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Trip from Austin, TX to Atascocita, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 28m

Distance

170 mi

274 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 16m ★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 53m
10 AM
3h 37m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 38m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 21m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

census designated place in Harris County, Texas, United States

Atascocita, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 170-mile journey from Austin, TX to Atascocita, TX is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes. The route primarily utilizes US Highway 290 West and East US Highway 290, with a segment on West Austin Street. Given its relatively short duration and manageable distance, it's an ideal day trip with no need for an overnight stay. You can expect a fuel cost of around $26 for this drive. The experience is largely highway-focused, traversing through the familiar Great Plains region of Texas.

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

85 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 290 West 52.6 mi 59m
East US Highway 290 41.5 mi 48m
West Austin Street 32.9 mi 36m
North Sam Houston Parkway West 8.5 mi 10m
Atascocita Road 6.2 mi 11m
Manor Expressway 6.2 mi 6m
North Sam Houston Tollway West 6.1 mi 7m
Purple Heart Trail 3.5 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US Highway 290 West — 52.6 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Turn left onto Red River Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Red River Street
Use the left lane.
3

Turn right onto East 7th Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 7th Street
Use the right lane.
4

Turn left onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Interstate 35
Use the left lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 290 East
6

Merge onto I 35; US 290

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Purple Heart Trail
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290

2.9 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto US 290

2.5 mi · 3 min · US 290
Exit 238B Toward US 290 East: Houston Use the slight right lane.
9

Continue on 290 Toll

6.2 mi · 6 min · Manor Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 290

42 mi · 48 min · East US Highway 290
11

Continue on US 290

33 mi · 36 min · West Austin Street
12

Take the exit onto US 290

0.3 mi · 38 sec · US 290
Toward US 290 East, TX 36 South: Houston, Bellville
13

Merge onto US 290; TX 36

53 mi · 59 min · US Highway 290 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto TX 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · TX 6
Toward FM 1960 East, TX 6 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn left

0.6 mi · 2 min
Use the straight / left lanes.
16

Turn straight onto FM 1960

0.8 mi · 1 min · FM 1960
17

Turn right onto Fallbrook Drive

2.6 mi · 4 min · Fallbrook Drive
18

Turn left onto BW 8

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Sam Houston Parkway West
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward SHT Toll East Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20

Merge onto SHT

3.5 mi · 4 min · North Sam Houston Tollway West
21

Keep slight right at fork onto SHT

2.6 mi · 3 min · North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the slight right lane.
22

Continue on BW 8

7.6 mi · 8 min · North Sam Houston Parkway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward Lee Road
24

Turn straight onto North Sam Houston Parkway East

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Sam Houston Parkway East
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25

Turn slight left onto Old Humble Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Old Humble Road
Use the left lane.
26

Continue on Atascocita Road

6.2 mi · 11 min · Atascocita Road
Use the left lane.
27

Turn left onto Town Center Boulevard

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Town Center Boulevard
Use the left lane.
28

Turn left onto FM 1960

0.1 mi · 20 sec · FM 1960
Use the left lane.
29

Arrive at destination

FM 1960

Trip Plan

With a duration of under four hours, this trip offers flexibility; you can easily make it a day trip. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your time at your destination or upon arrival in Atascocita. There's one recommended stop along the way, which should be sufficient for a break on this 170-mile drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 50 miles. Planning your fuel stops around this longer segment can help ensure a smooth journey.

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 85 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.6 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 37 miles or 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 85 miles or 1h 38m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atascocita, 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 170 miles and 3h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 US Highway 290 West for about 52.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city and county seat of Washington County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brenham, TX

85 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

Elgin, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brenham, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 140.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | Red River Street

Turn left onto Red River Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | East 7th Street

Turn right onto East 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.4 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 290

Take the exit onto US 290 toward US 290 East: Houston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 238B Toward US 290 East: Houston
7
140.4 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in | TX 6

Take the exit onto TX 6 toward FM 1960 East, TX 6 South

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. Toward FM 1960 East, TX 6 South

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.69 one way

$51.37 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $28.12 $56.23
premium $4.54 $30.35 $60.70
diesel $5.61 $37.53 $75.07

Estimated Tolls: $0.49

Sam Houston Tollway (6.1 mi) $0.49

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51 0 $17.85 $8.16
Efficient EV 42.5 0 $14.87 $6.80
EV Truck/SUV 68 0 $23.80 $10.88

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Sunday

Local time

4:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Mostly Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 12:44PM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 12:44PM CDT until April 17 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

Atascocita, TX

Late night in Atascocita on Sunday

Local time

4:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°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

25 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

3h 28m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 68% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 52.6 miles on US Highway 290 West, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While much of the route will feel like standard highway driving, expect transitions as you move through different road designations like East US Highway 290 and West Austin Street. The overall feel is one of steady progress on well-established roadways.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.6 mi on US Highway 290 West.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 290 West and East US Highway 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 22 significant decision points across 170 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 0.3 miles (Red River Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Austin, TX and Atascocita, TX, road signs point toward Bellville, Fm 1960 East and Sht Toll East.

Bellville

87.6 mi in | ~1h 41m | via US 290

Fm 1960 East

140.4 mi in | ~2h 42m | via TX 6

Sht Toll East

146.2 mi in | ~2h 54m

About the Cities

Starting in Austin, TX

Full guide →

“City of the Violet Crown” · Founded 1835

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

Arriving in Atascocita, TX

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 170 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 52.6 miles on US Highway 290 West. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.49 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Atascocita, 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 0.3 miles (Red River Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Atascocita, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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