Origin
Canyon Lake, TX
Morning in Canyon Lake on Sunday
Local time
11:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Canyon Lake, 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 28m
Distance
68.4 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Canyon Lake, TX
Artūras Kokorevas
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from Canyon Lake to Austin, you are looking at a straightforward 63.8-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. This journey stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a seamless transition between two familiar landscapes. You can easily manage this as a single-day excursion, as the modest 1-day recommendation suggests. Budgeting around $9 for fuel covers the trip comfortably, leaving your wallet intact for whatever you have planned in the state capital. Because there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to drive straight through or linger as you please. Ultimately, this route is ideal for those who prefer local roads over the intensity of major interstate travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 46.7 mi | 50m |
| RM 2722 | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| Cranes Mill Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 46 West | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| North Walnut Avenue | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| Oblate Drive | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Interstate 35 South | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 46.7 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Canyon Lake, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Sherwood Drive
87 ft
·
3 sec
·
Sherwood Drive
2
Continue on Canyon Lake Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Canyon Lake Drive
3
Continue on Robin Hood Drive
510 ft
·
26 sec
·
Robin Hood Drive
4
Continue on Robin Hood Drive
528 ft
·
23 sec
·
Robin Hood Drive
5
Turn left onto Lighthouse Drive
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Lighthouse Drive
6
Continue on Oblate Drive
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Oblate Drive
7
At end of road, turn left onto FM 2673
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Cranes Mill Road
8
Keep slight right at fork onto RM 2722
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
RM 2722
9
At end of road, turn left
0.3 mi
·
1 min
10
Turn straight onto TX 46
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 46 West
11
Continue on TX 46 Bus
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
North Walnut Avenue
12
Turn left onto Interstate 35 South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 35 South
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 North
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 35
363 ft
·
4 sec
·
Interstate Highway 35
15
Continue on I 35
47 mi
·
50 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 234C
Toward 6th - 12th Streets
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
18
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
19
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.2 miles from Canyon Lake, 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 2.4 and 68.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
FM 2673 / Cranes Mill Road
At end of road, turn left onto FM 2673 / Cranes Mill Road
Navigation decision point
5
13.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
At end of road, turn left
Navigation decision point
5
20.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 North
7
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward 6th - 12th Streets
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 234C
Toward 6th - 12th Streets
7
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.34 one way
$20.67 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.31 | $22.63 |
| premium | $4.54 | $12.21 | $24.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.10 | $30.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.58 | $4.38 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Morning in Austin on Sunday
Local time
11:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 28m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local thoroughfares like Canyon Lake Drive, Robin Hood Drive, and Lighthouse Drive. Because the longest stretch is essentially zero miles on any single road, you should be prepared for constant changes in direction. This technical profile means you will be actively engaged behind the wheel rather than just cruising along a straight line. It is a distinct experience that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit, so keep your focus on the road as you make your way toward Austin.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near FM 2673 / Cranes Mill Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.4 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 2.4 miles (FM 2673 / Cranes Mill Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,095 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
279 ft
Total Descent
760 ft
Highest Point
1,095 ft
~9.8 mi in
Elevation Range
608 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Canyon Lake, TX
Full guide →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 28m. Total distance: 68.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2.4 miles (FM 2673 / Cranes Mill Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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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