Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Linden, 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 49m
Distance
308 mi
496 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 36m
★
6 AM
5h 49m
8 AM
6h 15m
10 AM
5h 58m
12 PM
5h 56m
3 PM
6h 0m
5 PM
6h 14m
8 PM
5h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Linden, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin, TX to Linden, TX is 308 miles and takes about 5h 49m via Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 155, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Texas. With a single day recommended, it's a manageable route for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, so expect a varied driving experience. Consider this route if you need a direct path between these two Texas locations.
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
154 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 96.1 mi | 1h 40m |
| State Highway 155 | 40.2 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 31 | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| State Highway 31 East | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| 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 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 Linden, 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
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Front Street
30
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Beckham Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on US 271; TX 155
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Gentry Parkway
32
Continue on US 271; TX 155
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 271
33
Turn left onto TX 155
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 155 North
34
Continue on TX 155
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
35
Continue on TX 155
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 155 North
36
At end of road, turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Street
37
Turn left onto TX 155
15 mi
·
17 min
·
North Tyler Street
Use the left lane.
38
Turn right onto TX 155
40 mi
·
45 min
·
State Highway 155
39
At end of road, turn left onto US 59
300 ft
·
9 sec
·
US 59
40
Turn left onto FM 125 Spur
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
41
Arrive at destination
FM 125
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under six hours, you can comfortably complete it in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Leaving Austin in the morning should get you to Linden with ample daylight remaining. The longest stretch without a change in road type is over 96 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so plan a fuel stop before or early in that segment. With only one recommended stop, you can decide whether to break up the drive with a brief pause or push through. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you move from highway sections to surface roads.
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 154 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 47m 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 68 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154 miles or 2h 47m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Linden, 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 308 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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
154 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 154 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
Ascent Travel Center
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
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, short detour
Early stretch
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
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 225 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.
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
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
$42.19 one way
$84.37 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
108 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $47.12 | $94.24 |
| premium | $4.23 | $51.23 | $102.46 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $58.16 | $116.31 |
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: 107.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.4 | 1 | $32.34 | $14.78 |
| Efficient EV | 77 | 0 | $26.95 | $12.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 123.2 | 1 | $43.12 | $19.71 |
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% 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
3:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:10PM CDT until July 17 at 5:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:26PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Linden, TX
Late night in Linden on Sunday
Local time
3:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:10PM CDT until July 17 at 5:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:26PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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 49m 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 106.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About half of this drive, 48%, is on highways, with the remaining portion on surface roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 96.1 miles on the Purple Heart Trail before transitioning to State Highway 155 and State Highway 31. This means you'll likely notice a shift from higher-speed cruising to more rural driving as you progress. The profile is described as mixed highway and surface, indicating a change in road conditions and speed limits.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 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?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 22 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
6/10
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 308 miles you will encounter 22 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 1.5 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
837 ft
276 ft
Total Climb
891 ft
Total Descent
996 ft
Highest Point
837 ft
~44 mi in
Elevation Range
561 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
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 49m. Total distance: 308 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m 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 Linden, 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Linden, 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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