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Trip from Austin, TX to Tatum, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 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

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Tatum, TX, TX

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 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Red River Street — —
East 7th Street — —
Interstate 35 — —
I 35 North — —
Purple Heart Trail — —
US 290 East — —
Manor Expressway — —
TX 130 — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Red River Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

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
2

Turn left onto Red River Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Red River Street
3

Turn right onto East 7th Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 7th Street
4

Turn left onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 27 sec · North Interstate 35
5

Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, US 290 East

0.2 mi · 22 sec · I 35 North, US 290 East
6

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Purple Heart Trail
7

Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail

2.9 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Trail
8

Take the exit slight right toward US 290 East: Houston

2.5 mi · 3 min · US 290 East: Houston
9

Continue on Manor Expressway

4.2 mi · 4 min · Manor Expressway
10

Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll North, TX 130 Toll South: Georgetown, San Antonio

0.5 mi · 1 min · TX 130 Toll North, TX 130 Toll South: Georgetown, San Antonio
11

Keep slight left to continue on TX 130 Toll North: Georgetown

0.9 mi · 1 min · TX 130 Toll North: Georgetown
12

Merge slight left onto Pickle Parkway

13 mi · 11 min · Pickle Parkway
13

Take the exit slight right toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley Boulevard

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley Boulevard
14

Continue on US 79: Palm Valley Boulevard

0.3 mi · 34 sec · 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 right

0.4 mi · 33 sec
17

Merge slight left onto Palm Valley Boulevard

5.0 mi · 6 min · Palm Valley Boulevard
18

Continue on West 2nd Street

3.1 mi · 3 min · West 2nd Street
19

Take the exit slight right toward US 79 North: Rockdale

0.2 mi · 26 sec · US 79 North: Rockdale
20

Continue on Carlos G Parker Boulevard Southwest

4.3 mi · 4 min · Carlos G Parker Boulevard Southwest
21

Keep slight right

53 mi · 1 hr 5 min
22

Take the exit straight

0.1 mi · 27 sec
23

At the end of the road, turn left onto South Market Street

1.6 mi · 1 min · South Market Street
24

Continue on North State Highway 6

0.3 mi · 22 sec · North State Highway 6
25

Keep slight left

79 mi · 1 hr 30 min
26

Merge slight left

67 mi · 1 hr 29 min
27

Turn right

19 mi · 22 min
28

Turn left onto Hill Street

144 ft · 2 sec · Hill Street
29

Arrive at your destination

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 38m into the drive.

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 38m 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 20m

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.

Where to Stop

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

city in Brazos County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

College Station, TX

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

Taylor, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

College Station, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.6 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your 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 website

Botanical 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 website

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$39.15 one way

$78.30 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $42.85 $85.71
premium $4.54 $46.26 $92.52
diesel $5.61 $57.21 $114.41

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, 2026-04-13.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Austin, TX

Night in Austin on Saturday

Local time

11:15 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tatum, TX

Night in Tatum on Saturday

Local time

11:15 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

11 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 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.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Red River Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, TX to Tatum, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, TX to Tatum, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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