This 599.2-mile journey from Austin, TX to Gruver, TX spans an estimated 10 hours and 44 minutes of driving time, making it a solid two-day trip. Primarily utilizing Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US 84, you'll be on main roads for about 62% of the drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $91 and three planned stops, this long-distance drive through the Great Plains offers a straightforward path. It's best to break this trip up to avoid fatigue and truly enjoy the Texas landscape.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
299.6 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
109.9 mi
1h 51m
US 84
104.9 mi
1h 49m
North US Highway 183
72.6 mi
1h 18m
State Highway 153
69 mi
1h 14m
South Fillmore Street
45.4 mi
47m
East Commerce Street
22 mi
25m
Highway 84
20 mi
19m
183A Toll
14.6 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 109.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Gruver, 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
4.0 mi·4 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 240BToward US 183 North: LampasasUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 183
11 mi·13 min·US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on 183A Toll
15 mi·14 min·183A Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 183
36 mi·38 min·North US Highway 183
12
Continue on US 183
2.3 mi·4 min·South Key Avenue
13
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
0.2 mi·14 sec·North US Highway 281
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190
37 mi·40 min·North US Highway 183
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 183; TX 16
30 mi·34 min·US 84; US 183; TX 16
16
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377
1.7 mi·2 min·Early Boulevard
17
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
22 mi·25 min·East Commerce Street
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283
7.2 mi·8 min·Wallis Avenue
19
Turn right onto TX 153
0.9 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
20
Continue on TX 153; TX 206
1.0 mi·1 min·West Walnut Street
21
Continue on TX 153
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·State Highway 153
22
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
19 ft·0 sec·State Highway 153
23
Turn right onto TX 70
10 mi·10 min·State Highway 70
24
Continue on TX 70
0.8 mi·1 min·Lamar Street
25
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Northwest Georgia Avenue
26
Take the ramp
340 ft·8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
27
Merge onto I 20; US 84
6.0 mi·5 min·I 20; US 84
28
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 84
Exit 238AToward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 84
30
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi·1 min·South Avenue F
31
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Avenue F
32
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi·38 sec·Ralls Road
33
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi·17 sec·East 15th Street
34
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi·1 min·North US Highway 84
35
Continue on US 84
20 mi·19 min·Highway 84
36
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi·4 min·Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
37
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi·6 min·East Highway 84
38
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi·5 min·Slaton Road
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
40
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
321 ft·6 sec·Interstate 27
41
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
42
Merge onto I 27; US 87
110 mi·1 hr 51 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
43
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi·15 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
0.9 mi·2 min·US 87
Toward US 87 NorthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 87; Original US Route 66
45 mi·47 min·South Fillmore Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
46
Continue on US 87; US 287
5.6 mi·6 min·South Dumas Avenue
47
Turn right onto FM 119
13 mi·13 min·FM 119
48
Turn right onto FM 281
10.0 mi·10 min·FM 281
49
Turn left onto FM 1060
8.0 mi·8 min·FM 1060
50
Turn right onto FM 520
12 mi·12 min·FM 520
51
Turn left onto TX 136
10 mi·11 min·TX 136
52
Turn right onto Loop 84
45 ft·1 sec·East 4th Street
53
Arrive at destination
Loop 84
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 599.2-mile drive, plan to depart Austin early in the morning to maximize daylight. Splitting the drive over two days is highly recommended, with an overnight stop around the halfway point. Consider your fuel needs, especially on the 109.9-mile stretch of Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. With three stops recommended, pace yourself and use them for rest and refueling. A good strategy is to aim for your first major stop by late afternoon on day one.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 299.6 miles from Austin, TX, or about 5h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 132 miles or 2h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 299.6 miles or 5h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 299.6 miles or 5h 29m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gruver, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Austin, TX
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Gruver, TX
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 132 miles from Austin, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 109.9 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 37
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 493.8 — 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
5.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward US 183 North: Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 240B
Toward US 183 North: Lampasas
7
493.8 mi into trip|~8h 50m in|US 87
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87 toward US 87 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 87 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$90.54 one way
$181.08 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg210 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$99.10
$198.21
premium
$4.54
$106.98
$213.97
diesel
$5.61
$132.30
$264.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$91
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$221–$331
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 209.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
179.8
2
$62.92
$28.76
Efficient EV
149.8
1
$52.43
$23.97
EV Truck/SUV
239.7
2
$83.89
$38.35
Gas CO2
210 kg
EV CO2
70 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Austin, TX
Night
in Austin on Saturday
Local time
11:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gruver, TX
Night
in Gruver on Saturday
Local time
11:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
24 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
10h 44m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
National Monument
13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 516.6
Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 516.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving experiences on this route, with a significant portion on main highways. You'll encounter 109.9 miles of uninterrupted driving on the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, which is the longest stretch. While 62% of the trip involves highway driving, the overall profile suggests a long-distance journey rather than a purely scenic tour. The drive progresses through varied Texas terrain, offering a consistent, if not always thrilling, experience behind the wheel.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.9 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 10h 44m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. 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 Effort10/10
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 37 significant decision points across 599.2 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Austin, TX to Gruver, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Lubbock along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 109.9 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 300 miles on day one.
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 Gruver, 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 3 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 — Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.7 hours each way, a round trip means 21.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gruver, TX before the return drive.
