Trip from Denison, 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 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 49m

Distance

269.6 mi

434 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 36m ★

6 AM

4h 49m

8 AM

5h 16m

10 AM

4h 59m

12 PM

4h 56m

3 PM

5h 0m

5 PM

5h 15m

8 PM

4h 41m

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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city in Grayson County, Texas, United States

Denison, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Denison to Austin is 269.6 miles and takes about 4h 49m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, crossing from North Texas into Central Texas. Expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently, as most of the route utilizes major highways. It's a solid option if you need to get from the Red River Valley area down to the Texas capital without much fuss.

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

134.8 miles from Denison, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
North Central Expressway	45.7 mi	49m
Purple Heart Trail	40.3 mi	42m
North Sam Rayburn Freeway	12 mi	12m
North Collins Freeway	10.1 mi	10m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
South Eisenhower Parkway	2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~4,215 veh/hr typical · worst 4,866

Quietest

2 AM

~679 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.2×

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 Denison, TX and Austin, TX.

Start on this road

61 ft · 9 sec · this road

Turn left onto US 69

1.1 mi · 1 min · North Austin Avenue

Continue on Spur 503

2.0 mi · 2 min · South Eisenhower Parkway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward TX 91: Texoma Parkway

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward TX 91 South: Sherman

Turn straight onto TX 91

1.6 mi · 2 min · Texoma Parkway

Turn right onto FM 691

1.2 mi · 1 min · Grayson Drive

Turn left onto North Sam Rayburn Freeway

0.1 mi · 15 sec · North Sam Rayburn Freeway

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Toward US 75 South

Merge onto US 75

12 mi · 12 min · North Sam Rayburn Freeway

Continue on US 75

10 mi · 10 min · North Collins Freeway

Continue on US 75

45 mi · 48 min · North Central Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

501 ft · 12 sec

Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway Use the slight left lane.

Continue on North Central Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Central Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Elm Street

304 ft · 10 sec · Elm Street

Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Pearl Expressway

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Young Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Young Street

Turn left onto South Harwood Street

315 ft · 8 sec · South Harwood Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Canton Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Canton Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 30 West

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo 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

For this 269.6-mile drive, leaving Denison early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic as you near Austin. With a driving time of under 5 hours, this is easily a one-day trip, but you can take your time if you prefer. The $39 fuel estimate suggests you won't need to worry too much about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Denison. Keep an eye on your exits as you get closer to Austin; the I-35 corridor can be quite busy.

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 134.8 miles from Denison, TX, or about 2h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 59 miles or 1h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 134.8 miles or 2h 26m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 56m

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 Denison, 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 Denison, TX

This is one driving day of about 269.6 miles and 4h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Denison, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Ellis County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waxahachie, TX

135 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

Addison, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Italy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.8 miles from Denison, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.5 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 website

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 website

NTER - The Great Escape

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Waxahachie, Texas

Hours: 5–9 pm

+12149801053

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 73.6 and 268.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

73.6 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

75.7 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

75.7 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes. Toward I 35E South: Waco

266.3 mi into trip | ~4h 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

268.7 mi into trip | ~4h 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...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.93 one way

$73.85 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$41.25	$82.49
premium	$4.23	$44.84	$89.69
diesel	$4.80	$50.91	$101.81

Estimated Tolls: $3.65

Central Expressway (45.7 mi) $3.65

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

$37

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80.9	0	$28.31	$12.94
Efficient EV	67.4	0	$23.59	$10.78
EV Truck/SUV	107.8	1	$37.74	$17.25

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 18, 2026

Origin

Denison, TX

Late night in Denison on Sunday

Local time

5:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Partly Cloudy

S 5 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Sunday

Local time

5:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM 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

1 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

4h 49m 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.

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 ~11 min detour Free near mile 167.4

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 spend about 83% of this 269.6-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 89.9 miles, found on South R L Thornton Freeway. This means you'll experience significant highway cruising, with the transition to surface roads likely occurring later in the drive as you approach your destination. Be prepared for urban merging and dense exits as you navigate the approach to Austin.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 73.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 269.6 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 73.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

917 ft 472 ft

Total Climb

771 ft

Total Descent

1,014 ft

Highest Point

917 ft

~231.1 mi in

Elevation Range

445 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Denison, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco and Dallas Zoo.

Downtown

73.6 mi in | ~1h 21m

Denton

75.6 mi in | ~1h 25m

Waco

75.7 mi in | ~1h 25m

Dallas Zoo

76.6 mi in | ~1h 26m | via I 35E

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.1 mi from route

Richardson, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 05:30-21:00, Sa,Su 06:30-19:00

Bennu Coffee Shop

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Austin

Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-01:00

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Austin, TX

Attraction

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Doug Sahm Hill

Viewpoint

Yes

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Clifton House Hotel

Hotel

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

FunAsia

Hotel

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Denison, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1872

Denison is in the Blackland Prairie region.

Top landmarks

• Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site — building in Denison, Grayson 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 4h 49m. Total distance: 269.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.65 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. 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 30 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 30 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Austin, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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