This straightforward 152.3-mile drive from Austin, TX to Markham, TX is easily accomplished in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 7 minutes. The route is heavily focused on highways, with 97% of it utilizing main roads like Texas State Highway 71 and FM 1468, making for an efficient journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $23, this trip offers a budget-friendly option for reaching your destination within the Great Plains region. Its direct nature and manageable duration make it an ideal candidate for a day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
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
76.2 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Texas State Highway 71
78.7 mi
1h 23m
State Highway 71 South
53.3 mi
1h 11m
FM 1468
9.9 mi
17m
East 7th Street
3 mi
4m
East State Highway 71
2.7 mi
3m
Bastrop Freeway
1.9 mi
2m
Bergstrom Expressway
0.8 mi
<1m
Bastrop Highway
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Texas State Highway 71
— 78.7 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Markham, 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
3.0 mi·4 min·East 7th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto Loop 111
0.2 mi·19 sec·Airport Boulevard
5
Continue on US 183
0.1 mi·8 sec·Ed Bluestein Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
7
Merge onto 183 Toll
0.8 mi·47 sec·Bergstrom Expressway
8
Continue on US 183
0.4 mi·26 sec·Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International AirportUse the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi·2 min·East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
1.9 mi·2 min·Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on TX 71
0.5 mi·29 sec·East State Highway 71
13
Continue on TX 71
79 mi·1 hr 23 min·Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
365 ft·8 sec
Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo
15
Continue on TX 71
0.3 mi·35 sec·TX 71
Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo
16
Turn right onto TX 71
53 mi·1 hr 11 min·State Highway 71 South
17
Turn left onto FM 1468
9.9 mi·17 min·FM 1468
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
FM 1468
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3-hour and 7-minute duration of this 152.3-mile trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Leaving in the morning will allow ample time at your destination in Markham, TX, with only one main road change to consider. The fuel cost is estimated at a modest $23, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Austin, TX, as the longest stretch without a significant road change is 78.7 miles. While the drive is predominantly on highways, pay attention to the transition onto FM 1468, which may indicate a slight change in road character as you approach Markham.
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 76.2 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.7 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 34 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.2 miles or 1h 24m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Markham, 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 152.3 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 Texas State Highway 71 for about 78.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 142.5 — 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.
6
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
5.2 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom Internation...
5
7.9 mi into trip|~11m in|71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 T...
6
142.5 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|FM 1468
Turn left onto FM 1468
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.01 one way
$46.03 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$25.19
$50.38
premium
$4.54
$27.19
$54.38
diesel
$5.61
$33.63
$67.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.7
0
$15.99
$7.31
Efficient EV
38.1
0
$13.33
$6.09
EV Truck/SUV
60.9
0
$21.32
$9.75
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 16, 2026
Origin
Austin, TX
Late night
in Austin on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Markham, TX
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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 7m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for nearly the entire 152.3 miles, with 97% of the journey on established roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 78.7 miles on Texas State Highway 71. This segment will likely feel like a steady, efficient cruise, characteristic of a well-maintained highway. As you progress, the route primarily utilizes Texas State Highway 71 and then transitions to State Highway 71 South and FM 1468, maintaining a consistent driving profile with minimal deviations into slower, local roads.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.7 mi on Texas State Highway 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and State Highway 71 South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Red River Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 7m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Austin, TX and Markham, TX, road signs point toward 71 Toll East and El Campo.
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
The longest stretch is about 78.7 miles on Texas State Highway 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Markham, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
