Origin
Waller, TX
Afternoon in Waller on Sunday
Local time
3:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waller, TX to Austin, TX
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
120.6 mi
194 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waller, TX
Thomas balabaud
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waller, TX to Austin, TX covers 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 290 West, Manor Expressway, I 35 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.42 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from Waller, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 5m drive with frequent turns across 120.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 290 West is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Waller, TX to Austin, TX is easy. At 2h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waller, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 290 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Manor Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 8th–3rd Streets | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Interstate 35 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 6th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Congress Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
US 290 West
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waller, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Hempstead Highway
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Hempstead Highway
2
Turn right
0.9 mi
·
1 min
3
Take the ramp left toward US 290 West, TX 6 North
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 290 West, TX 6 North
4
Merge slight left
31 mi
·
35 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward US 290 West: Austin
53 mi
·
59 min
·
US 290 West: Austin
6
Continue straight
21 mi
·
25 min
7
Continue on Manor Expressway
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Manor Expressway
8
Continue straight
1.6 mi
·
1 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, US 290 West
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35 South, US 290 West
10
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
11
Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
12
Take the exit slight right toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
13
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
14
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
15
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
358 ft
·
18 sec
·
Congress Avenue
16
Turn left onto East 5th Street
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
East 5th Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 60.3 miles from Waller, TX, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 2m 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 42m
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 Waller, 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 Waller, TX
This is one driving day of about 120.6 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waller, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.3 mi from Waller, TX · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 60.3 miles from Waller, 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
$18.42 one way
$36.84 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $20.19 | $40.38 |
| premium | $4.59 | $21.80 | $43.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.79 | $53.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.66 | $5.79 |
| Efficient EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.55 | $4.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.88 | $7.72 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Afternoon in Austin on Sunday
Local time
3:19 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 5m 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 Waller, TX to Austin, TX covers 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 290 West, Manor Expressway, I 35 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.3 miles from Waller, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.42 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.
The drive from Waller, TX to Austin, TX is easy. At 2h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waller, TX to Austin, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waller, TX to Austin, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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