Origin
Austin, TX
Late night in Austin on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Hackberry, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 5m
Distance
226.2 mi
364 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 53m
★
6 AM
4h 6m
8 AM
4h 32m
10 AM
4h 15m
12 PM
4h 12m
3 PM
4h 16m
5 PM
4h 30m
8 PM
3h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Hackberry, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 226.2-mile drive from Austin, TX, to Hackberry, TX, will take you approximately 4 hours and 5 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily travel on the Purple Heart Trail and I 35E, with a segment on the Dallas North Tollway, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, this route through the Great Plains region of Texas is straightforward. It’s a practical choice if you’re looking for an efficient journey without needing an overnight stop. Plan for about 30% of your travel time on highways.
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
113.1 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 129.2 mi | 2h 14m |
| I 35E | 59.2 mi | 1h 2m |
| Dallas North Tollway | 23.9 mi | 26m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 3 mi | 5m |
| King Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Dallas Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East 5th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 129.2 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Hackberry, 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
59 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
411 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 430A
Toward Oak Lawn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
468 ft
·
9 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Oak Lawn Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Oak Lawn Avenue
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward DNT North
15
Merge onto DNT
24 mi
·
26 min
·
Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Cotton Gin Road, Main Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto CR 13
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Dallas Parkway
18
Turn left onto Main Street
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on King Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
King Road
20
Turn left onto Price Circle
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Price Circle
21
Arrive at destination
Price Circle
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your drive in the morning allows ample time to reach Hackberry comfortably. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $34, this trip is budget-friendly. Pay attention to the longest stretch of 129.2 miles on the Purple Heart Trail; ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on it. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your preferred time, but an early start maximizes daylight for travel.
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 113.1 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 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 50 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.1 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hackberry, 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 226.2 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.1 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 220.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
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
196 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
Take the exit toward Oak Lawn Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 430A
Toward Oak Lawn Avenue
7
196.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
220.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
Take the exit toward Cotton Gin Road, Main 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.
Toward Cotton Gin Road, Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.18 one way
$68.36 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $37.41 | $74.82 |
| premium | $4.54 | $40.39 | $80.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.94 | $99.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.91
Dallas North Tollway
(23.9 mi)
$1.91
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
$34
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.9 | 0 | $23.75 | $10.86 |
| Efficient EV | 56.6 | 0 | $19.79 | $9.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.5 | 1 | $31.67 | $14.48 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Destination
Hackberry, TX
Late night in Hackberry on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 5m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 101.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 30% of your journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 129.2 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, so be prepared for a substantial period on this road. The drive progresses from initial highway segments to potentially more varied road types as you approach your destination. This blend means you’ll experience both faster travel and potentially more local road conditions.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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 16 significant decision points across 226.2 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 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 136.8 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 196 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.
On the drive from Austin, TX to Hackberry, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dnt North along the way.
Dnt North
196.4 mi in
|
~3h 27m
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
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 4h 5m. Total distance: 226.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m 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.
Expect about $1.91 in tolls one way, starting with Dallas North 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.
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 Hackberry, 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 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 136.8 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 196 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Hackberry, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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