Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Jefferson, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 43m
Distance
305.6 mi
492 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 30m
★
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.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Jefferson, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin, TX to Jefferson, TX is 305.6 miles and takes about 5h 43m via Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 31, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you across the Great Plains region of Texas, transitioning from a major metropolitan area to a more rural landscape. It's a solid option for a single-day trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently, with most of the route on highways. Plan for a straightforward trip with minimal complexity.
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
152.8 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 96.1 mi | 1h 40m |
| State Highway 31 | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| West Front Street | 29.1 mi | 34m |
| US 259 | 21.4 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 31 East | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| East End Boulevard North | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| 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 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,006 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~683 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 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 Jefferson, 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
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
11
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Waco Drive
12
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
13
Continue on US 84
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East US Highway 84
14
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
15
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
16
Continue on TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 31
17
Turn right onto TX 31
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Highway 31
19
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Northeast 2nd Street
20
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Royall Boulevard
21
Continue on TX 31
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 31 West
22
Turn left onto TX 31
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
TX 31
23
Merge onto TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jed Robinson Loop
24
Take the exit onto TX 31
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
TX 31
25
Turn left onto TX 31
21 mi
·
24 min
·
State Highway 31 East
26
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Highway 31
27
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 31 West
28
Continue on TX 31
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Chandler Highway
29
Continue on TX 31
29 mi
·
34 min
·
West Front Street
30
Turn left onto US 259 Business; TX 31
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 259 Business North
31
Continue on US 259; TX 31
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
US Highway 259 North
32
Take the exit onto US 259
21 mi
·
22 min
·
US 259
Toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Use the straight lane.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward FM 3251
34
Turn left onto FM 3251
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 3251
35
Turn right onto FM 968
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 968 West
36
Turn right onto US 80
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
US 80
37
Turn left onto US 59; TX 43
15 mi
·
16 min
·
East End Boulevard North
38
Turn right onto East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
39
Continue on West Henderson Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Henderson Street
40
Turn right onto FM 134
373 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Polk Street
41
Turn right onto West Lafayette Street
80 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Lafayette Street
42
Arrive at destination
West Lafayette Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 43m drive, consider an early morning departure from Austin. This will give you ample daylight to complete the 305.6 miles without feeling rushed. With a fuel cost estimated around $44, it's wise to fill up before leaving Austin to avoid potentially higher prices in more rural areas. The longest stretch without a significant town change is 96.1 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so plan your stop before or after this segment for fuel or a break. Given it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility to stop as needed, but keeping an eye on the time will ensure a relaxed arrival in Jefferson.
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 152.8 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 46m 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 67 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.8 miles or 2h 46m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, 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 305.6 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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
153 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 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 152.8 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 96.1 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.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
TA Express
1.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
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 websiteBotanical 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
Cultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
Early stretch
3.4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteLear Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
Longview, Texas
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+19032371270
Visit websiteBarton 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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 255 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 259.3 — 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.
8
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
6
259.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 50m in
|
US 259
Take the exit onto US 259 toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.86 one way
$83.72 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
107 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $46.75 | $93.51 |
| premium | $4.23 | $50.83 | $101.67 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $57.70 | $115.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.7 | 1 | $32.09 | $14.67 |
| Efficient EV | 76.4 | 0 | $26.74 | $12.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 122.2 | 1 | $42.78 | $19.56 |
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Origin
Austin, TX
Late night in Austin on Sunday
Local time
4:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:38PM CDT until July 22 at 11:48AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:38PM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Jefferson, TX
Late night in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
4:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:38PM CDT until July 22 at 11:48AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:38PM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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 warmer 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 105.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 39% of this 305.6-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway, 96.1 miles, on the Purple Heart Trail. After that, expect to transition to surface roads, including State Highway 31 and West Front Street, for the remainder of the trip. This mix means you'll experience both highway cruising and more local road driving, which can feel like navigating through smaller towns.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
42 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 305.6 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
857 ft
193 ft
Total Climb
790 ft
Total Descent
1,084 ft
Highest Point
857 ft
~43.7 mi in
Elevation Range
664 ft
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 Jefferson, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fm 3251 along the way.
Fm 3251
280.7 mi in
|
~5h 12m
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 Jefferson, TX
Full guide →Founded 1841
Jefferson is a historic town in Marion County, in the Central Piney Woods of east Texas. A center of tourism, Jefferson identifies itself as the "Bed & Breakfast Capital of Texas", and is home to a number of popular attractions.
Top landmarks
- • Jefferson Historic District — historic district in Jefferson, Marion County, Texas
- • Old United States Post Office and Courts Building — courthouse in Jefferson, Texas, United States
- • Presbyterian Manse — building in Jefferson, Marion County, Texas
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: 305.6 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 Jefferson, 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.
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.
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 Jefferson, 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.
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