonio

8

Merge slight left onto Katy Freeway

9

Take the exit slight right toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

10

Keep slight left

11

Continue on Bastrop Freeway

12

Continue on East State Highway 71

13

Take the exit slight right toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas

14

Merge slight left onto Bastrop Highway

15

Continue on Bergstrom Expressway

16

Take the exit slight right toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport Boulevard

17

Keep slight left to continue on East 7th Street

18

Turn left onto Brushy Street

19

Turn right onto East 6th Street

20

Turn left onto Congress Avenue

21

Turn left onto East 5th Street

22

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 106.6 miles from Texas City, TX, or about 1h 39m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

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 14m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 106.6 miles or 1h 39m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 43m

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 Texas City, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Texas City, TX

This is one driving day of about 213.2 miles and 3h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Texas City, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

College Station, TX

107 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 106.6 mi from Texas City, TX

Houston, TX

Fuel and coffee

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

College Station, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.6 miles from Texas City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.78	$31.72	$63.44
midgrade	$4.25	$35.69	$71.38
premium	$4.59	$38.54	$77.07
diesel	$3.99	$33.52	$67.03

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 74.6 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Texas City, TX to Austin, TX covers 213.2 miles and takes about 3h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 6th Street, 9th Avenue North, Palmer Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 106.6 miles from Texas City, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.72 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.