This 180.3-mile drive from Austin, TX to Glenn Heights, TX will take you approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate via the Purple Heart Trail and I-35E, with a portion on the South Jack Kultgen Expressway. With a projected fuel cost of around $27, it's an economical journey. The route traverses the Great Plains region throughout, offering a consistent landscape. Expect a fairly hands-on driving experience with numerous turns, so plan for an engaged drive rather than a passive one.
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
90.1 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Glenn Heights, 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 right at fork onto I 35E
40 mi·40 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 410BToward FM 664: Ovilla RoadUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35E
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Interstate 35E
13
Turn right onto Harris Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Harris Avenue
14
Turn left onto Sharaf Avenue
370 ft·17 sec·Sharaf Avenue
15
Turn left onto FM 664
2.2 mi·3 min·East Ovilla Road
16
Turn right onto Hampton Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Hampton Road
17
Arrive at destination
South Hampton Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aiming for an early start can help you avoid any potential traffic, especially as you get closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one recommended stop, you have ample room to decide when and where to take a break based on your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch on local roads might mean fewer immediate refueling options. A good tip is to top off your tank before leaving Austin to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted journey to Glenn Heights.
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 90.1 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 35m 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 40 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.1 miles or 1h 35m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glenn Heights, 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 180.3 miles and 3h 12m.
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 Purple Heart Trail for about 129.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 176.5 — 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 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
176.5 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward FM 664: Ovilla Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 410B
Toward FM 664: Ovilla Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.24 one way
$54.49 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$29.82
$59.64
premium
$4.54
$32.19
$64.38
diesel
$5.61
$39.81
$79.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.1
0
$18.93
$8.65
Efficient EV
45.1
0
$15.78
$7.21
EV Truck/SUV
72.1
0
$25.24
$11.54
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Austin, TX
Morning
in Austin on Tuesday
Local time
8:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glenn Heights, TX
Morning
in Glenn Heights on Tuesday
Local time
8:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Beverly Hills, TX
90 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
9 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 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 105.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The personality of this route is best described as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a dynamic experience that keeps you engaged. While only 26% of the journey is on highways, the longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 129.2 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. This indicates a significant portion of your drive will be on local roads, likely involving more frequent changes in speed and direction. Be prepared for a more involved driving experience as you transition between different road types and navigate through various local areas.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
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 3h 12m. Total distance: 180.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
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 Glenn Heights, 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.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Glenn Heights, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
