Rest Area US-84 US-283
0 mi from route
Trip from Hereford, TX to Austin, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 44m
Distance
473.3 mi
762 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 36m
★
6 AM
8h 44m
8 AM
9h 0m
10 AM
8h 50m
12 PM
8h 48m
3 PM
8h 51m
5 PM
8h 59m
8 PM
8h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hereford, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hereford, TX to Austin, TX is 473.3 miles and takes about 8h 44m via US Highway 84 and State Highway 153, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route will take you across the Great Plains of Texas, starting in the panhandle and heading southeast. While it's possible to drive in one go, you'll likely want to break it up given the length. The highway portion dominates this drive, offering a relatively straightforward path for most of the trip.
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
236.7 miles from Hereford, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 18m 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 | 49.5 mi | 52m |
| US 183 | 44.5 mi | 49m |
| US 385 | 42.4 mi | 44m |
| South US Highway 183 | 35.3 mi | 38m |
| US Highway 84 East | 29.2 mi | 33m |
| East Highway 84 | 26.9 mi | 26m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 84
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 14m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,210 veh/hr typical · worst 1,594
Quietest
3 AM
~203 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 31 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 Hereford, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on this road
242 ft
·
19 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 60
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
West 1st Street
3
Turn left onto US 385
21 mi
·
31 min
·
South 25 Mile Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 385
21 mi
·
22 min
·
US 385
5
Turn straight onto North Main Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
North Main Street
6
Continue on US 385
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US 385
7
Turn straight onto US 385
16 mi
·
16 min
·
US 385
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 385; Loop 430
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Delano Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto US 84
34 mi
·
35 min
·
US 84
10
Merge onto US 84
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Avenue Q
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 84
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Slaton Road
12
Continue on US 84
6.9 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
13
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
14
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
20 min
·
East Highway 84
15
Continue on US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
16
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 15th Street
17
Turn right onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Ralls Road
18
Turn straight onto TX 207
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Avenue F
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US Highway 84
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 244
Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
22
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Southwest Georgia Avenue
23
Turn right onto TX 70
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lamar Street
24
Continue on TX 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 70
25
Turn left onto TX 153
69 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
State Highway 153
26
Continue on TX 153
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Walnut Street
27
Continue on TX 153
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Walnut Street
28
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
US 84; US 283
29
Continue on US 67; US 84
21 mi
·
24 min
·
US 67; US 84
30
Turn right onto US 84; US 183
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garmon Drive
31
Continue on US 84; US 183
29 mi
·
33 min
·
US Highway 84 East
32
Turn right onto US 183; TX 16
22 mi
·
25 min
·
US 183; TX 16
33
Continue on US 183; US 190
15 mi
·
15 min
·
US 183; US 190
34
Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281
260 ft
·
4 sec
·
North US Highway 281
35
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Key Avenue
36
Continue on US 183
35 mi
·
38 min
·
South US Highway 183
37
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
this road
38
Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll
14 mi
·
14 min
·
183A Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on US 183
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 183
40
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Loop 1: Mopac Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
41
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South
Use the slight right lane.
42
Merge onto Loop 1
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
43
Take the exit
423 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Express 1 Toll
Use the slight left lane.
44
Merge onto Express 1 Toll
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Express 1 Toll
45
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward West 5th Street
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
47
Turn straight onto West 5th Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
48
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8 hour 44 minute estimated drive time, this trip is best split over two days to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early from Hereford, TX, to maximize your daylight driving. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point, though no specific overnight locations are suggested. With 2 planned stops, be sure to check fuel levels regularly, especially before longer stretches like the 73.9-mile segment on US Highway 84. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to surface roads as you approach your destination.
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 236.7 miles from Hereford, TX, or about 4h 18m 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 104 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 236.7 miles or 4h 18m 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 236.7 miles or 4h 18m
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 36m
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 Hereford, 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 Hereford, TX
Aim for roughly 237 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Austin, TX
Aim for roughly 237 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Hereford, 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.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
237 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, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
237 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 237 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 104 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 236.7 miles from Hereford, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 237 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Llano Estacado Picnic Area
0 mi from route
San Saba Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Picnic Area Westbound US 84
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area Eastbound US 84
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Rest Area
2.2 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 websiteAmerican Windmill Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18067478734
Visit websiteMackenzie Main City Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
The Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~9 min detour
Final third
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Brownwood, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13256436376
Visit websiteBrown County Museum of History
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~9 min detour
Final third
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
Brownwood, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13256411926
Visit websiteBarton Creek Greenbelt
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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 255 decision points cluster between mile 64.2 and 471.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
64.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 385; Loop 430 / East Delano Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 385; Loop 430 / East Delano Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
216.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 57m 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
223.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 3m 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,...
7
464.2 mi into trip
|
~8h 31m 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
471.6 mi into trip
|
~8h 40m 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
$64.83 one way
$129.65 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
166 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $72.41 | $144.82 |
| premium | $4.23 | $78.73 | $157.46 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $89.37 | $178.74 |
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
$65
Tolls
$1
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$196–$306
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 165.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 142 | 1 | $49.70 | $22.72 |
| Efficient EV | 118.3 | 1 | $41.41 | $18.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 189.3 | 2 | $66.26 | $30.29 |
Gas CO2
166 kg
EV CO2
55 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Hereford, TX
Morning in Hereford on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 10 to 15 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:21PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Austin, TX
Morning in Austin on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph
41% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:21PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
103°F
Sweetwater, TX
237 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
12 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 44m 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?
Eighty-six percent of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 73.9 miles on US Highway 84. You'll notice a shift when you leave the primary highway system, transitioning to surface roads for the remaining 14% of the trip, which could mean more local traffic and varied speed limits.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
48 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 64.2 miles in near US 385; Loop 430 / East Delano Avenue.
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 25 significant decision points across 473.3 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 64.2 miles (US 385; Loop 430 / East Delano Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 216.9 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 223.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,817 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
276 ft
Total Descent
3,607 ft
Highest Point
3,817 ft
Elevation Range
3,331 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hereford, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater and San Angelo.
Sh 70 South
223.3 mi in
|
~4h 3m
Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater
223.3 mi in
|
~4h 3m
San Angelo
223.3 mi in
|
~4h 3m
About the Cities
Starting in Hereford, TX
Full guide →Hereford is a city of 14,600 people (2019) in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle.
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 237 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.
Yes — we found about 14 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 64.2 miles (US 385; Loop 430 / East Delano Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 216.9 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 223.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.5 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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