Origin
Elgin, TX
Morning in Elgin on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elgin, TX to Austin, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33m
Distance
25.7 mi
41 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elgin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Elgin to Austin, you are in for a quick 25.6-mile commute that typically takes about 35 minutes. This journey stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will navigate primarily via North Main Street, Highway 95 North, and Highway 290. With a modest fuel budget of $4, this route is highly economical and straightforward. Because the entire drive is quite short, you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated logistics. It serves as a practical connection between these two Texas locales, offering a simple transition without the burden of long-distance planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West US Highway 290 | 11.2 mi | 13m |
| Manor Expressway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| US 290 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 95 North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West US Highway 290
— 11.2 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on FM 3000
287 ft
·
11 sec
·
East 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Loop 109
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto TX 95; FM 1100
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
State Highway 95 North
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto US 290
11 mi
·
13 min
·
West US Highway 290
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on 290 Toll
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Manor Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 290
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 290
7
Take the exit onto US 290
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 290
Toward I 35 South, US 290 West
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 35; US 290
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
14
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 25.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
TX 95; FM 1100 / State Highway 95 North
Turn left onto TX 95; FM 1100 / State Highway 95 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
20.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 290
Take the exit onto US 290 toward I 35 South, US 290 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South, US 290 West
8
22.3 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
8
24.7 mi into trip
|
~30m 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...
7
25.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.88 one way
$7.77 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.25 | $8.50 |
| premium | $4.54 | $4.59 | $9.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.67 | $11.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.23 |
| Efficient EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.64 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Austin, TX
Morning in Austin on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 10:11PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 8:59PM CDT until April 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
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
33m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local infrastructure, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 0 miles on North Main Street. The lack of high-speed highway segments means you should be prepared for frequent turns and a more hands-on driving experience. This profile creates a unique, local feel that differs significantly from a standard interstate slog. Keep your focus sharp as you transition between the various local roads that comprise this 35-minute trek.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.2 mi on West US Highway 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West US Highway 290 and Manor Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near TX 95; FM 1100 / State Highway 95 North.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 25.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (TX 95; FM 1100 / State Highway 95 North): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 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
Mostly flat terrain
668 ft
464 ft
Total Climb
242 ft
Total Descent
336 ft
Highest Point
668 ft
~20.2 mi in
Elevation Range
204 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Elgin, 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 33m. Total distance: 25.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.2 miles on West US Highway 290. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (TX 95; FM 1100 / State Highway 95 North): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Austin, TX before heading back.
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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