San Saba Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Colorado City, TX to Austin, 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
5h 9m
Distance
278.2 mi
448 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 56m
★
6 AM
5h 9m
8 AM
5h 36m
10 AM
5h 19m
12 PM
5h 16m
3 PM
5h 20m
5 PM
5h 35m
8 PM
5h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colorado City, TX
Thomas balabaud
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 278.2-mile journey from Colorado City, TX, to Austin, TX, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 9 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $42, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on US 183, State Highway 208, and US 67, with 77% of the route being highway driving. This drive is a great way to transition from the Great Plains region of West Texas into the Central Texas area, offering a direct path to the capital city. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive, making it a manageable and efficient trip.
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
139.1 miles from Colorado City, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 183 | 44.5 mi | 49m |
| State Highway 208 | 41.6 mi | 42m |
| US 67 | 37 mi | 39m |
| South US Highway 183 | 35.3 mi | 38m |
| US Highway 84 East | 29.2 mi | 33m |
| TX 158 | 23.7 mi | 24m |
| Wallis Avenue | 21.9 mi | 25m |
| 183A Toll Road | 14.3 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
US 183
— 44.5 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado City, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on TX 163
96 ft
·
5 sec
·
Chestnut Street
2
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
3
Turn straight onto I 20 Bus; TX 208 Bus
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Westpoint Avenue
4
Turn right onto TX 208
42 mi
·
42 min
·
State Highway 208
5
Continue on TX 208
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Hillcrest Street
6
Continue on TX 208
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 10th Street
7
Turn left onto TX 158
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Highland Park Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto US 277; TX 158
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
South State Street
9
Turn slight left onto TX 158
24 mi
·
24 min
·
TX 158
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 67; US 83
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hutchings Avenue
11
Take the exit onto US 67
37 mi
·
39 min
·
US 67
Toward US 67 North
12
Merge onto US 67; US 84; US 283
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Wallis Avenue
13
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Early Boulevard
14
Turn right onto US 84; US 183
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garmon Drive
15
Continue on US 84; US 183
29 mi
·
33 min
·
US Highway 84 East
16
Turn right onto US 183; TX 16
22 mi
·
25 min
·
US 183; TX 16
17
Continue on US 183; US 190
15 mi
·
15 min
·
US 183; US 190
18
Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281
260 ft
·
4 sec
·
North US Highway 281
19
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Key Avenue
20
Continue on US 183
35 mi
·
38 min
·
South US Highway 183
21
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
this road
22
Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll
14 mi
·
14 min
·
183A Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 183
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 183
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Loop 1: Mopac Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South
Use the slight right lane.
26
Merge onto Loop 1
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
27
Take the exit
423 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Express 1 Toll
Use the slight left lane.
28
Merge onto Express 1 Toll
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Express 1 Toll
29
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward West 5th Street
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
31
Turn straight onto West 5th Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
32
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 9-minute duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day adventure. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for your single planned stop. The estimated fuel cost of $42 makes it an economical choice, but always keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 44.5-mile stretch on US 183, as services can be spaced out in some sections. This route offers flexibility, so you can adjust your stop based on your needs for rest or a quick meal. Be aware that you'll be passing through different parts of Texas, so cell service may vary.
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 139.1 miles from Colorado City, TX, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.5 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 61 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.1 miles or 2h 31m 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 12m
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 Colorado 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 Colorado City, TX
This is one driving day of about 278.2 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Colorado 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 US 183 for about 44.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 139.1 miles from Colorado City, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area US-84 US-283
2.2 mi from route
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 websiteBrown County Museum of History
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Brownwood, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13256411926
Visit websiteThe Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Brownwood, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13256436376
Visit websiteLakeline Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Cedar Park, Texas
+15124015500
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Barton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 44.1 and 276.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
44.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
TX 158 / Highland Park Road
Turn left onto TX 158 / Highland Park Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
246.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 32m in
|
183A Toll / 183A Toll Road
Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
268.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward Loop 1: Mopac Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Loop 1: Mopac Boulevard
7
269 mi into trip
|
~4h 56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South
7
276.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward West 5th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward West 5th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.10 one way
$76.21 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $42.56 | $85.12 |
| premium | $4.23 | $46.28 | $92.55 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $52.53 | $105.06 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.00
183A Toll Road
(14.3 mi)
$1.00
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
$38
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.5 | 1 | $29.21 | $13.35 |
| Efficient EV | 69.6 | 0 | $24.34 | $11.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.3 | 1 | $38.95 | $17.80 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Origin
Colorado City, TX
Evening in Colorado City on Monday
Local time
6:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 to 10 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Austin, TX
Evening in Austin on Monday
Local time
6:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this drive, with 77% of the 278.2 miles on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time navigating US 183, US 67, and State Highway 208. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.5 miles on US 183, offering a good opportunity to settle in. While largely a direct route, the transition between these highways provides a varied driving experience without becoming overly complex. This isn't a winding scenic byway, but rather a practical and efficient path.
77% 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: 44.5 mi on US 183.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 183 and State Highway 208. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 44.1 miles in near TX 158 / Highland Park Road.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 278.2 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 44.1 miles (TX 158 / Highland Park Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 246.8 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 268.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,067 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
478 ft
Total Descent
2,058 ft
Highest Point
2,067 ft
Elevation Range
1,580 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Colorado City, TX
Full guide →Colorado City is a city of 4,900 people (2018) straddling the Utah/Arizona border, although most of the city is on the Arizona side. The Utah portion is known as Hildale. Colorado City is the largest and best-known polygamist community in the United States, and there are few facilities for travelers.
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 9m. Total distance: 278.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.5 miles on US 183. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.00 in tolls one way, starting with 183A Toll Road. 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 3 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 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.1 miles (TX 158 / Highland Park Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 246.8 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 268.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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