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Trip from Austin, TX to Hillsboro, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 23m

Distance

134 mi

216 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 14m ★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 18m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Hill County, Texas, United States

Hillsboro, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 134-mile drive from Austin, TX, to Hillsboro, TX, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, it's an affordable excursion. You'll primarily navigate on the Purple Heart Trail, South Jack Kultgen Expressway, and Abbott Avenue, with a relatively low highway share of 5%. The journey offers a local driving experience, making it suitable for a relaxed pace. Since both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, expect consistent, open-road characteristics throughout.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

67 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Purple Heart Trail 122.7 mi 2h 7m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway 6.6 mi 7m
Abbott Avenue 3.1 mi 4m
South Waco Street 0.5 mi <1m
East 5th Street 0.3 mi <1m
North Interstate 35 0.2 mi <1m
East 7th Street 0.1 mi <1m
Red River Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 122.7 mi, about 2h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Hillsboro, 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

27 mi · 26 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit onto TX 81

3.1 mi · 4 min · Abbott Avenue
Exit 364B Toward TX 81 North: Hillsboro Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on TX 81

0.5 mi · 53 sec · South Waco Street
12

Arrive at destination

TX 81

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of just over two hours, this trip is perfect for a spontaneous day drive. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to pull over as needed, but keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch is significant. A good tip for this route is to be prepared for frequent turns as you transition between local roads, especially as you approach Hillsboro.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 67 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.7 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 29 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67 miles or 1h 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillsboro, 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 134 miles and 2h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Austin, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 122.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Bell County, Texas

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, TX

67 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

Georgetown, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Temple, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

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 website

Pioneer Farms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+15128371215

Visit website

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

Botanical 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

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

Barton 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 website

Jim Hogg Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Georgetown, Texas

+15129305253

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 130.4 — 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
130.4 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | TX 81 / Abbott Avenue

Take the exit onto TX 81 / Abbott Avenue toward TX 81 North: Hillsboro

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 364B Toward TX 81 North: Hillsboro

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.25 one way

$40.50 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $22.16 $44.33
premium $4.54 $23.92 $47.85
diesel $5.61 $29.59 $59.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.2 0 $14.07 $6.43
Efficient EV 33.5 0 $11.73 $5.36
EV Truck/SUV 53.6 0 $18.76 $8.58

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Tuesday

Local time

3:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hillsboro, TX

Late night in Hillsboro on Tuesday

Local time

3:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

84°F

Troy, TX

67 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

11 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

2h 23m 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

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 101.6
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 turn-heavy local drive for this 134-mile route. While only 5% of the journey is on highways, you'll encounter local roads for the majority of the time. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 122.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a good period of uninterrupted travel before transitioning to more urban or local segments. This profile suggests a drive that requires attention to navigation and local traffic patterns rather than a high-speed interstate cruise.

Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 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 Effort 5/10

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 134 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.6 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here.

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 Hillsboro, TX

Full guide →

The Blackland Prairie is part of Texas' Prairies and Lakes region.

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 2h 23m. Total distance: 134 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (5%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 122.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

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.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hillsboro, TX before heading back.

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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