Origin
Austin, TX
Morning in Austin on Sunday
Local time
8:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, TX to Medina, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
130.5 mi
210 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 21m
★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Medina, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
This 130.5-mile drive from Austin, TX to Medina, TX is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 31 minutes. You'll navigate a route with a 27% highway share, primarily utilizing the Purple Heart Trail, Anderson Loop, and State Highway 16 South. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $20. This drive offers a turn-heavy local feel, making it a more engaging experience than a straightforward interstate cruise. Both Austin and Medina reside within the Great Plains region, so expect consistent landscapes throughout your travel.
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
65.2 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 58.3 mi | 1h 3m |
| Anderson Loop | 20.4 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 16 South | 19.6 mi | 23m |
| Bandera Road | 10.8 mi | 13m |
| FM 3240 | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Ranch Road 2828 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 16 North | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| FM 1560 North | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 58.3 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Medina, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 35 South
4
Merge onto I 35; US 290
46 mi
·
50 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 172
Toward Loop 1604: Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward Loop 1604 West: Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 West
11
Merge onto Loop 1604
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward FM 1560: West Hausman Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto FM 1560
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 1560 North
15
Turn straight onto TX 16; FM 1560
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Bandera Road
16
Continue on TX 16
20 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 16 South
17
Turn right onto 13th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
13th Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto TX 173
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
State Highway 173 North
19
Turn left onto FM 3240
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
FM 3240
20
At end of road, turn left onto RM 2828
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Ranch Road 2828
21
Turn right onto TX 16
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 16 North
22
Turn right onto Newcomer Lane
65 ft
·
2 sec
·
Newcomer Lane
23
Arrive at destination
Newcomer Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 31-minute duration, this trip is perfect for a single day. Consider departing Austin in the morning to maximize your time in Medina without feeling rushed. With only one main suggested stop and a relatively low fuel cost of $20, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 58.3-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent in those sections. This route is ideal for those who enjoy a more hands-on driving experience.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.2 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.3 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 29 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.2 miles or 1h 12m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medina, 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 130.5 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 58.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.2 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 83.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Interstate 35
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
62.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward Loop 1604: Anderson Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 172
Toward Loop 1604: Anderson Loop
7
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Loop 1604 West: Anderson Loop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Loop 1604 West: Anderson Loop
6
83.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward FM 1560: West Hausman Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FM 1560: West Hausman Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.72 one way
$39.44 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $21.58 | $43.17 |
| premium | $4.54 | $23.30 | $46.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.81 | $57.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.70 | $6.26 |
| Efficient EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.42 | $5.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.27 | $8.35 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Medina, TX
Morning in Medina on Sunday
Local time
8:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
2h 31m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 63
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 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 130.5-mile excursion. While 27% of the route involves highway travel, much of your time will be spent on local roads, including a significant 58.3-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail. This configuration means you'll be actively steering and navigating more frequently than on a pure highway route. The road character likely shifts between quicker highway sections and more winding, local road experiences as you progress towards Medina.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near North Interstate 35.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 130.5 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 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.9 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.
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 Medina, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 West along the way.
Loop 1604 West
63.4 mi in
|
~1h 10m
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 2h 31m. Total distance: 130.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Medina, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Medina, TX before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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