TA
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Port Arthur, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 40m
Distance
250.5 mi
403 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 27m
★
6 AM
4h 40m
8 AM
5h 7m
10 AM
4h 50m
12 PM
4h 47m
3 PM
4h 51m
5 PM
5h 6m
8 PM
4h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Port Arthur, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin to Port Arthur is 250.5 miles and takes about 4h 40m via Texas State Highway 71 and TX 73, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, connecting the Great Plains region. It's a straightforward drive, largely on highways, making it a practical option for a single-day trip. If you're looking for a direct connection between these two points with minimal fuss, this is a solid choice.
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
125.3 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 137 mi | 2h 25m |
| East Freeway | 59.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| TX 73 | 27.3 mi | 29m |
| Katy Freeway | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Katy Tollway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| East 7th Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| East State Highway 71 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Savannah Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Texas State Highway 71
— 137 mi, about 2h 25m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,887 veh/hr typical · worst 5,738
Quietest
2 AM
~583 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
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 Port Arthur, 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
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
East 7th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto Loop 111
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
5
Continue on US 183
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
7
Merge onto 183 Toll
0.8 mi
·
47 sec
·
Bergstrom Expressway
8
Continue on US 183
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on TX 71
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
·
East State Highway 71
13
Continue on TX 71
137 mi
·
2 hr 25 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
18
Continue on I 10; US 90
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
13 mi
·
16 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
40 mi
·
46 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto TX 73
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
TX 73
Exit 828
Toward TX 73, TX 124: Winnie, Port Arthur
22
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 73
25 mi
·
25 min
·
TX 73
23
Take the exit onto TX 73
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
TX 73
Toward TX 73 East: Port Arthur, Groves
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Spur 215
25
Keep slight right at fork
197 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Spur 215
26
Turn straight onto Spur 215
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Savannah Avenue
27
Turn right onto 17th Street
369 ft
·
15 sec
·
17th Street
28
Turn left onto Augusta Avenue
162 ft
·
4 sec
·
Augusta Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
Augusta Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 250.5-mile drive, leaving Austin in the morning will allow you to reach Port Arthur with plenty of daylight. Given the relatively short duration of about 4h 40m, you won't need to split this into an overnight trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Plan for one stop to refuel and stretch your legs; the $36 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting. Keep an eye on your gas gauge as you approach Port Arthur, as the highway portion ends closer to your destination.
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 125.3 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.3 miles or 2h 16m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Arthur, 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 250.5 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 Texas State Highway 71 for about 137 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.3 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137 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 Center
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.4 mi from route
Chambers County Westbound Rest Area
0.5 mi from route
Chambers County Eastbound Rest Area
0.5 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.5 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
1.7 mi from route
Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Colorado County Westbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 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 websiteMuseum of the Gulf Coast
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Port Arthur, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+14099827000
Visit websiteDowntown Aquarium
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Final third
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm
+17132233474
Visit websiteBarbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+17137520314
Visit websiteUnion Station
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Houston, Texas
+17132598070
Visit websiteWaugh Drive Bat Colony
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+17137520314
Visit websiteCidercade Houston
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–12 pm
+13462417524
Visit websiteMidtown Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+17135267577
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 245.9 — 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.
6
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
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom Internation...
6
147.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
7
245.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
|
TX 73
Take the exit onto TX 73 toward TX 73 East: Port Arthur, Groves
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward TX 73 East: Port Arthur, Groves
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.31 one way
$68.62 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $38.32 | $76.65 |
| premium | $4.23 | $41.67 | $83.34 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $47.30 | $94.60 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Katy Tollway
(3.2 mi)
$0.23
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
$34
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.30 | $12.02 |
| Efficient EV | 62.6 | 0 | $21.92 | $10.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.2 | 1 | $35.07 | $16.03 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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
Late night in Austin on Sunday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:39AM CDT until July 19 at 6:12AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:38AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Port Arthur, TX
Late night in Port Arthur on Sunday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Partly Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:39AM CDT until July 19 at 6:12AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:38AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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
16 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
4h 40m 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 96% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of highway at 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. The transition to surface roads will occur towards the end of your trip, likely after the majority of your driving is complete. Expect a consistent cruising experience for most of the 4h 40m duration.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137 mi on Texas State Highway 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and East Freeway. 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
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 250.5 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 0.3 miles (Red River Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
487 ft
0 ft
Total Climb
42 ft
Total Descent
528 ft
Highest Point
487 ft
Elevation Range
486 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 Port Arthur, TX
Full guide →Port Arthur is in the Gulf Coast region of 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 4h 40m. Total distance: 250.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.23 in tolls one way, starting with Katy Tollway. 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 Port Arthur, 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.
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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Port Arthur, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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