Trip from Claude, TX to Austin, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 48m

Distance

496.9 mi

800 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$68

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 41m ★

6 AM

8h 49m

8 AM

9h 5m

10 AM

8h 54m

12 PM

8h 53m

3 PM

8h 55m

5 PM

9h 4m

8 PM

8h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Claude, TX

Thomas balabaud

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Claude to Austin covers 461.7 miles and typically requires about 7 hours and 33 minutes of time behind the wheel. Given the duration, this route works well as a long day trip, though you might prefer an overnight split if you want to avoid a late arrival. You will navigate via Highway 287, West 2nd Street, and Burnett Street to make your way across the Texas Great Plains. Budget roughly $71 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because both your starting point and destination are nestled within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the journey.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

248.5 miles from Claude, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 25m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US Highway 287	110.2 mi	1h 56m
Central East Freeway	99.2 mi	1h 46m
North South Freeway	84.6 mi	1h 27m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
US Highway 287 East	40.5 mi	42m
Purple Heart Trail	40.3 mi	42m
West 2nd Street	27.8 mi	30m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m

Longest stretch: US Highway 287 — 110.2 mi, about 1h 56m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 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 Claude, TX and Austin, TX.

Start on US 287

1.1 mi · 2 min · West 1st Street

Continue on US 287; FM 1151

28 mi · 28 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287; TX 70

28 mi · 30 min · West 2nd Street

Turn slight right onto US 287

14 mi · 13 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Burnett Street

Continue on US 287

14 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northwest

Continue on US 287

54 mi · 58 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287

41 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 287

4.6 mi · 4 min · Northwest Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Northwest Freeway

Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls

Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287

2.5 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

1.8 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

97 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Central East Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 81; US 287

4.6 mi · 4 min · US 81; US 287

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35W; US 287

4.5 mi · 4 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 35W Express Toll South Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 35W TEXpress

4.0 mi · 3 min · I 35W TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35W

85 mi · 1 hr 27 min · North South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Exit 234B Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 27 sec · North Interstate 35

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto East 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street

Use the right lane.

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 manage the 7-hour and 33-minute travel time effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Since this is a turn-heavy route, departing early in the morning ensures you reach Austin before traffic patterns intensify. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $71 estimated cost can vary based on local prices in the smaller towns you pass through along the way. Because there is no highway-heavy segment, maintain a steady, patient pace to navigate the local turns safely. Prioritize checking your navigation frequently, as the reliance on West 2nd Street and Burnett Street means you will need to stay alert for specific local turns as you approach the capital.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 248.5 miles from Claude, TX, or about 4h 25m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.2 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 109 miles or 1h 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 248.5 miles or 4h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 248.5 miles or 4h 25m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 43m

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 Claude, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Claude, TX

Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Austin, TX

Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Claude, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US Highway 287 for about 110.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and count sear of Hale County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Plainview, TX

248 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Plainview, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Plainview, TX

248 mi · about 4.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Plainview, TX after about 248 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Childress, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Plainview, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 248.5 miles from Claude, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US Highway 287 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.2 miles.

Overnight split

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

Bicentennial Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Crowley, Texas

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18172972201

Visit website

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 191.8 and 496.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

191.8 mi into trip | ~3h 24m in | US 287 / Northwest Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, U...

198.4 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in | US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

493.6 mi into trip | ~8h 43m 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

496 mi into trip | ~8h 46m 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...

496.9 mi into trip | ~8h 48m in | East 5th Street

Turn left onto East 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$68.06 one way

$136.12 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 174 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$76.02	$152.04
premium	$4.23	$82.65	$165.31
diesel	$4.80	$93.82	$187.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$68

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$198–$308

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 173.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	149.1	1	$52.17	$23.85
Efficient EV	124.2	1	$43.48	$19.88
EV Truck/SUV	198.8	2	$69.57	$31.80

Gas CO2

174 kg

EV CO2

58 kg (67% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Claude, TX

Late night in Claude on Sunday

Local time

1:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 15 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Sunday

Local time

1:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 5 mph 43% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

8h 48m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 394.1

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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate haul, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through varied local road conditions that require your full attention, distinguishing this trip from a typical high-speed cruise. The path demands more active steering than a standard highway trek, keeping the experience engaging from start to finish. Without long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the road personality is defined by its local character and frequent transitions. It is a practical drive that rewards drivers who prefer navigating local infrastructure over monotonous highway travel.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 110.2 mi on US Highway 287.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 287 and Central East Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 191.8 miles in near US 287 / Northwest Freeway.

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 15 significant decision points across 496.9 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 191.8 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.4 miles (US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 493.6 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

3,406 ft 482 ft

Total Climb

397 ft

Total Descent

3,316 ft

Highest Point

3,406 ft

Elevation Range

2,925 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Claude, 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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 110.2 miles on US Highway 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 248 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 39 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 39 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.6 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Claude, 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

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Wise County Northbound

Wichita County Southbound Rest Area

Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls

Donley County Northbound Rest Area

Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Northbound

Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Southbound

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Rest Area

Wichita County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Donley County Southbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Service Plaza

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Austin Bat Tours

Bicentennial Park

Cultural Activities Center

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Doris D Miller Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Claude, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

8h 48m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Claude, TX

Arriving in Austin, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

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?