Austin, TX to Carthage, TX is 280 miles and takes about 5h 26m via TX 21 and TX 7, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region throughout. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, this is a straightforward, single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on main roads, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
140 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TX 21
132.7 mi
2h 29m
TX 7
53.9 mi
1h 8m
East US Highway 290
29 mi
33m
TX 315
26.7 mi
28m
US Highway 259
11.2 mi
12m
Manor Expressway
6.2 mi
6m
Southwest Stallings Drive
5.9 mi
6m
Purple Heart Trail
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
TX 21
— 132.7 mi, about 2h 29m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,290 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~977 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Carthage, 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 238BToward US 290 East: HoustonUse 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
29 mi·33 min·East US Highway 290
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
280 ft·13 sec
13
Turn left onto TX 21
54 mi·58 min·TX 21
14
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 21
79 mi·1 hr 31 min·TX 21
15
At end of road, turn right onto TX 7; TX 21
33 mi·36 min·TX 7; TX 21
16
Turn left onto TX 7
21 mi·31 min·TX 7
17
Turn left
0.3 mi·41 sec
18
Merge onto Loop 224
5.9 mi·6 min·Southwest Stallings Drive
19
Continue on US 59
0.9 mi·58 sec·North US Highway 59
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·20 sec·this road
22
Merge onto US 259
11 mi·12 min·US Highway 259
23
Continue on US 259
3.0 mi·3 min·US Route 259
24
Continue on US 259
2.6 mi·3 min·South Railroad Avenue
25
Turn right onto TX 315
27 mi·28 min·TX 315
26
Turn slight left
266 ft·8 sec
27
Turn left onto US 59 Business; US 79 Business
200 ft·5 sec·North Shelby Street
28
Turn right onto Panola Street
116 ft·5 sec·Panola Street
29
Arrive at destination
Panola Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is designed for a single day, leaving Austin in the morning after breakfast will give you ample time to reach Carthage before evening. The route is primarily highway, so fuel stops are likely to be frequent enough, but it's wise to keep your tank at least half-full, especially during the 132.7-mile stretch on TX 21. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, but consider a mid-drive break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The $45 fuel estimate suggests a relatively economical drive.
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 140 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.7 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 62 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, 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 280 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 TX 21 for about 132.7 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 4.4 — 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.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|North Interstate 35
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.35 one way
$76.70 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$42.84
$85.68
premium
$4.23
$46.57
$93.15
diesel
$4.80
$52.87
$105.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84
1
$29.40
$13.44
Efficient EV
70
0
$24.50
$11.20
EV Truck/SUV
112
1
$39.20
$17.92
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
4:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 19 at 4:36PM CDT until July 19 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Carthage, TX
Late night
in Carthage on Monday
Local time
4:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 19 at 4:36PM CDT until July 19 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 95% of this 280-mile drive, so expect mostly open road cruising. The longest continuous stretch on a single main road is 132.7 miles on TX 21. This means you'll experience extended periods of consistent driving before needing to navigate any significant changes in road type. The transition to surface roads, if any, will likely be minimal and closer to your destination.
95% 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: 132.7 mi on TX 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 21 and TX 7. 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 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 21 significant decision points across 280 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 0.6 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
552 ft210 ft
Total Climb
563 ft
Total Descent
738 ft
Highest Point
552 ft
~40 mi in
Elevation Range
342 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 280 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132.7 miles on TX 21. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 Carthage, 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 8 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 0.6 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Carthage, TX before the return drive.
