Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Ponder, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 57m
Distance
219.8 mi
354 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 45m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 4m
3 PM
4h 8m
5 PM
4h 22m
8 PM
3h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Ponder, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin, TX to Ponder, TX is 219.8 miles and takes about 3h 57m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the rolling landscapes of the Great Plains in Texas to a similar region, keeping you within the Lone Star State. The drive is mostly on a mix of highway and surface roads, offering a balanced experience for travelers. With a recommended single day of travel, this route is ideal for a quick trip or as a segment of a larger Texas adventure.
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
109.9 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 129.2 mi | 2h 14m |
| I 35W | 51.5 mi | 54m |
| I 35W TEXpress | 16.3 mi | 16m |
| South FM 156 | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Eagle Parkway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| North Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Old FM 156 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 129.2 mi, about 2h 14m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 92 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,420 veh/hr typical · worst 4,120
Quietest
2 AM
~567 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Ponder, 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
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
52 mi
·
54 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit onto I 35W TEXpress
16 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
Toward I 35W Express North: I 35W TEXpress North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 35W
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 68
Toward Eagle Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto North Freeway
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
North Freeway
15
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Eagle Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Old FM 156
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Old FM 156
17
Continue on Blue Mound Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Blue Mound Road
18
Turn right onto FM 156
12 mi
·
16 min
·
South FM 156
Use the straight lane.
19
Arrive at destination
FM 156
Trip Plan
Given the estimated drive time of under four hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing from Austin in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow for a relaxed pace. The longest stretch of 129.2 miles on the Purple Heart Trail suggests a segment where you might want to ensure you have sufficient fuel before starting, as services could be less frequent. Plan for your single stop to be well-timed to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point, to stay refreshed for the remainder of your 219.8-mile trip.
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 109.9 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 56m 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 48 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.9 miles or 1h 56m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ponder, 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 219.8 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 109.9 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 129.2 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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
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
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Buc-ee's
1.8 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.1 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 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
Fort Worth Herd
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteTornado Terry's Family Amusement Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: Closed
+18174316121
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
Final third
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websiteBarton 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 websiteVillage of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
Early stretch
3.4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 205.2 — 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.
7
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
7
205.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 35m in
Take the exit toward Eagle Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 68
Toward Eagle Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.11 one way
$60.21 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $33.63 | $67.26 |
| premium | $4.23 | $36.56 | $73.12 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $41.50 | $83.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.08 | $10.55 |
| Efficient EV | 55 | 0 | $19.23 | $8.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.9 | 1 | $30.77 | $14.07 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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
Late night in Austin on Monday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:08PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:04PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Destination
Ponder, TX
Late night in Ponder on Monday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:08PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:04PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
100°F
Italy, TX
110 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 57m 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 106.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 41% of this 219.8-mile drive on highways, with the remaining portion on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 129.2 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mixed driving experience, transitioning from potentially busier highway sections to more open surface roads as you progress north. This means you'll notice a change in traffic density and exit frequency as you move between these road types.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 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?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 13 significant decision points across 219.8 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 1.5 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
821 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
917 ft
Total Descent
673 ft
Highest Point
821 ft
~15.7 mi in
Elevation Range
335 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 Ponder, 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 57m. Total distance: 219.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Ponder, 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 23 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 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 Ponder, 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, 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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