Trip from Austin, TX to Keller, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 41m

Distance

204.8 mi

330 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

12 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 29m ★

6 AM

3h 41m

8 AM

4h 6m

10 AM

3h 50m

12 PM

3h 48m

3 PM

3h 51m

5 PM

4h 5m

8 PM

3h 34m

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

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Keller, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Austin to Keller is 204.8 miles and takes about 3h 41m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Texas. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a good option for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Austin area north towards Dallas-Fort Worth.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

102.4 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	129.2 mi	2h 14m
I 35W	51.5 mi	54m
I 35W TEXpress	10.3 mi	10m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
Golden Triangle Boulevard	3.6 mi	7m
North Freeway	1.5 mi	2m
Keller Parkway	0.4 mi	<1m
East 5th Street	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 129.2 mi, about 2h 14m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~3,389 veh/hr typical · worst 4,160

Quietest

2 AM

~577 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.9×

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 Keller, 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

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

52 mi · 54 min · I 35W

Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit onto I 35W TEXpress

10 mi · 10 min · I 35W TEXpress

Toward I 35W Express North: I 35W TEXpress North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward Heritage Trace Parkway

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward Heritage Trace Parkway

Turn straight onto North Freeway

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto FM 1709

2.5 mi · 5 min · Golden Triangle Boulevard

Use the straight / right lanes.

Enter roundabout onto FM 1709

144 ft · 8 sec · Golden Triangle Boulevard

Continue on FM 1709

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Golden Triangle Boulevard

Enter roundabout onto FM 1709

71 ft · 4 sec · Golden Triangle Boulevard

Continue on FM 1709

0.9 mi · 1 min · Golden Triangle Boulevard

Continue on FM 1709

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Keller Parkway

Continue on FM 1709

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Keller Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn slight left

61 ft · 2 sec

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 3-hour, 41-minute drive, consider departing Austin in the morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic as you approach Keller. With a total distance of 204.8 miles and a fuel cost estimated around $30, it's easily manageable in one day. Plan for one stop along the way to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary, as the longest continuous stretch is over 129 miles. Pay attention to signage for the Purple Heart Trail and the transition onto I 35W, as this is where the driving conditions will change most significantly.

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 102.4 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 49m 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 45 miles or 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 102.4 miles or 1h 49m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Keller, 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 204.8 miles and 3h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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

Waco, TX

102 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

Jarrell, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waco, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 102.4 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

Visit website

Tornado Terry's Family Amusement Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Fort Worth, Texas

Hours: Closed

+18174316121

Visit website

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

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

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 188.3 — 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.

136.8 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35W: Fort Worth

188.3 mi into trip | ~3h 18m in | I 35W TEXpress

Take the exit onto I 35W TEXpress toward I 35W Express North: I 35W TEXpress North

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35W Express North: I 35W TEXpress Nort...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$29.72 one way

$59.44 round trip

$3.69/gal 25.4 MPG avg 72 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.08	$32.86	$65.71
premium	$4.42	$35.67	$71.34
diesel	$5.65	$45.57	$91.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 71.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-24.

EV Charging Along Route

12 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Austin, TX - South Lamar Boulevard - Tesla Supercharger

Austin, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

PIE AE TRAVIS CO DC 1

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC4

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC3

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC2

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC1

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE SEAHOLM DC7

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE SEAHOLM DC1

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 11 Tesla: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	61.4	0	$21.50	$9.83
Efficient EV	51.2	0	$17.92	$8.19
EV Truck/SUV	81.9	1	$28.67	$13.11

Gas CO2

72 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (67% 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 Sep 4, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Friday

Local time

5:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Chance Rain Showers

S 5 mph 34% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 4 at 1:00AM CDT until September 4 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued September 3 at 11:26PM CDT until September 5 at 12:44PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX

Destination

Keller, TX

Late night in Keller on Friday

Local time

5:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Chance Rain Showers

S 10 mph 34% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 4 at 1:00AM CDT until September 4 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued September 3 at 11:26PM CDT until September 5 at 12:44PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston 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

5 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

3h 41m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 ~11 min detour Free near mile 105.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive includes 34% highway driving. You'll encounter a significant 129.2-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail before transitioning to I 35W and I 35W TEXpress. Expect a mixed driving experience with periods of cruising on surface roads followed by higher-speed highway travel, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The frequent exits on the interstate sections will require attention as you get closer to your destination.

34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

23 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?

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 17 significant decision points across 204.8 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

Gently rolling terrain

857 ft 404 ft

Total Climb

1,122 ft

Total Descent

909 ft

Highest Point

857 ft

~14.6 mi in

Elevation Range

453 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 Keller, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1881

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 3h 41m. Total distance: 204.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 41m 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.

Yes — we found about 21 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 Keller, 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 21 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.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Keller, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Austin, TX to Keller, 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

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Ascent Travel Center

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Austin Bat Tours

Tornado Terry's Family Amusement Center

Doris D Miller Park

Fort Worth Herd

Bicentennial Park

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Cultural Activities Center

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Austin, TX

Keller, TX

Same local time

5 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 41m 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 Keller, 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

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