Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Friendswood, 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 27m
Distance
183.9 mi
296 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 15m
★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 36m
12 PM
3h 34m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 51m
8 PM
3h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Friendswood, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Trip Overview
Austin, TX to Friendswood, TX is 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 27m via Texas State Highway 71 and the Sam Houston Tollway, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward trip across Texas. With 80% of the route on highways, expect a relatively quick and direct path. This trip is designed for a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick transition between locations.
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
92 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 138.3 mi | 2h 26m |
| South Sam Houston Tollway West | 15.4 mi | 17m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway South | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| East Broadway Street | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| East 7th Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| East State Highway 71 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Bastrop Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Texas State Highway 71
— 138.3 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Friendswood, 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
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
East 7th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto Loop 111
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
5
Continue on US 183
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
7
Merge onto 183 Toll
0.8 mi
·
47 sec
·
Bergstrom Expressway
8
Continue on US 183
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on TX 71
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
·
East State Highway 71
13
Continue on TX 71
138 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 756
Toward Sam Houston Tollway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward SHT South
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto SHT
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto SHT
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on BW 8
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Sam Houston Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on SHT
15 mi
·
17 min
·
South Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto BW 8
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Sam Houston Parkway East
22
Turn right onto TX 35
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Telephone Road
23
Continue on TX 35
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
24
Turn left onto FM 518
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
East Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on FM 518
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Friendswood Drive
26
Continue on FM 518
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Friendswood Drive
27
Arrive at destination
FM 518
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip, leaving Austin in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at $28, so ensure your tank is full before departing Austin or plan a quick stop. With only one recommended stop and a duration under 4 hours, you have flexibility. The longest stretch is over 138 miles on Texas State Highway 71, so be prepared for extended highway driving before the final approach into Friendswood.
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 92 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.3 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92 miles or 1h 41m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Friendswood, 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 183.9 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 Texas State Highway 71 for about 138.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Colorado County Westbound Rest Area
2.1 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 websiteFrankie Carter Randolph Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
mile 183.9
Friendswood, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+12814826055
Katy Heritage Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 131.4
Katy, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+12813914840
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
Play Street Museum - Katy
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
mile 131.4
Katy, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–6 pm
+12816664217
Visit websiteBarton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~11 min detour
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 173.9 — 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.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East 7th Street
Turn right onto East 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
148.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward Sam Houston Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 756
Toward Sam Houston Tollway
7
149 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SHT South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward SHT South
7
173.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
Take the exit toward TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road
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 TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.79 one way
$55.58 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $30.42 | $60.83 |
| premium | $4.54 | $32.83 | $65.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.60 | $81.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.79
Sam Houston Tollway
(22.4 mi)
$1.79
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
$28
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.31 | $8.83 |
| Efficient EV | 46 | 0 | $16.09 | $7.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.6 | 0 | $25.75 | $11.77 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Origin
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 19 at 12:04PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 19 at 10:39AM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Friendswood, TX
Afternoon in Friendswood on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Sunny
NE 15 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 19 at 12:04PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 19 at 10:39AM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
77°F
Columbus, TX
92 mi in
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
4 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 27m 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?
You'll be on highways for about 80% of this 183.9-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 138.3 miles, primarily on Texas State Highway 71. Expect a transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination, with the highway portion ending around mile 138.3. The dense exit count on the Sam Houston Tollway section will indicate your nearing the Houston metropolitan area.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.3 mi on Texas State Highway 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and South Sam Houston Tollway West. 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
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 183.9 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 0.3 miles (Red River Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 148.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 Friendswood, TX, road signs point toward Sam Houston Tollway and Sht South.
Sam Houston Tollway
148.6 mi in
|
~2h 41m
Sht South
149 mi in
|
~2h 42m
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 Friendswood, TX
Full guide →Founded 1960
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 27m. Total distance: 183.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 138.3 miles on Texas State Highway 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.79 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.
Yes — we found about 11 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 Friendswood, 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 11 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 148.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Friendswood, 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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