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Trip from Hutto, 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

34m

Distance

27.4 mi

44 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 31m ★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m

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

city in Williamson County, Texas, United States

Hutto, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head from Hutto to Austin, you are looking at a quick 28-mile journey that typically takes about 31 minutes. This short hop is easily managed as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily utilize Chris Kelley Boulevard, TX 130, and Toll 130 South to complete the transit. With a modest fuel budget of $4, this route is an efficient way to navigate between these two Great Plains locations. Because the distance is so manageable, you have significant flexibility in your schedule, making it an ideal transit for commuters or casual travelers alike.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pickle Parkway 10 mi 9m
Manor Expressway 4.1 mi 4m
Purple Heart Trail 3.4 mi 4m
US 290 2.7 mi 4m
Chris Kelley Boulevard 2.1 mi 2m
TX 130 Frontage Road 1.3 mi 1m
US 79 1 mi 1m
East 6th Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pickle Parkway — 10 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Jim Cage Lane

118 ft · 11 sec · Jim Cage Lane
2

Turn left onto US 79

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 79
3

Turn left onto FM 685

2.1 mi · 2 min · Chris Kelley Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4

Turn left onto FM 685

1.3 mi · 1 min · TX 130 Frontage Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 10 sec
Exit 426 Toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 14 sec · this road
Exit 426 Toward Toll 130 South: Austin, Pflugerville
7

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

10 mi · 9 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 2 min
Exit 437B Toward 290 Toll West: Austin Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto 290 Toll

4.1 mi · 4 min · Manor Expressway
10

Continue on US 290

1.6 mi · 1 min · US 290
11

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.
12

Merge onto I 35; US 290

1.0 mi · 1 min · Purple Heart Trail
13

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.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 234B Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 27 sec · North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Turn right onto East 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
17

Turn left onto Congress Avenue

357 ft · 17 sec · Congress Avenue
18

Turn left onto East 5th Street

28 ft · 0 sec · East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
19

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 26.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
4.4 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 426 Toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
7
14.8 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward 290 Toll West: Austin

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 437B Toward 290 Toll West: Austin
7
21.9 mi into trip | ~25m 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
24 mi into trip | ~29m 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
26.4 mi into trip | ~32m 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...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.14 one way

$8.28 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $4.53 $9.06
premium $4.54 $4.89 $9.78
diesel $5.61 $6.05 $12.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.2 0 $2.88 $1.32
Efficient EV 6.9 0 $2.40 $1.10
EV Truck/SUV 11 0 $3.84 $1.75

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Hutto, TX

Morning in Hutto on Sunday

Local time

9:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Morning in Austin on Sunday

Local time

9:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

9 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

34m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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 that transitions quickly as you move toward your destination. While the route involves major thoroughfares like TX 130, the character of the road is defined by its local navigation rather than long, monotonous highway stretches. You won't find yourself stuck in a highway grind here, as the route is designed for efficient movement through the region. Since the highway share is effectively zero, you should remain alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns. The pacing feels direct, allowing you to reach the state capital without the fatigue often associated with longer interstate travel.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10 mi on Pickle Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pickle Parkway and Manor Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 27.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Hutto, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Pflugerville, Toll 130 South: Austin and 290 Toll West: Austin.

Pflugerville

4.4 mi in | ~6m

Toll 130 South: Austin

4.6 mi in | ~6m

290 Toll West: Austin

14.8 mi in | ~16m

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 27.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 10 miles on Pickle Parkway. 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 4.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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