Groves, TX to Montopolis, TX is 249.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m via I 10, TX 71, and TX 73, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in the same area. It's a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for efficiency. With a recommended one-day drive, you can easily complete this journey without needing to stop overnight. Consider this route for a practical, no-fuss transit between these two points.
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
125 miles from Groves, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
133.2 mi
2h 30m
TX 71
77.7 mi
1h 22m
TX 73
30.7 mi
33m
East State Highway 71
2.2 mi
2m
Bastrop Freeway
1.9 mi
2m
Airport Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Bergstrom Expressway
0.7 mi
<1m
39th Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 133.2 mi, about 2h 30m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,887 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,738
Quietest
2 AM
~583 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Groves, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on 39th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·39th Street
2
Turn slight right onto East Parkway Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·East Parkway Street
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward TX 73 West
4
Merge onto TX 73
4.7 mi·5 min·TX 73
5
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 73
23 mi·24 min·TX 73
Toward TX 73 West: Winnie, HoustonUse the left lane.
6
Turn straight onto TX 73
3.3 mi·3 min·TX 73
7
Merge onto I 10
133 mi·2 hr 30 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi·33 sec·TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
9
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on 71 Toll
1.9 mi·2 min·Bastrop Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi·2 min·East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: LampasasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 183
0.4 mi·26 sec·Bastrop Highway
14
Continue on 183 Toll
0.7 mi·40 sec·Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport BoulevardUse the right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto Loop 111
0.2 mi·33 sec·Airport Boulevard
17
Continue on Loop 111
0.5 mi·42 sec·Airport Boulevard
18
Continue on US 183
0.1 mi·8 sec·Ed Bluestein Boulevard
19
Take the ramp
486 ft·11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
20
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 38m estimated duration, leaving Groves, TX in the morning will allow you to reach Montopolis, TX with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a 99% highway profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 133.2 miles on I 10, as services might be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $38 is a helpful budgeting tool for this 249.9-mile journey.
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 125 miles from Groves, TX, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.2 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125 miles or 2h 20m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Groves, 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 Groves, TX
This is one driving day of about 249.9 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Groves, 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 I 10 for about 133.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 248.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.9 mi into trip|~7m in|TX 73
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 73 toward TX 73 West: Winnie, Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward TX 73 West: Winnie, Houston
5
31.9 mi into trip|~35m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
165.7 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|TX 71
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
246.9 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
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 US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
7
248.5 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Stree...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.23 one way
$68.46 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$38.23
$76.47
premium
$4.23
$41.57
$83.14
diesel
$4.80
$47.19
$94.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75
0
$26.24
$12.00
Efficient EV
62.5
0
$21.87
$10.00
EV Truck/SUV
100
1
$34.99
$15.99
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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
Groves, TX
Morning
in Groves on Sunday
Local time
10:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Partly Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:39AM CDT until July 19 at 6:12AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:38AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Morning
in Montopolis on Sunday
Local time
10:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Partly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:39AM CDT until July 19 at 6:12AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:38AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM 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 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway driving, with a 99% highway share. Expect long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 133.2 miles primarily on I 10. The character of the drive is largely consistent, focusing on efficient travel rather than varied scenery. You'll likely experience a steady pace on well-maintained highways, making it feel like a direct connection between your starting and ending points.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133.2 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and TX 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in near TX 73.
Driving Effort9/10
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 12 significant decision points across 249.9 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 5.9 miles (TX 73): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.7 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
560 ft6 ft
Total Climb
575 ft
Total Descent
122 ft
Highest Point
560 ft
~232.1 mi in
Elevation Range
554 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Groves, TX to Montopolis, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Austin along the way.
Austin
165.1 mi in|~3h 6m|via TX 71
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 249.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133.2 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Montopolis, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles (TX 73): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.7 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Montopolis, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
