Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Trophy Club, 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 44m
Distance
211 mi
340 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 32m
★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trophy Club, TX
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
This 211-mile journey from Austin to Trophy Club, Texas, is a straightforward, single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes. You'll navigate primarily on I-35W and the I-35W TEXpress, with a significant portion on the Purple Heart Trail. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, this drive is budget-friendly. The route is considered a mixed drive, offering a blend of highway speeds and potentially some local road transitions. Both Austin and Trophy Club are situated within the Great Plains region, so you'll experience consistent landscape throughout your travels. This drive is ideal for completing in one go, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a necessary commute.
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
105.5 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m 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 | 13.8 mi | 14m |
| Alliance Gateway Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Northwest Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East 5th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Trophy Club Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 129.2 mi, about 2h 14m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,438 veh/hr typical · worst 4,158
Quietest
2 AM
~581 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Trophy Club, 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
14 mi
·
14 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
Toward I 35W Express North: I 35W TEXpress North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto TX 170 Toll
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Alliance Gateway Freeway
Toward TX 170 East: TX 170 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto TX 170
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Alliance Gateway Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto TX 114
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
Northwest Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Trophy Club Drive, Westlake Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto East State Highway 114
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East State Highway 114
17
Turn left onto Westlake Parkway
459 ft
·
18 sec
·
Westlake Parkway
18
Continue on Trophy Club Drive
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Trophy Club Drive
19
Turn right onto Indian Creek Drive
388 ft
·
16 sec
·
Indian Creek Drive
20
Turn left onto Hogans Drive
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Hogans Drive
21
Turn left onto Hamper Court
358 ft
·
15 sec
·
Hamper Court
22
Arrive at destination
Hamper Court
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 44-minute drive, leaving Austin in the morning, perhaps before peak traffic, is advisable. With only one recommended stop for a 211-mile trip, you have flexibility in pacing. Consider taking your break around the halfway point to break up the 129.2-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $32, and plan your refueling accordingly. Given the relatively short duration, no overnight stay is necessary, allowing for a more spontaneous departure. A useful tip is to check real-time traffic conditions on I-35W before you depart, as this corridor can experience congestion.
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 105.5 miles from Austin, TX, or about 1h 52m 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 46 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.5 miles or 1h 52m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Trophy Club, 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 211 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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
106 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.5 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
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
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
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
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
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Halfway reset
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
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 websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websiteJim Hogg Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
First break
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
Georgetown, Texas
+15129305253
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 209.9 — 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.
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
209.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 41m in
Take the exit toward Trophy Club Drive, Westlake Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Trophy Club Drive, Westlake Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.90 one way
$57.80 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $32.28 | $64.56 |
| premium | $4.23 | $35.10 | $70.19 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $39.84 | $79.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.06
Northwest Parkway
(0.5 mi)
$0.06
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
$29
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.16 | $10.13 |
| Efficient EV | 52.8 | 0 | $18.46 | $8.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.4 | 1 | $29.54 | $13.50 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:39PM CDT until July 18 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:33PM CDT until July 18 at 6:30PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Trophy Club, TX
Late night in Trophy Club on Monday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 15 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:39PM CDT until July 18 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:33PM CDT until July 18 at 6:30PM CDT by NWS Amarillo 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
3 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 44m 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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 101.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 38% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 129.2 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which may offer a more consistent pace. The inclusion of I-35W and the I-35W TEXpress suggests periods of faster travel, typical of major interstate corridors. As you progress towards Trophy Club, the road character will shift between these high-speed segments and potentially other road types, keeping the driving experience varied. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of the interstate and potentially more local road conditions.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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?
8/10
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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 211 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
Gently rolling terrain
837 ft
454 ft
Total Climb
1,029 ft
Total Descent
907 ft
Highest Point
837 ft
~15.1 mi in
Elevation Range
383 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 Trophy Club, TX
Full guide →Founded 1973
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 44m. Total distance: 211 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m 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.
Expect about $0.06 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Parkway. 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 20 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 Trophy Club, 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 20 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 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Trophy Club, 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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