Trip from Hawkins, TX to Austin, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 45m

Distance

250.7 mi

404 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 32m ★

6 AM

4h 45m

8 AM

5h 12m

10 AM

4h 55m

12 PM

4h 52m

3 PM

4h 56m

5 PM

5h 11m

8 PM

4h 37m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

city in Wood County, Texas, United States

Hawkins, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Hawkins, TX to Austin, TX is 250.7 miles and takes about 4h 45m via I 35, Purple Heart Trail, and State Highway 31 East, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive through Texas. With a mostly highway profile, you'll cover a significant distance efficiently. It's a solid option for a single-day excursion, making it easy to plan around.

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

125.4 miles from Hawkins, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
Purple Heart Trail	40.3 mi	42m
State Highway 31 East	30.9 mi	35m
West State Highway 31	18.8 mi	21m
State Highway 31	17.2 mi	17m
Corsicana Bypass	11.8 mi	13m
State Highway 31 West	9.7 mi	11m
Northwest 2nd Street	9.3 mi	10m

Longest stretch: I 35 — 55.8 mi, about 58m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~4,006 veh/hr typical

Quietest

3 AM

~683 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.9×

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 Hawkins, TX and Austin, TX.

Start on Green Street

437 ft · 21 sec · Green Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 80

389 ft · 12 sec · Front Street

Turn left onto FM 14

2.9 mi · 4 min · Beaulah Street

Turn left onto FM 2015

3.2 mi · 4 min · Farm to Market Road 2015

Turn left onto FM 16; FM 2015

0.1 mi · 12 sec · FM 16 East

Turn right onto FM 2015

3.1 mi · 4 min · FM 2015

At end of road, turn right onto FM 2015

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Sand Flat Road

Turn left onto FM 2015

5.3 mi · 6 min · FM 2015

Turn right onto US 271; TX 155

1.5 mi · 1 min · US Highway 271

Turn right onto Loop 323

1.6 mi · 2 min · East Northeast Loop 323

Continue on Loop 323

4.3 mi · 6 min · West Northwest Loop 323

Continue on Loop 323

0.6 mi · 43 sec · South Southwest Loop 323

Turn right onto TX 31

1.6 mi · 1 min · Chandler Highway

Continue on TX 31

5.6 mi · 6 min · State Highway 31 West

Continue on TX 31

2.0 mi · 2 min · East Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

21 mi · 23 min · State Highway 31 East

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7

6.2 mi · 7 min · Jed Robinson Loop

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec

Keep slight left at fork

445 ft · 14 sec

Turn right onto TX 31

4.0 mi · 4 min · State Highway 31 West

Continue on TX 31

5.4 mi · 6 min · East Royall Boulevard

Continue on TX 31

9.9 mi · 11 min · State Highway 31 East

Continue on TX 31

9.3 mi · 10 min · Northwest 2nd Street

Turn left onto TX 31

12 mi · 13 min · Corsicana Bypass

Use the straight lane.

At end of road, turn left onto TX 31

19 mi · 21 min · West State Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

5.5 mi · 5 min · Hubbard Bypass

Continue on TX 31

17 mi · 17 min · State Highway 31

Continue on US 84

2.5 mi · 2 min · East US Highway 84

Continue on US 84

2.6 mi · 4 min · Bellmead Drive

Turn straight onto US 84

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Waco Drive

Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

519 ft · 12 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 35 South, US 77 South

Merge onto I 35; US 77

6.1 mi · 6 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

To make the most of this 4h 45m drive, consider an early morning departure from Hawkins to avoid any potential afternoon traffic as you approach Austin. With a total distance of 250.7 miles, you'll likely only need one stop for fuel and a quick break. The longest stretch without a major town is 55.8 miles on I 35, so plan your refueling accordingly before you hit that segment. Given it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but aiming to arrive in Austin before evening will allow for a more relaxed end to your drive.

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 125.4 miles from Hawkins, TX, or about 2h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 9m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 125.4 miles or 2h 29m 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 55m

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 Hawkins, 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 Hawkins, TX

This is one driving day of about 250.7 miles and 4h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Hawkins, 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 35 for about 55.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Italy, TX

125 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

Seven Points, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Italy, TX

2.3 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

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

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

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 27

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 250.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 80 / Front Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 80 / Front Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

88.5 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass

Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

247.4 mi into trip | ~4h 39m 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

249.8 mi into trip | ~4h 42m 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...

250.7 mi into trip | ~4h 45m in | East 5th Street

Turn left onto East 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.34 one way

$68.68 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 88 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$38.36	$76.71
premium	$4.23	$41.70	$83.40
diesel	$4.80	$47.34	$94.67

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: 87.7 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	75.2	0	$26.32	$12.03
Efficient EV	62.7	0	$21.94	$10.03
EV Truck/SUV	100.3	1	$35.10	$16.04

Gas CO2

88 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

Hawkins, TX

Late night in Hawkins on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

94°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 5 mph 2% chance Live 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

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Cloudy

S 5 mph 1% chance Live 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

100°F

Italy, TX

125 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

17 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 45m 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 ~10 min detour Free near mile 147

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is mostly highway, with 61% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 55.8 miles on I 35, so expect a good amount of freeway cruising. The remaining portion will transition to surface roads like State Highway 31 East, offering a different pace. Keep an eye out for the dense exit patterns common on Texas highways.

61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on I 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 80 / Front Street.

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 27 significant decision points across 250.7 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 0.1 miles (US 80 / Front Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 88.5 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 247.4 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

839 ft 365 ft

Total Climb

572 ft

Total Descent

605 ft

Highest Point

839 ft

~214.9 mi in

Elevation Range

474 ft

Detours Along the Way

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

Bizzie Lizzie's Coffee Shoppe

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

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

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Georgetown, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 05:00-21:00; Sa-Su 05:30-21:00

Visit website

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

Will Rogers Coffee Company

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

III Forks

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: steak_house

Visit website

24 Diner

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Austin, TX

Cuisine: diner

Hours: 07:00-23:00

Visit website

Red Rooster Icehouse

Restaurant

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Hawkins, TX

Hours: We-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su...

Visit website

The Donut Box

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hawkins, TX

Cuisine: donut

Hours: 04:30-12:00

June's All Day

Restaurant

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Austin, TX

Cuisine: american

Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-15:00,16:...

Visit website

Soup Peddler

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Moses Harrell House

House

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Henderson County Historical Society Museum

Museum

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Visit website

M S Hewitt House

House

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Robert and Lula Stone House

House

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

The Point at Lake Hawkins

Camp_site

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Hawkins, TX

Visit website

Lake Hawkins RV Park

Caravan_site

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Hawkins, TX

Visit website

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

About the Cities

Starting in Hawkins, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1941

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 45m. Total distance: 250.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 13 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 13 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 9.5 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Hawkins, TX to Austin, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Buc-ee's

Ascent Travel Center

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Rest Area

QuikTrip

Austin Bat Tours

Cultural Activities Center

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Tyler Rose Garden

Tyler Rose Museum & Gift Shop

Visit Tyler/SPORTyler

Village of Salado Visitors Center

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Hawkins, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

17 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 45m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Detours Along the Way

Bizzie Lizzie's Coffee Shoppe

Starbucks

Starbucks

Bennu Coffee Shop

Will Rogers Coffee Company

Starbucks

III Forks

24 Diner

Red Rooster Icehouse

The Donut Box

June's All Day

Soup Peddler

South Congress Bat Colony

Doug Sahm Hill

Sisk Reunion Park

Santa Rita No. 1 Oil Well

Liberty Hill Park

Oak Park

Twinkle Twinkle Lone Star Guitar

Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue

Moses Harrell House

Henderson County Historical Society Museum

M S Hewitt House

Robert and Lula Stone House

The Point at Lake Hawkins

Lake Hawkins RV Park

About the Cities

Starting in Hawkins, 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?