Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Aubrey, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 16m
Distance
238.2 mi
383 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 3m
★
6 AM
4h 17m
8 AM
4h 43m
10 AM
4h 26m
12 PM
4h 23m
3 PM
4h 27m
5 PM
4h 42m
8 PM
4h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Aubrey, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Austin to Aubrey covers 238.2 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily manage the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $35 on fuel for the trek. You will start your journey on local roads like Red River Street and East 7th Street before transitioning to Interstate 35. It is a straightforward transit that connects the state capital to the North Texas area, making it a manageable drive for those looking to reach their destination by evening.
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
119.1 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 129.2 mi | 2h 14m |
| I 35W | 51.5 mi | 54m |
| North Freeway | 17.8 mi | 19m |
| I 35W TEXpress | 16.3 mi | 16m |
| East Sherman Drive | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| North Loop 288 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| I 35 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 129.2 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Aubrey, 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
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
52 mi
·
54 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit onto I 35W TEXpress
16 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
Toward I 35W Express North: I 35W TEXpress North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 35W
18 mi
·
19 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 35E; US 77
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35E; US 77
14
Continue on I 35; US 77
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35; US 77
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 470
Toward Loop 288
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Interstate 35
17
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Toward Loop 288 East
18
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
this road
19
Merge onto Loop 288; US 380 Truck
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Loop 288
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward FM 428: Denton, Aubrey
21
Turn left onto FM 428
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
East Sherman Drive
22
Turn right onto FM 428
146 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Main Street
23
Turn left onto East Elm Street
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Elm Street
24
Arrive at destination
East Elm Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 4-hour and 16-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Budgeting $35 for gas should cover your needs, but keep an eye on your gauge as you navigate the local exits near the beginning of your trip. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid the heaviest congestion on Interstate 35. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your GPS settings before pulling away from your starting point on Red River Street. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace to ensure you reach Aubrey feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 119.1 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.2 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 52 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.1 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aubrey, 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 238.2 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 129.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 119.1 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.5 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, right off the route
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteVillage of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Tornado Terry's Family Amusement Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: Closed
+18174316121
Visit websiteFort Worth Herd
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
Final third
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 224.4 — 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
136.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
224.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward Loop 288
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 470
Toward Loop 288
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.99 one way
$71.99 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $39.40 | $78.79 |
| premium | $4.54 | $42.53 | $85.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.59 | $105.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.5 | 0 | $25.01 | $11.43 |
| Efficient EV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.84 | $9.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.3 | 1 | $33.35 | $15.24 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Austin, TX
Late night in Austin on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 5 mph
77% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Aubrey, TX
Late night in Aubrey on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
15 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
4h 16m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 106.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless stretch of open highway. While you will utilize Interstate 35 to cover the bulk of the 238.2-mile distance, the initial portions of your trip require navigating local streets. Because the highway share is 0% for the local navigation segments, you should remain alert during the start and end of your trip. The route shifts from urban maneuvering to high-speed transit, requiring you to adjust your driving style as you leave the Austin area. It is a practical, functional drive that requires your full attention rather than a monotonous cruise.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.2 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
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 0.3 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 18 significant decision points across 238.2 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
802 ft
413 ft
Total Climb
885 ft
Total Descent
684 ft
Highest Point
802 ft
~17 mi in
Elevation Range
389 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Aubrey, TX, road signs point toward Loop 288 and Loop 288 East.
Loop 288
224.4 mi in
|
~3h 56m
Loop 288 East
225.3 mi in
|
~3h 57m
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 Aubrey, 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 4h 16m. Total distance: 238.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.2 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Aubrey, 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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Aubrey, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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