Trip from Denver 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

7h 45m

Distance

400.9 mi

645 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min

4 AM

7h 36m ★

6 AM

7h 45m

8 AM

8h 4m

10 AM

7h 52m

12 PM

7h 50m

3 PM

7h 53m

5 PM

8h 3m

8 PM

7h 39m

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

Best Time

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city in Yoakum County, Texas, United States

Denver City, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Denver City, TX to Austin, TX is 400.9 miles and takes about 7h 45m via US 87 and TX 71, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, transitioning from the high plains of West Texas down toward Central Texas. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a good option for a single-day trip if you get an early start. The main roads are well-maintained, offering a consistent pace for most of the 400.9 miles.

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

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

200.5 miles from Denver City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 41m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 87	104.4 mi	1h 55m
TX 71	58 mi	1h 18m
William B Crooker Memorial Highway	52.1 mi	52m
State Highway 71	47.2 mi	50m
West Avenue A	39 mi	44m
TX 83	20.3 mi	30m
North US Highway 87	18.1 mi	18m
South US Highway 87	18.1 mi	18m

Longest stretch: US 87 — 104.4 mi, about 1h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Denver City, TX and Austin, TX.

Start on North Main Avenue

58 ft · 9 sec · North Main Avenue

Turn left onto TX 83

0.6 mi · 54 sec · East Broadway Street

Turn right onto TX 83; TX 214

20 mi · 30 min · TX 83; TX 214

Continue on US 62; US 180

39 mi · 44 min · West Avenue A

Continue on US 180

1.6 mi · 1 min · Seminole Road

Continue on US 180

0.7 mi · 55 sec · North 4th Street

Turn right onto US 87; US 180

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Lynn Avenue

Continue on US 87; US 180

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Dallas Avenue

Continue on US 87; US 180

18 mi · 18 min · South US Highway 87

Continue on US 87

1.4 mi · 1 min · William Crooker Highway

Continue on US 87

18 mi · 18 min · North US Highway 87

Continue on US 87

52 mi · 52 min · William B Crooker Memorial Highway

Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163

1.2 mi · 2 min · 4th Street

Continue on US 87

15 mi · 14 min · US Highway 87 South

Continue on US 87

104 mi · 1 hr 55 min · US 87

Turn right onto US 87; US 190; US 377

2.8 mi · 3 min · Bridge Street

Turn left onto TX 71

47 mi · 50 min · State Highway 71

Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71

2.8 mi · 3 min · TX 29; TX 71

Turn right onto TX 16; TX 71

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Bessemer Avenue

Continue on TX 16; TX 71

1.1 mi · 1 min · Ford Street

Turn left onto TX 71

58 mi · 1 hr 18 min · TX 71

Turn left onto RM 2244

8.0 mi · 11 min · Bee Caves Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on RM 2244

1.0 mi · 1 min · Bee Cave Road

Continue on RM 2244

2.3 mi · 4 min · Bee Caves Road

Turn left onto South Mopac Service Road

0.2 mi · 16 sec · South Mopac Service Road

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward Loop 1 North

Merge onto Loop 1

0.6 mi · 42 sec · South Mopac Expressway

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec

Toward 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

120 ft · 2 sec

Toward 5th Street Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto West 5th Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · West 5th Street

Use the straight lane.

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Trip Plan

Consider departing from Denver City, TX, early in the morning to maximize daylight for this roughly 7-hour and 45-minute drive. With only 2 planned stops recommended, you have flexibility to adjust your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 104.4-mile stretch on US 87, as fuel availability can be more spread out in this section. The estimated fuel cost is around $58, so budget accordingly. Reaching Austin with enough daylight will make navigating the city much easier.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

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

The halfway point lands around 200.5 miles from Denver City, TX, or about 3h 41m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 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 88 miles or 1h 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 200.5 miles or 3h 41m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 20m

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 Denver 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.

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Denver City, TX

This is one driving day of about 400.9 miles and 7h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Denver City, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

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

The longest stretch is on US 87 for about 104.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brady, TX

200 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

Big Spring, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Angelo, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 200.5 miles from Denver City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.5 mi from route

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

San Angelo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13256574279

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 386.8 and 399.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

386.8 mi into trip | ~7h 22m in | RM 2244 / Bee Caves Road

Turn left onto RM 2244 / Bee Caves Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

398.1 mi into trip | ~7h 39m in | South Mopac Service Road

Turn left onto South Mopac Service Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

399 mi into trip | ~7h 40m in

Take the exit toward 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Street

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar...

399.1 mi into trip | ~7h 41m in

Keep slight left at fork toward West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard

399.3 mi into trip | ~7h 41m in

Keep slight right at fork toward 5th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward 5th Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$54.91 one way

$109.82 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 140 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$61.33	$122.67
premium	$4.23	$66.69	$133.37
diesel	$4.80	$75.70	$151.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$55

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 140.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	120.3	1	$42.09	$19.24
Efficient EV	100.2	1	$35.08	$16.04
EV Truck/SUV	160.4	2	$56.13	$25.66

Gas CO2

140 kg

EV CO2

47 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

Denver City, TX

Evening in Denver City on Monday

Local time

6:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Partly Cloudy

SE 5 to 10 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Austin, TX

Evening in Austin on Monday

Local time

6:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 5 mph 29% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

95°F

Brady, TX

200 mi in

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

11 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

7h 45m on the road

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

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.

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...

24 mi from route ~59 min detour Free near mile 345.6

Park Closure: Texas White House Complex Closure

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 71% of this 400.9-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 104.4 miles on US 87. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining portion of the trip. Expect steady cruising on US 87, with a noticeable change in scenery and potentially more varied traffic as you approach Austin.

71% 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: 104.4 mi on US 87.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and TX 71. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 386.8 miles in near RM 2244 / Bee Caves Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 400.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 386.8 miles (RM 2244 / Bee Caves Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 398.1 miles (South Mopac Service Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 399 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,574 ft 487 ft

Total Climb

59 ft

Total Descent

3,146 ft

Highest Point

3,574 ft

Elevation Range

3,087 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Denver 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 7h 45m. Total distance: 400.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 45m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 7 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.5 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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

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Trip from Denver City, TX to Austin, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Concho County Rest Area

Picnic Area

US-87 Knotts Picnic Area

Coke County Rest Area

TA

TXB Market

Pilot Travel Center

Austin Bat Tours

San Angelo Convention & Visitors Bureau

Think In A Box - Escape Room

Fort Concho National Historic Landmark

ASU Mayer Museum

Railway Museum of San Angelo

International Waterlily Collection

Kids Kingdom

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Denver City, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

11 degrees warmer at arrival

7h 45m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Denver 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

Continue From Austin, TX

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