Trip from Austin, TX to Bedford, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 35m

Distance

201.6 mi

324 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 23m ★

6 AM

3h 35m

8 AM

4h 0m

10 AM

3h 44m

12 PM

3h 41m

3 PM

3h 45m

5 PM

3h 59m

8 PM

3h 28m

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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Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Bedford, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Austin to Bedford covers 201.6 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $31 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route keeps you entirely within the Great Plains region, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your transition between these two Texas cities. Whether you are heading north for business or a visit, this straightforward itinerary offers a predictable experience for drivers looking to navigate the state efficiently.

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

100.8 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	129.2 mi	2h 14m
I 35W	52.1 mi	55m
Airport Freeway	11.4 mi	13m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
Bedford Road	0.6 mi	1m
East 5th Street	0.3 mi	<1m
US 377	0.3 mi	<1m
North Interstate 35	0.2 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 129.2 mi, about 2h 14m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~3,438 veh/hr typical · worst 4,158

Quietest

2 AM

~581 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East 5th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Red River Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Red River Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto East 7th Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 7th Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Interstate 35

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 35 North, US 290 East

Merge onto I 35; US 290

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Purple Heart Trail

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.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

52 mi · 55 min · I 35W

Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit onto US 377

0.3 mi · 25 sec · US 377

Exit 52B Toward TX 121 North, US 377 North: DFW Airport, Belknap Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto TX 121

8.2 mi · 9 min · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121; TX 183

3.1 mi · 3 min · Airport Freeway

Exit 22A Toward TX 121 North, TX 183 East: DFW Airport, Dallas Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward Bedford Road, Forest Ridge Drive Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Airport Freeway

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Airport Freeway

Turn left onto Bedford Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Bedford Road

Turn right onto Forest Ridge Drive

95 ft · 2 sec · Forest Ridge Drive

Arrive at destination

Forest Ridge Drive

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 201.6-mile drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local, turn-heavy sections of the route. Since you are navigating local streets early on, leaving during off-peak hours can help you avoid unnecessary congestion before you reach the interstate. Keep your fuel budget of $31 in mind as you plan your stops, ensuring you fill up at convenient intervals along the way. Because this is a manageable one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time to suit your personal preferences. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to map out your initial turns on Red River and East 7th Street in advance, as the technical nature of these local roads requires clear navigation from the start.

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 100.8 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 47m 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 44 miles or 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100.8 miles or 1h 47m 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 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, 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 201.6 miles and 3h 35m.

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 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

Waco, TX

101 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

Jarrell, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waco, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.8 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.3 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 website

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Forest Park Miniature Railroad

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Fort Worth, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18179665509

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Crowley, Texas

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18172972201

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 200.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | East 7th Street

Turn right onto East 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

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

188.9 mi into trip | ~3h 19m in | US 377

Take the exit onto US 377 toward TX 121 North, US 377 North: DFW Airport, Belknap Street

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 52B Toward TX 121 North, US 377 North: DFW Airport,...

197.4 mi into trip | ~3h 29m in | TX 121; TX 183 / Airport Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121; TX 183 / Airport Freeway toward TX 121 North, TX 183 East: DFW Airport, Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 22A Toward TX 121 North, TX 183 East: DFW Airport,...

200.5 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in

Take the exit toward Bedford Road, Forest Ridge Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Bedford Road, Forest Ridge Drive

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.61 one way

$55.23 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$30.84	$61.69
premium	$4.23	$33.53	$67.07
diesel	$4.80	$38.07	$76.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	60.5	0	$21.17	$9.68
Efficient EV	50.4	0	$17.64	$8.06
EV Truck/SUV	80.6	1	$28.22	$12.90

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 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 Jul 19, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Monday

Local time

1:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:33PM CDT until July 18 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:30PM CDT until July 18 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Destination

Bedford, TX

Late night in Bedford on Monday

Local time

1:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Partly Cloudy

S 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:33PM CDT until July 18 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:30PM CDT until July 18 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock 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.

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

2 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 35m 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.

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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 104.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is characterized by a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate grind. You will begin your journey navigating local thoroughfares like Red River Street and East 7th Street before transitioning onto Interstate 35. Because the highway share for this route is 0%, expect a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention on local road navigation. The path is designed for those who prefer maneuvering through regional connections rather than sustained high-speed cruising. You should prepare for a drive that demands consistent engagement, as the winding nature of the local roads defines the pace of your 3-hour-and-35-minute commute.

35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

18 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?

8/10

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 East 7th Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 201.6 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 (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 136.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 188.9 miles (US 377): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

865 ft 404 ft

Total Climb

899 ft

Total Descent

792 ft

Highest Point

865 ft

~43.2 mi in

Elevation Range

461 ft

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 Bedford, TX

Full guide →

Bedford is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

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 35m. Total distance: 201.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 35m 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 19 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 Bedford, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. 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 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Bedford, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Austin, TX to Bedford, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Austin Bat Tours

Doris D Miller Park

Forest Park Miniature Railroad

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Cultural Activities Center

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth

Fort Worth Herd

Bicentennial Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Austin, TX

Bedford, TX

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 35m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Austin, TX

Arriving in Bedford, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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