Trip from Citrus City, TX to Austin, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 55m

Distance

314.9 mi

507 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 42m ★

6 AM

5h 55m

8 AM

6h 21m

10 AM

6h 4m

12 PM

6h 2m

3 PM

6h 5m

5 PM

6h 20m

8 PM

5h 47m

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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Citrus City, TX

Aimbere Elorza

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Citrus City, TX to Austin, TX is 314.9 miles and takes about 5h 55m via I 69C, US 281, and Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration, it's an ideal route for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making it a practical choice for efficient travel between these two Texas cities.

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

157.4 miles from Citrus City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 69C	138.2 mi	2h 31m
US 281	61 mi	1h 2m
Purple Heart Trail	58.6 mi	1h 3m
Nueces Street	14.7 mi	18m
Connally Loop	10.6 mi	12m
North Pan Am Expressway	10.2 mi	11m
TX 107	9.1 mi	13m
FM 2221	4.8 mi	7m

Longest stretch: I 69C — 138.2 mi, about 2h 31m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~4,203 veh/hr typical

Quietest

3 AM

~766 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 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 Citrus City, TX and Austin, TX.

Start on R Street

36 ft · 3 sec · R Street

Turn right onto FM 2221

4.8 mi · 7 min · FM 2221

Continue on TX 107

9.1 mi · 13 min · TX 107

At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107

400 ft · 12 sec · North 10th Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107

377 ft · 13 sec · West McIntyre Street

Turn left onto US 281 Business

3.3 mi · 5 min · North Closner Boulevard

Turn straight onto North Expressway 281

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Expressway 281

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward I 69C North, US 281 North

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

68 mi · 1 hr 12 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

15 mi · 18 min · Nueces Street

Continue on US 281

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 281

Take the exit onto US 281

61 mi · 1 hr 2 min · US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Exit 133 Toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 58 sec

Toward I 410 North, TX 130 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 410; TX 130

11 mi · 12 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35; I 410

2.8 mi · 3 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway

7.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35: Austin Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

1.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

47 mi · 50 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 24 sec

Exit 234C Toward 6th - 12th Streets Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto East 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street

Turn left onto Congress Avenue

357 ft · 17 sec · Congress Avenue

Turn left onto East 5th Street

28 ft · 0 sec · East 5th Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 5h 55m drive, consider leaving Citrus City in the morning to arrive in Austin well before evening. With a total distance of 314.9 miles, you can comfortably complete this in one day. The longest stretch of highway is 138.2 miles on I 69C, so plan your first stop after that segment if you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $46, and while there's one recommended stop, you'll want to ensure you have enough gas to reach your destination comfortably.

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 157.4 miles from Citrus City, TX, or about 3h 1m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.2 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 69 miles or 1h 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 157.4 miles or 3h 1m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Austin, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Citrus City, 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 Citrus City, TX

This is one driving day of about 314.9 miles and 5h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Citrus City, 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 I 69C for about 138.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Live Oak County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

George West, TX

157 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

San Diego, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

George West, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 157.4 miles from Citrus City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1.7 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

1.8 mi from route

QuikTrip

2 mi from route

Morgan's Wonderland

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12104955888

Visit website

Austin Bat Tours

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

Visit website

Tube Chute

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

+18302214000

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 12–9 pm

+12104675504

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 314.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

13.9 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

232.2 mi into trip | ~4h 22m in

Take the exit toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South

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 133 Toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South

232.4 mi into trip | ~4h 22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 410 North, TX 130 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 410 North, TX 130 North

246.2 mi into trip | ~4h 38m in | North Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35: Austin

314.2 mi into trip | ~5h 53m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.13 one way

$86.26 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 110 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$48.18	$96.35
premium	$4.23	$52.38	$104.76
diesel	$4.80	$59.46	$118.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 110.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	94.5	1	$33.06	$15.12
Efficient EV	78.7	0	$27.55	$12.60
EV Truck/SUV	126	1	$44.09	$20.15

Gas CO2

110 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Citrus City, TX

Late night in Citrus City on Monday

Local time

1:40 AM

CDT

Current temp

99°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 17 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 12:33PM CDT until July 17 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Monday

Local time

1:40 AM

CDT

Current temp

92°F

Partly Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 12:33PM CDT until July 17 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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

7 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 55m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 228

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll be on the highway for about 72% of this trip, totaling over 226 miles. The longest continuous stretch on I 69C covers 138.2 miles. Expect a primarily highway driving experience for the majority of your travel. As you transition to US 281 and Purple Heart Trail, the driving environment will likely become less dominated by high-speed interchanges and more by rural cruising.

72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 138.2 mi on I 69C.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69C and US 281. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in near US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 18 significant decision points across 314.9 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 13.9 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 232.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 232.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

768 ft 78 ft

Total Climb

911 ft

Total Descent

642 ft

Highest Point

768 ft

~247.4 mi in

Elevation Range

690 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Citrus City, 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 5h 55m. Total distance: 314.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 138.2 miles on I 69C. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 25 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 Austin, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Austin, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Citrus City, TX or browse trips ending in Austin, TX.

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Trip from Citrus City, TX to Austin, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Brooks County Rest Area

Picnic Area

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Rest Area

Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

TA

TA

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area

Marlstone Retail Center

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Petro Stopping Centers

TA

Flying J Travel Center

QuikTrip

Morgan's Wonderland

Austin Bat Tours

Tube Chute

Botanical Gates of Paradise

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Wonder Chamber

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Citrus City, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 55m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Citrus City, TX

Arriving in Austin, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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