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Trip from Karnes City, TX to Montopolis, TX

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

Drive Time

1h 59m

Distance

100.8 mi

162 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m

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

Downtown Karnes City, TX, TX

Karnes City, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Karnes City to Montopolis is 100.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via State Highway 80 North and US Highway 183 South, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive is entirely within Texas, moving through the Great Plains region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. With a duration under two hours, it’s ideal for a same-day journey, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

50.4 miles from Karnes City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 80 North 30.8 mi 35m
State Highway 80 28.3 mi 30m
US Highway 183 South 11.8 mi 15m
US 183 10.1 mi 11m
Pickle Parkway 9.8 mi 8m
South Colorado Street 4.9 mi 8m
South Nixon Avenue 1 mi 2m
Airport Boulevard 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 80 North — 30.8 mi, about 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Karnes City, TX and Montopolis, TX.

1

Start on US 181 Business

0.3 mi · 35 sec · East Calvert Avenue
2

Keep slight left at fork onto Badgerette Drive

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Badgerette Drive
3

At end of road, turn right onto Weir Street

45 ft · 7 sec · Weir Street
4

Turn left onto TX 80; TX 123

0.3 mi · 43 sec · North Badger Drive
5

Turn right onto TX 80

28 mi · 30 min · State Highway 80
6

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
7

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
8

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
9

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
10

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
12

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

9.8 mi · 8 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Exit 460 Toward US 183 North: Austin Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on US 183

12 mi · 15 min · US Highway 183 South
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on 183 Toll

0.7 mi · 40 sec · Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 54 sec
Toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport Boulevard Use the right lane.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto Loop 111

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Airport Boulevard
18

Continue on Loop 111

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Airport Boulevard
19

Continue on US 183

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Ed Bluestein Boulevard
20

Take the ramp

486 ft · 11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
21

Arrive at destination

Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart

Trip Plan

Given its sub-two-hour duration, this drive offers plenty of flexibility; consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and arrive at your destination with ample daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need to worry too much about budgeting for gas. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before departing Karnes City, as the longest stretch without a major road change is 30.8 miles on State Highway 80 North, offering a good opportunity to focus on the drive itself.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.4 miles from Karnes City, TX, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.8 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 22 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.4 miles or 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 36m

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 Karnes City, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Karnes City, TX

This is one driving day of about 100.8 miles and 1h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Karnes City, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 80 North for about 30.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Caldwell and Guadalupe counties in Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Luling, TX

50 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

Nixon, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Luling, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.4 miles from Karnes City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 99.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~0m in | Weir Street

At end of road, turn right onto Weir Street

Navigation decision point

6
76.3 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

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

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
5
76.7 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway

Merge onto TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
86.5 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in

Take the exit toward US 183 North: Austin

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 460 Toward US 183 North: Austin
7
99.4 mi into trip | ~1h 56m 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

$15.23 one way

$30.46 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $16.67 $33.34
premium $4.54 $18.00 $35.99
diesel $5.61 $22.26 $44.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.2 0 $10.58 $4.84
Efficient EV 25.2 0 $8.82 $4.03
EV Truck/SUV 40.3 0 $14.11 $6.45

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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

Karnes City, TX

Afternoon in Karnes City on Sunday

Local time

2:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Montopolis, TX

Afternoon in Montopolis on Sunday

Local time

2:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

63°F

Luling, TX

50 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

2 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

1h 59m 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?

This route is predominantly highway driving, with a 91% highway share. Expect a consistent experience for most of the 100.8 miles, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 30.8 miles on State Highway 80 North. The character is largely that of a focused highway journey, meaning you'll likely encounter faster speeds and fewer complex turns. It's designed for forward momentum, making it a predictable and efficient way to travel.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.8 mi on State Highway 80 North.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 80 North and State Highway 80. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Weir Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Weir Street): Navigation decision point; at 76.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.7 miles (TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.

On the drive from Karnes City, TX to Montopolis, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.

Waco

76.3 mi in | ~1h 30m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 100.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 30.8 miles on State Highway 80 North. 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 Montopolis, 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 0.5 miles (Weir Street): Navigation decision point; at 76.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.7 miles (TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montopolis, 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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