Trip from Austin, TX to Hughes Springs, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 22, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 43m

Distance

297.2 mi

478 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 31m ★

6 AM

5h 44m

8 AM

6h 10m

10 AM

5h 53m

12 PM

5h 50m

3 PM

5h 54m

5 PM

6h 9m

8 PM

5h 36m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Hughes Springs, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Austin to Hughes Springs spans 297.2 miles, typically taking about 5 hours and 43 minutes of drive time. Because this journey stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete the trip in a single day. You will primarily utilize the Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 31 to navigate between these two points. Expect to budget approximately $45 for fuel to cover the distance. Whether you are heading out for business or visiting family, this route is straightforward enough that an overnight split is generally unnecessary unless you prefer a more leisurely pace.

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

148.6 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	96.1 mi	1h 40m
State Highway 31	35.8 mi	38m
State Highway 31 East	21.1 mi	24m
State Highway 155	15.7 mi	17m
North Tyler Street	14.9 mi	17m
Corsicana Bypass	11.8 mi	13m
State Highway 155 North	11.5 mi	12m
Northeast 2nd Street	9.9 mi	11m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 96.1 mi, about 1h 40m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~3,856 veh/hr typical · worst 4,540

Quietest

2 AM

~668 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Hughes Springs, TX.

Start on East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East 5th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Red River Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Red River Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto East 7th Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 7th Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Interstate 35

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 35 North, US 290 East

Merge onto I 35; US 290

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Purple Heart Trail

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.

Continue on I 35

6.0 mi · 6 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec

Exit 338 Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

0.3 mi · 30 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Turn right onto US 84

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East Waco Drive

Continue on US 84

2.6 mi · 4 min · Bellmead Drive

Continue on US 84

2.7 mi · 3 min · East US Highway 84

Continue on TX 31

17 mi · 17 min · State Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

5.3 mi · 5 min · Hubbard Bypass

Continue on TX 31

19 mi · 21 min · State Highway 31

Turn right onto TX 31

12 mi · 13 min · Corsicana Bypass

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto TX 31

9.3 mi · 10 min · East State Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

9.9 mi · 11 min · Northeast 2nd Street

Continue on TX 31

5.3 mi · 6 min · West Royall Boulevard

Continue on TX 31

4.1 mi · 4 min · State Highway 31 West

Turn left onto TX 31

0.2 mi · 34 sec · TX 31

Merge onto TX 31; Loop 7

6.2 mi · 7 min · Jed Robinson Loop

Take the exit onto TX 31

0.3 mi · 46 sec · TX 31

Turn left onto TX 31

21 mi · 24 min · State Highway 31 East

Continue on TX 31

2.0 mi · 2 min · West Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

5.6 mi · 6 min · State Highway 31 West

Continue on TX 31

1.9 mi · 2 min · Chandler Highway

Continue on TX 31

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Front Street

Turn left onto US 271; TX 155

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Beckham Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 271; TX 155

1.6 mi · 2 min · East Gentry Parkway

Continue on US 271; TX 155

5.5 mi · 6 min · US Highway 271

Turn left onto TX 155

4.9 mi · 5 min · State Highway 155 North

Continue on TX 155

1.1 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Continue on TX 155

6.7 mi · 7 min · State Highway 155 North

At end of road, turn right onto US 80; TX 155

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Street

Turn left onto TX 155

15 mi · 17 min · North Tyler Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto TX 155

16 mi · 17 min · State Highway 155

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Merge onto US 259

7.1 mi · 10 min · US 259

Turn slight right

339 ft · 12 sec

Turn straight onto FM 250

5.9 mi · 10 min · East Industrial Boulevard

Turn left onto FM 250

1.0 mi · 1 min · FM 250

Turn right onto TX 11; TX 49; FM 250

428 ft · 12 sec · 1st Street

Turn left onto Ward

104 ft · 4 sec · Ward

Arrive at destination

Ward

Trip Plan

Since this 297-mile trek is best suited for a single day, aim to depart Austin early to avoid peak traffic and ensure you reach Hughes Springs with plenty of daylight. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the nearly six-hour duration can be taxing. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that long 96.1-mile segment on the Purple Heart Trail to ensure you aren't caught searching for a station in a rural area. Flexibility is your best asset on this route, so don't hesitate to adjust your departure time if weather or local road conditions look unfavorable along the Highway 31 corridor.

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 148.6 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 41m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.1 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 65 miles or 1h 9m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 148.6 miles or 2h 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 4h 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hughes Springs, 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 297.2 miles and 5h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 96.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Seagoville, TX

149 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

Troy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Italy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 148.6 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 230.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | Red River Street

Turn left onto Red River Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | East 7th Street

Turn right onto East 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

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.

103.1 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in

Take the exit toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive

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. Exit 338 Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive

230.6 mi into trip | ~4h 17m in | US 271; TX 155 / South Beckham Avenue

Turn left onto US 271; TX 155 / South Beckham Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.73 one way

$85.46 round trip

$3.65/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.05	$47.36	$94.73
premium	$4.40	$51.46	$102.92
diesel	$4.80	$56.12	$112.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 104 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-20.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	89.2	1	$31.21	$14.27
Efficient EV	74.3	0	$26.01	$11.89
EV Truck/SUV	118.9	1	$41.61	$19.02

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 Jul 22, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Evening in Austin on Wednesday

Local time

5:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Mostly Clear

SSW 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 21 at 9:09PM CDT until July 22 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 21 at 9:03PM CDT until July 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Destination

Hughes Springs, TX

Evening in Hughes Springs on Wednesday

Local time

5:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Clear

0 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 21 at 9:09PM CDT until July 22 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 21 at 9:03PM CDT until July 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

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

2 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

5h 43m 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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 102.5

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 driving experience as you transition across the state, with highway travel accounting for 44% of your total time behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 96.1-mile stretch along the Purple Heart Trail, which allows for some steady cruising. Beyond the primary highway segments, you will navigate local stretches via State Highway 31 East, which brings a shift in pace compared to the faster, more direct roads. This combination of infrastructure creates a drive that feels varied rather than monotonous, keeping you engaged as you transition from the capital area toward the northeast.

44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 96.1 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 297.2 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

900 ft 352 ft

Total Climb

637 ft

Total Descent

673 ft

Highest Point

900 ft

~42.5 mi in

Elevation Range

548 ft

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 Hughes Springs, TX

Full guide →

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 5h 43m. Total distance: 297.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 96.1 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 12 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 Hughes Springs, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hughes Springs, TX before the return drive.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Austin, TX or browse trips ending in Hughes Springs, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Austin, TX to Hughes Springs, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Buc-ee's

Ascent Travel Center

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Austin Bat Tours

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Tyler Rose Garden

Visit Tyler/SPORTyler

Tyler Rose Museum & Gift Shop

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Doris D Miller Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Austin, TX

Hughes Springs, TX

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 43m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Austin, TX

Arriving in Hughes Springs, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Hughes Springs, TX

More from Austin, TX

More trips to Hughes Springs, TX