Trip from Austin, TX to Scissors, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 50m

Distance

320 mi

515 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 37m ★

6 AM

5h 50m

8 AM

6h 16m

10 AM

5h 59m

12 PM

5h 57m

3 PM

6h 1m

5 PM

6h 15m

8 PM

5h 42m

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

Scissors, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 320-mile drive from Austin, TX, to Scissors, TX, will take approximately 5 hours and 50 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily travel on South Nueces Street and I-37, with a portion on Purple Heart Trail, covering 56% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $48 for this route. As both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, the landscape will likely maintain a consistent feel. This trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination 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

160 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South Nueces Street	66.2 mi	1h 10m
I 37	60.5 mi	1h 1m
Purple Heart Trail	58.3 mi	1h 3m
Falfurrias Expressway	55.8 mi	58m
I 69C	27.9 mi	30m
US 281 South	15.2 mi	19m
Connally Loop	11 mi	12m
North Pan Am Expressway	10 mi	11m

Longest stretch: South Nueces Street — 66.2 mi, about 1h 10m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~4,203 veh/hr typical

Quietest

3 AM

~766 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.5×

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 Scissors, TX.

Start on East 5th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 5th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35

0.4 mi · 39 sec · North Interstate 35

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward I 35 South

Merge onto I 35; US 290

46 mi · 50 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

10.0 mi · 11 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 410

11 mi · 12 min · Connally Loop

Toward I 410 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 37

60 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South

Toward US 281 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

56 mi · 58 min · Falfurrias Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

18 mi · 20 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 2 East; US 83 East

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I 2 East; US 83 East

Continue on I 2; US 83

7.4 mi · 8 min · I 2; US 83

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 155A Toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Expressway 83

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Expressway 83

Turn right onto FM 493

2.8 mi · 4 min · North Salinas Boulevard

Turn right onto Lott Road

0.2 mi · 57 sec · Lott Road

Turn left onto Grande Street

362 ft · 17 sec · Grande Street

Turn right onto Cortez Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Cortez Street

Arrive at destination

Cortez Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 50-minute duration, starting your journey in Austin early in the morning is a good strategy to maximize daylight and arrive with ample time. 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 before entering longer stretches like the 66.2 miles on South Nueces Street, to avoid any unexpected delays. Plan your fuel stops strategically, as the estimated fuel cost is $48.

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 160 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.2 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 70 miles or 1h 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 160 miles or 2h 54m 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 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scissors, 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 320 miles and 5h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 South Nueces Street for about 66.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Live Oak County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

George West, TX

160 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

Converse, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

George West, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 160 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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

Morgan's Wonderland

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12104955888

Visit website

Tube Chute

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

+18302214000

Visit website

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18306291572

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 12–9 pm

+12104675504

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 316.2 — 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 | North Interstate 35

At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

71.1 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | I 410 / Connally Loop

Keep slight right at fork onto I 410 / Connally Loop toward I 410 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 410 South

82 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

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 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...

82.2 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi

316.2 mi into trip | ~5h 42m in

Take the exit toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 155A Toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.83 one way

$87.66 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 112 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$48.96	$97.91
premium	$4.23	$53.23	$106.46
diesel	$4.80	$60.42	$120.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 112 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	96	1	$33.60	$15.36
Efficient EV	80	0	$28.00	$12.80
EV Truck/SUV	128	1	$44.80	$20.48

Gas CO2

112 kg

EV CO2

37 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.

Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Afternoon in Austin on Sunday

Local time

12:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

92°F

Partly Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:03AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Scissors, TX

Afternoon in Scissors on Sunday

Local time

12:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

97°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 17 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:03AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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

5 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

5h 50m 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.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 88.3

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

The character of this drive is a mixed bag, offering a blend of highway speeds and more local road experiences. With 56% of the route on highways, you'll find opportunities for steady progress. However, be prepared for a significant stretch of 66.2 miles on South Nueces Street, which may present a different pace. The 'Mixed drive' profile suggests you'll experience shifts in road type and speed limits throughout the 320 miles, so keep your driving style adaptable.

56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 66.2 mi on South Nueces Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 0.5 miles in near North Interstate 35.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 19 significant decision points across 320 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 (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

755 ft 77 ft

Total Climb

390 ft

Total Descent

800 ft

Highest Point

755 ft

~68.6 mi in

Elevation Range

679 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Austin, TX to Scissors, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.

Corpus Christi

82 mi in | ~1h 31m

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 Scissors, 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 5h 50m. Total distance: 320 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 66.2 miles on South Nueces Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 27 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 Scissors, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scissors, 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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Trip from Austin, TX to Scissors, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Brooks County Rest Area

Service Plaza

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Rest Area

Rest Area

Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area

Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

TA

Pilot Travel Center

Marlstone Retail Center

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Petro Stopping Centers

TA

Flying J Travel Center

QuikTrip

Austin Bat Tours

Morgan's Wonderland

Tube Chute

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Museum of South Texas History

Gibson Park

Wonder Chamber

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Austin, TX

Scissors, TX

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 50m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Austin, TX

Arriving in Scissors, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

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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