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Trip from Friona, TX to Austin, TX

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

Drive Time

8h 30m

Distance

470.1 mi

757 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$71

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
8h 23m ★
6 AM
8h 30m
8 AM
8h 46m
10 AM
8h 36m
12 PM
8h 34m
3 PM
8h 37m
5 PM
8h 45m
8 PM
8h 26m

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 Parmer County, Texas, United States

Friona, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This nearly 470-mile journey from Friona to Austin, Texas, will take you approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes of driving time. Given the distance and duration, it's best split over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time to enjoy the drive. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 86% of it on major roads like US Highway 84 and State Highway 153. You'll be traversing through the Great Plains region for both your departure and arrival points. Budget around $71 for fuel, and plan for at least two stops along the way. This drive offers a straightforward path across the state, ideal for those prioritizing efficient travel.

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

235.1 miles from Friona, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 6m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 84 73.9 mi 1h 14m
State Highway 153 69 mi 1h 14m
US 84 65.8 mi 1h 9m
US 183 44.5 mi 49m
South US Highway 183 35.3 mi 38m
US Highway 84 East 29.2 mi 33m
East Highway 84 26.9 mi 26m
TX 214 24.8 mi 26m
Longest stretch: US Highway 84 — 73.9 mi, about 1h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 60; TX 214 Business

0.2 mi · 23 sec · West 11th Street
2

Turn left onto Grand Avenue

3.8 mi · 5 min · Grand Avenue
3

Continue on TX 214

25 mi · 26 min · TX 214
4

Keep slight right at fork

323 ft · 5 sec
5

Turn straight onto US 70; TX 214

0.3 mi · 42 sec · North 1st Street
6

Turn left onto US 84

18 mi · 18 min · East American Boulevard
7

Continue on US 84

8.0 mi · 7 min · US 84
8

Continue on US 84

42 mi · 43 min · US 84
9

Merge onto US 84

4.0 mi · 4 min · Avenue Q
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on US 84

4.8 mi · 6 min · Slaton Road
11

Continue on US 84

6.9 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84
12

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
13

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 20 min · East Highway 84
14

Continue on US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
15

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East 15th Street
16

Turn right onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Ralls Road
17

Turn straight onto TX 207

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Avenue F
18

At end of road, turn left onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US Highway 84
19

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

6.5 mi · 6 min · US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
20

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Exit 244 Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
21

Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Southwest Georgia Avenue
22

Turn right onto TX 70

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street
23

Continue on TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70
24

Turn left onto TX 153

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153
25

Continue on TX 153

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street
26

Continue on TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street
27

At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283

9.4 mi · 10 min · US 84; US 283
28

Continue on US 67; US 84

21 mi · 24 min · US 67; US 84
29

Turn right onto US 84; US 183

1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive
30

Continue on US 84; US 183

29 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East
31

Turn right onto US 183; TX 16

22 mi · 25 min · US 183; TX 16
32

Continue on US 183; US 190

15 mi · 15 min · US 183; US 190
33

Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281

260 ft · 4 sec · North US Highway 281
34

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

2.3 mi · 4 min · North Key Avenue
35

Continue on US 183

35 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183
36

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · this road
37

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll

14 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Continue on US 183

7.5 mi · 8 min · US 183
39

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward Loop 1: Mopac Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
40

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South Use the slight right lane.
41

Merge onto Loop 1

2.4 mi · 2 min · North Mopac Expressway
42

Take the exit

423 ft · 10 sec
Toward Express 1 Toll Use the slight left lane.
43

Merge onto Express 1 Toll

3.9 mi · 4 min · Express 1 Toll
44

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward West 5th Street Use the slight left / straight lanes.
46

Turn straight onto West 5th Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · West 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
47

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 470-mile drive, consider departing early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours, especially if you plan to split it over two days. With an estimated 8 hours and 30 minutes of driving, breaking it into two segments is highly recommended; aim to cover roughly half the distance on day one. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without services is 73.9 miles on US Highway 84. Planning your stops strategically around this will prevent any unnecessary delays. Your fuel cost is estimated at $71, so factor that into your budget as you navigate through the Great Plains.

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 235.1 miles from Friona, TX, or about 4h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 103 miles or 1h 50m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 235.1 miles or 4h 6m 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 235.1 miles or 4h 6m

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 22m

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 Friona, 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 Friona, TX

Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Austin, TX

Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Friona, 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 84 for about 73.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

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

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Sweetwater, TX

235 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 Sweetwater, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Sweetwater, TX

235 mi · about 4.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 235 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Lubbock, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sweetwater, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 235.1 miles from Friona, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US Highway 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 235 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Austin Bat Tours

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 470.1

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

Visit website

Botanical Gates of Paradise

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 470.1

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

American Windmill Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 100.7

Lubbock, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18067478734

Visit website

Mackenzie Main City Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 100.7

Lubbock, Texas

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18067752673

Visit website

Barton Creek Greenbelt

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 470.1

Austin, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+15129746700

Visit website

The Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 335.8

Brownwood, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13256436376

Visit website

Painting with a Twist

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 100.7

Lubbock, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+18067947928

Visit website

Brown County Museum of History

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 335.8

Brownwood, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13256411926

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 23

5 decision points cluster between mile 213.7 and 468.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
213.7 mi into trip | ~3h 43m in | US 84

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

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

Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
6
220.2 mi into trip | ~3h 50m in

Take the exit toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo

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

Exit 244 Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater,...
6
438.8 mi into trip | ~7h 53m 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.
7
461 mi into trip | ~8h 17m 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
468.4 mi into trip | ~8h 26m 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

$71.03 one way

$142.07 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 165 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $77.75 $155.50
premium $4.54 $83.93 $167.87
diesel $5.61 $103.79 $207.58

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

$71

Tolls

$1

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$202–$312

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 164.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 141 1 $49.36 $22.56
Efficient EV 117.5 1 $41.13 $18.80
EV Truck/SUV 188 2 $65.81 $30.09

Gas CO2

164 kg

EV CO2

55 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Friona, TX

Night in Friona on Saturday

Local time

11:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Night in Austin on Saturday

Local time

11:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

59°F

Sweetwater, TX

235 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.

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

14 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 30m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 470-mile trip, with 86% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on US Highway 84, which forms the backbone of this journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73.9 miles, also on US Highway 84, so be sure to plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. While largely a highway experience, the route offers a consistent pace, allowing you to cover ground efficiently as you transition across Texas. The road character remains fairly uniform, prioritizing direct travel over winding scenic byways.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.9 mi on US Highway 84.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 84 and State Highway 153. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 213.7 miles in near US 84.

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 23 significant decision points across 470.1 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 213.7 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 220.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 438.8 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Friona, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater and San Angelo.

Sh 70 South

220.2 mi in | ~3h 50m

Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater

220.2 mi in | ~3h 50m

San Angelo

220.2 mi in | ~3h 50m

About the Cities

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 73.9 miles on US Highway 84. 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 235 miles on day one.

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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 213.7 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 220.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 438.8 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.0 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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