Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Pittsburg, 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 23m
Distance
285.4 mi
459 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 10m
★
6 AM
5h 23m
8 AM
5h 50m
10 AM
5h 33m
12 PM
5h 30m
3 PM
5h 34m
5 PM
5h 49m
8 PM
5h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Pittsburg, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin to Pittsburg is 285.4 miles and takes about 5h 23m via Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 31 East, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region of Austin into another area of the Great Plains near Pittsburg. It's a single-day trip that offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive across the state without needing an overnight stop.
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
142.7 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 96.1 mi | 1h 40m |
| State Highway 31 | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| State Highway 31 East | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| North Tyler Street | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| US 271 | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| 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 60 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 Pittsburg, 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
16 mi
·
18 min
·
North Tyler Street
Use the left lane.
38
Continue on US 271
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US 271
39
Turn left onto Loop 238
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Rusk Street
40
Turn right onto Church Street
397 ft
·
17 sec
·
Church Street
41
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 5 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving Austin in the morning should give you plenty of daylight to reach Pittsburg. You'll encounter only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps around the 96.1-mile mark on the Purple Heart Trail where the road type might change. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, as services can become less frequent in some stretches.
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 142.7 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 34m 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 63 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.7 miles or 2h 34m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburg, 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 285.4 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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
143 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 142.7 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 websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Early stretch
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
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 websiteTyler Rose Garden
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~11 min detour
Final third
4.6 mi from route
~11 min detour
Tyler, Texas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+19035311212
Visit websiteTyler Rose Museum & Gift Shop
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~11 min detour
Final third
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Tyler, Texas
Hours: 9 am–4:30 pm
+19035973130
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 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
$39.09 one way
$78.18 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
100 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $43.66 | $87.33 |
| premium | $4.23 | $47.47 | $94.95 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $53.89 | $107.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85.6 | 1 | $29.97 | $13.70 |
| Efficient EV | 71.4 | 0 | $24.97 | $11.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.2 | 1 | $39.96 | $18.27 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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
Night in Austin on Monday
Local time
9:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:53PM CDT until July 21 at 3:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:52PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Pittsburg, TX
Night in Pittsburg on Monday
Local time
9:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:53PM CDT until July 21 at 3:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:52PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
100°F
Italy, TX
143 mi in
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
3 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 23m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 98.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 43% of this 285.4-mile drive is on highways, meaning you'll encounter some surface roads for a significant portion. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 96.1 miles, primarily on the Purple Heart Trail. You'll likely notice a shift from more developed areas to more rural cruising as you progress eastward, with fewer exits and a more open feel on the surface road sections.
43% 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 21 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 285.4 miles you will encounter 21 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
902 ft
313 ft
Total Climb
948 ft
Total Descent
1,042 ft
Highest Point
902 ft
~40.8 mi in
Elevation Range
589 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 Pittsburg, TX
Full guide →Pittsburg is a city in the Central Piney Woods of east Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Pittsburg Commercial Historic District — historic district in Pittsburg, Camp County, Texas
- • Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Center and Museum — history museum in Pittsburg, Texas
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 23m. Total distance: 285.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m 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 Pittsburg, 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pittsburg, 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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