Origin
Belton, TX
Late night in Belton on Sunday
Local time
2:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belton, TX to Austin, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
60.5 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Belton to Austin, you are looking at a straightforward 60.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you won't experience drastic shifts in landscape or climate. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the modest 1-hour drive time makes a return trip or a quick turnaround entirely feasible. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, it is an economical choice for commuters or weekend travelers. Because there are no mandatory stops required to complete the drive, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination or build in your own itinerary as you see fit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Congress Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South I-35 Frontage Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 55.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belton, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on TX 317
215 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto South I-35 Frontage Road
347 ft
·
6 sec
·
South I-35 Frontage Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 190 West
5
Merge onto I 35; US 190
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
12
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Belton, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 60.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
57.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
8
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson Univer...
6
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
East 6th Street
Turn right onto East 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.14 one way
$18.28 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $10.01 | $20.01 |
| premium | $4.54 | $10.80 | $21.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.36 | $26.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Austin, TX
Late night in Austin on Sunday
Local time
2:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Georgetown, TX
30 mi in
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
1h 6m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 93% of this route is comprised of high-speed transit. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-35, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 55.8 miles. The journey transitions from the local feel of East Central Avenue and the Purple Heart Trail onto the interstate for the bulk of the transit. While the drive is characterized by its directness and speed rather than winding scenery, it provides a consistent pace behind the wheel. You will find that the road maintains a predictable, utilitarian character that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B without unnecessary deviations.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.5 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
931 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
514 ft
Total Descent
543 ft
Highest Point
931 ft
~21.6 mi in
Elevation Range
444 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Belton, TX
Full guide →Founded 1850
Top landmarks
- • Bell County Courthouse — historic place in Belton, Bell County, Texas
Arriving 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 1h 6m. Total distance: 60.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Austin, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Austin, TX before heading back.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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