Austin to Alice is 198.9 miles and takes about 3 hours 37 minutes via I 37 and Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey across Texas. Expect a mixed driving experience, with a significant portion on the interstate. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is ideal for those looking for an efficient trip without extensive detours. The relatively short duration and manageable distance make it a practical option for a quick transit.
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
99.4 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 37
60.5 mi
1h 1m
Purple Heart Trail
58.3 mi
1h 3m
South Nueces Street
36.1 mi
36m
US 281 South
15.2 mi
19m
Connally Loop
11 mi
12m
North Pan Am Expressway
10 mi
11m
US 281 Business
3.1 mi
4m
Interstate Highway 35
1.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 37
— 60.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Alice, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi·39 sec·North Interstate 35
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 35 South
4
Merge onto I 35; US 290
46 mi·50 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
11 mi·12 min·Connally Loop
Toward I 410 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 41Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus ChristiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus ChristiUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 37
60 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi·19 min·US 281 South
Toward US 281 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
36 mi·36 min·South Nueces Street
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
15
Continue on US 281 Business
3.1 mi·4 min·US 281 Business
16
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
17
Turn right onto North Cameron Street
357 ft·15 sec·North Cameron Street
18
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
94 ft·4 sec·East 2nd Street
19
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 37 minute drive time, leaving Austin in the morning allows ample time to reach Alice well before evening. The single recommended stop suggests you can either make one planned break or enjoy the flexibility of a shorter drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 60.5-mile stretch on I 37, as services can be spaced out. The $30 fuel cost estimate is a good baseline, but always factor in current prices. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of being able to adjust your departure time based on traffic or personal preference.
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 99.4 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.5 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 44 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.4 miles or 1h 49m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alice, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Austin, 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 Austin, TX
This is one driving day of about 198.9 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Austin, 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 37 for about 60.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 143.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|North Interstate 35
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 410 / Connally Loop
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410 / Connally Loop toward I 410 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 410 South
8
82 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
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 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
7
82.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
6
143.2 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|US 281 South
Take the exit onto US 281 South toward US 281 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 281 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.05 one way
$60.11 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$32.90
$65.79
premium
$4.54
$35.51
$71.02
diesel
$5.61
$43.91
$87.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.7
0
$20.88
$9.55
Efficient EV
49.7
0
$17.40
$7.96
EV Truck/SUV
79.6
0
$27.85
$12.73
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Austin, TX
Late night
in Austin on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Dust Advisory
Dust Advisory issued April 18 at 12:07AM CDT until April 18 at 2:00AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 18 at 12:00AM CDT until April 18 at 12:45AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Alice, TX
Late night
in Alice on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°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
23 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
3h 37m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a mixed drive, with 46% of the journey on highways, balanced by other road types. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 60.5 miles on I 37, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. The drive transitions between the faster interstate and other roads, providing some variety. While much of the route is functional, the Purple Heart Trail and South Nueces Street sections offer a different feel as you approach your destination. This blend means you won't be on a monotonous interstate grind the entire time.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.5 mi on I 37.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near North Interstate 35.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 198.9 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 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Austin, TX to Alice, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
Austin is a city of about 1,054,000 (2026) surpassing Fort Worth to become the 4th most populous city in Texas. It is on the southeast edge of the Hill Country region of Texas, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and the 11th-largest in the country. It is the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of an alternative culture away from the major cities on the US coasts, though the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the Live Music Capital of the World due to the large number of venues.
Top landmarks
•Texas State Capitol — capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas
•Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin,...
•Texas State Cemetery — historic cemetery in Austin, Texas, USA
Alice is a city of 19,000 people (2018) on the South Texas Plains between Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, and San Antonio. It is a focal point for the oil industry in the area, and is considered to the "birthplace of Tejano music".
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 198.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.5 miles on I 37. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Alice, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Alice, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
