TXDAR Centennial Park - Old Nashville Site
0 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Tatum, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
259.1 mi
417 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
15 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 44m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 24m
3 PM
5h 28m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Tatum, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
This 259.1-mile journey from Austin to Tatum, Texas, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 5 hours and 17 minutes to complete. Expect a fuel cost of around $40 for this drive. The route primarily follows local roads, with a 'turn-heavy' profile, suggesting frequent navigation adjustments rather than a continuous highway cruise. As both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, you won't experience a significant shift in landscape. Consider this a straightforward, albeit engaging, drive across the state.
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
129.6 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 79 | 199.3 mi | 4h 5m |
| TX 43 | 18.9 mi | 22m |
| Pickle Parkway | 12.8 mi | 11m |
| Palm Valley Boulevard | 5 mi | 6m |
| Carlos G Parker Boulevard Southwest | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Manor Expressway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| West 2nd Street | 3.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 79
— 199.3 mi, about 4h 5m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,271 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~982 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 101 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 Tatum, 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
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 290
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
US 290
Exit 238B
Toward US 290 East: Houston
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on 290 Toll
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Manor Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 130 Toll North, TX 130 Toll South: Georgetown, San Antonio
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Georgetown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto TX 45 Toll; TX 130 Toll
13 mi
·
11 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 423
Toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
this road
Exit 423
Toward US 79: Palm Valley Boulevard
15
Continue on TX 130 Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
TX 130 Frontage Road
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
17
Merge onto US 79
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Palm Valley Boulevard
18
Continue on US 79
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West 2nd Street
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 79 North: Rockdale
20
Continue on US 79
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Carlos G Parker Boulevard Southwest
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 79
53 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
US 79
22
Take the exit onto US 79; US 190
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 79; US 190
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 79; US 190; TX 6
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Market Street
24
Continue on US 79; TX 6
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
North State Highway 6
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 79
79 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
US 79
26
Merge onto US 79; US 84
67 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
US 79; US 84
27
Turn right onto TX 43
19 mi
·
22 min
·
TX 43
28
Turn left onto TX 149
143 ft
·
2 sec
·
Hill Street
29
Arrive at destination
TX 149
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 5 hours, this 259.1-mile trip from Austin to Tatum is easily achievable in one day. Aim for an early morning departure from Austin to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for any unforeseen delays on the local roads. Given the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route, it's wise to have your navigation system set up and easily accessible before you begin. Budget approximately $40 for fuel, and keep in mind that with frequent turns, you'll likely encounter more opportunities for quick stops at local businesses than you would on a straight highway drive.
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 129.6 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.3 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 57 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.6 miles or 2h 36m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tatum, 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 259.1 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 US 79 for about 199.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129.6 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 199.3 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.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.9 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
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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 25.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
7
4.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 290
Take the exit onto US 290 toward US 290 East: Houston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 238B
Toward US 290 East: Houston
7
11.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll North, TX 130 Toll South: Georgetown, San Antonio
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.
Toward TX 130 Toll North, TX 130 Toll South: Ge...
7
11.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Georgetown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Georgetown
8
25.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley Boulevard
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 423
Toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley B...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.90 one way
$77.79 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $43.04 | $86.07 |
| premium | $4.57 | $46.57 | $93.13 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $64.02 | $128.04 |
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: 90.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
15 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Austin, TX - East Stassney Lane - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Austin, TX - South Lamar Boulevard - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
PIE AE TRAVIS CO DC 1
Austin, TX
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC4
Austin, TX
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC3
Austin, TX
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC2
Austin, TX
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
PIE AE AUSTIN HS DCFC1
Austin, TX
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
PIE AE SEAHOLM DC7
Austin, TX
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 13
Tesla: 2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.7 | 0 | $27.21 | $12.44 |
| Efficient EV | 64.8 | 0 | $22.67 | $10.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.6 | 1 | $36.27 | $16.58 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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
Afternoon in Austin on Friday
Local time
4:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued October 23 at 12:53PM MDT until October 23 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa...
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 12:29PM MDT until October 25 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Destination
Tatum, TX
Afternoon in Tatum on Friday
Local time
4:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
SE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued October 23 at 12:53PM MDT until October 23 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa...
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 12:29PM MDT until October 25 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
54°F
Buffalo, TX
130 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 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 17m 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 leans heavily into local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and zero percent highway share. You'll be navigating a series of streets and potentially county roads for the majority of the 259.1 miles, rather than cruising on interstates. While there's no mention of a 'longest stretch,' the frequent turns mean you'll be actively engaged with the road. This isn't a monotonous highway experience; rather, it's a more involved route that requires constant attention to navigation.
92% 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: 199.3 mi on US 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 79 and TX 43. 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
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 23 significant decision points across 259.1 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 4.4 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 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
638 ft
242 ft
Total Climb
634 ft
Total Descent
784 ft
Highest Point
638 ft
~18.5 mi in
Elevation Range
397 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Tatum, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Round Rock along the way.
Round Rock
25.3 mi in
|
~29m
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 Tatum, 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 17m. Total distance: 259.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 199.3 miles on US 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Tatum, 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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (East 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tatum, 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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tatum, TX
More trips to Tatum, TX
Explore more options from Austin, TX or browse trips ending in Tatum, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.