Trip from Austin, TX to Pelican Bay, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 56m

Distance

209.9 mi

338 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 43m ★

6 AM

3h 56m

8 AM

4h 22m

10 AM

4h 5m

12 PM

4h 3m

3 PM

4h 6m

5 PM

4h 21m

8 PM

3h 48m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Pelican Bay, TX

Tori Pezzulla❤️

Trip Overview

Austin, TX to Pelican Bay, TX is 209.9 miles and takes about 3h 56m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward Texas drive. Expect a mix of highway cruising and more intricate local roads as you head north. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and potential detours.

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

105 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	129.2 mi	2h 14m
I 35W	50.4 mi	52m
Jacksboro Highway	13.3 mi	17m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
Boyd Road	2.1 mi	3m
Lake Worth Boulevard	2 mi	3m
Sandy Beach Road	1.4 mi	5m
Henderson Street	1.1 mi	1m

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Pelican Bay, 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

50 mi · 52 min · I 35W

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

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 2 min

Exit 51A Toward I 30 West: Abilene Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Exit 13B Toward TX 199: Henderson Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

231 ft · 5 sec

Toward Henderson Street

Keep slight right at fork

325 ft · 8 sec

Use the right lane.

Turn slight right onto TX 199

1.1 mi · 1 min · Henderson Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Enter roundabout onto North Henderson Street

158 ft · 2 sec · North Henderson Street

Continue on North Henderson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Henderson Street

Continue on TX 199

4.5 mi · 7 min · Jacksboro Highway

Use the left lane.

Continue on TX 199

2.0 mi · 3 min · Lake Worth Boulevard

Use the straight / left lanes.

Take the exit onto TX 199

8.8 mi · 9 min · Jacksboro Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 13 sec

Toward FM 730: Boyd Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Northwest Parkway

484 ft · 12 sec · Northwest Parkway

Turn right onto FM 730

2.1 mi · 3 min · Boyd Road

Turn right onto Sandy Beach Road

1.4 mi · 5 min · Sandy Beach Road

Turn right onto Long Boulevard

380 ft · 21 sec · Long Boulevard

Turn left onto Long Circle

0.1 mi · 35 sec · Long Circle

Turn left onto Sheila Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Sheila Drive

Arrive at destination

Sheila Drive

Trip Plan

With a total drive time under 4 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day, so feel free to depart mid-morning to avoid early rush hour. You have flexibility in planning stops, but consider breaking up the 129.2-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway stretches are limited, and refueling opportunities might be more spaced out on the local roads. The entire trip is within Texas, so you'll be familiar with the general road conditions.

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 105 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 52m 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 46 miles or 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 105 miles or 1h 52m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pelican Bay, 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 209.9 miles and 3h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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.

city in McLennan County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West, TX

105 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

Belton, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waco, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 105 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1.8 mi from route

Rest Area

1.8 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 website

Botanical 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

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Georgetown, Texas

+15129305253

Visit website

White Settlement Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

White Settlement, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+18172469719

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 188.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | East 7th Street

Turn right onto East 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

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

187.2 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in

Take the exit toward I 30 West: Abilene

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 51A Toward I 30 West: Abilene

188.3 mi into trip | ~3h 19m in

Take the exit toward TX 199: Henderson Street

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 13B Toward TX 199: Henderson Street

188.7 mi into trip | ~3h 19m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.72 one way

$63.43 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$34.72	$69.43
premium	$4.54	$37.48	$74.95
diesel	$5.61	$46.34	$92.69

Estimated Tolls: $0.01

Northwest Parkway (0.1 mi) $0.01

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	63	0	$22.04	$10.08
Efficient EV	52.5	0	$18.37	$8.40
EV Truck/SUV	84	1	$29.39	$13.43

Gas CO2

73 kg

EV CO2

25 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 18, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Morning in Austin on Tuesday

Local time

7:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

N 15 mph 58% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 11:30AM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 11:14AM CDT until April 19 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

Pelican Bay, TX

Morning in Pelican Bay on Tuesday

Local time

7:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

N 15 mph 24% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 11:30AM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 11:14AM CDT until April 19 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo 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

8 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 56m 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 ~12 min detour Free near mile 101.3

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 27% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a dynamic road profile, moving from faster sections to more engaging local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 129.2 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a substantial period of consistent driving before transitions occur. Be prepared for frequent changes in speed limits and road conditions as you navigate through various towns and local thoroughfares.

Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

28 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?

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 East 7th Street.

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 21 significant decision points across 209.9 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 (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 136.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Pelican Bay, TX

Full guide →

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 56m. Total distance: 209.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads 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.

Expect about $0.01 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 24 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 Pelican Bay, 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 24 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 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Pelican Bay, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Austin, TX to Pelican Bay, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

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

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

Rest Area

Waterfall Overlook

Rest Area

Hill Arbor

Rest Area

Austin Bat Tours

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Doris D Miller Park

Bicentennial Park

Fort Worth Herd

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Jim Hogg Park

White Settlement Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Austin, TX

Pelican Bay, TX

Same local time

8 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 56m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Austin, TX

Arriving in Pelican Bay, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

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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