Vaccums
0 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Olney, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 6m
Distance
258.4 mi
416 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 53m
★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Olney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin to Olney is 258 miles and takes about 5 hours and 6 minutes via North US Highway 281, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the same region. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a good candidate for a single-day excursion. This route is a practical choice for getting between these two Texas locales efficiently.
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
129.2 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North US Highway 281 | 80 mi | 1h 30m |
| Morgan Mill Road | 39.9 mi | 44m |
| North US Highway 183 | 35.7 mi | 38m |
| State Highway 337 | 21.1 mi | 21m |
| 183A Toll | 14.6 mi | 14m |
| State Highway 16 | 14.2 mi | 20m |
| US 183 | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 114 East | 9.8 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
North US Highway 281
— 80 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,290 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~977 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.4×
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 Olney, 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
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 240B
Toward US 183 North: Lampasas
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 183
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on 183A Toll
15 mi
·
14 min
·
183A Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 183
36 mi
·
38 min
·
North US Highway 183
12
Continue on US 183
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
South Key Avenue
13
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North US Highway 281
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 281
43 mi
·
49 min
·
North US Highway 281
15
Continue on US 281
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Rice Street
16
Continue on US 281
19 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
17
Continue on US 281
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Walnut Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 281; TX 6
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
North 2nd Street
19
Continue on US 281; TX 6
18 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
20
Continue on US 281
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Road
21
Continue on US 281
40 mi
·
44 min
·
Morgan Mill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 281
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Oak Avenue
23
Turn left onto US 180; BH
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hubbard Street
24
Continue on US 180; BH
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 180 West
25
Turn right onto TX 337
21 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 337
26
Continue on TX 16
14 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 16
27
Continue on TX 16
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Elm Street
28
Continue on US Highway 380 West
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 380 West
29
Turn right onto FM 1769
8.0 mi
·
14 min
·
FM 1769
30
Turn left onto TX 114
9.8 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 114 East
31
Continue on TX 114
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
TX 114
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, leaving Austin in the morning should allow you to reach Olney with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 80-mile stretch on North US Highway 281, as services might be less frequent in certain areas. The fuel cost is estimated at $38, so plan accordingly. This drive is manageable in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an early afternoon departure.
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 129.2 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 57 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.2 miles or 2h 27m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Olney, 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 258.4 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 North US Highway 281 for about 80 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129.2 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North US Highway 281 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80 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.
Service Plaza
0.1 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 websiteLakeline Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
First break
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Cedar Park, Texas
+15124015500
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
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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 5.5 — 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.
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.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Interstate 35
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left 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.
7
5.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward US 183 North: Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 240B
Toward US 183 North: Lampasas
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.39 one way
$70.79 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $39.53 | $79.07 |
| premium | $4.23 | $42.98 | $85.96 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $48.79 | $97.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.5 | 0 | $27.13 | $12.40 |
| Efficient EV | 64.6 | 0 | $22.61 | $10.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.4 | 1 | $36.18 | $16.54 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Night in Austin on Monday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 22 at 7:46AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 21 at 3:48AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Olney, TX
Night in Olney on Monday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
14% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 22 at 7:46AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 21 at 3:48AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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
6 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
5h 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 72% of the route on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 80 miles on North US Highway 281, offering extended periods of cruising. The route transitions from highway to surface roads, suggesting you'll encounter more local traffic and intersections as you get closer to your destination. The profile is mostly highway, so anticipate a consistent driving experience for the majority of the 5-hour trip.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80 mi on North US Highway 281.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North US Highway 281 and Morgan Mill Road. 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 15 significant decision points across 258.4 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 0.6 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,260 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
1,209 ft
Total Descent
513 ft
Highest Point
1,260 ft
~110.8 mi in
Elevation Range
774 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 Olney, TX
Full guide →Founded 1909
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 6m. Total distance: 258.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80 miles on North US Highway 281. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Olney, 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 2 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 0.6 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Olney, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Olney, TX
Explore more options from Austin, TX or browse trips ending in Olney, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.