If you are planning a trip from Kaufman to Austin, you are looking at a straightforward 217.2-mile journey across the Great Plains. This drive typically takes about 3 hours and 50 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stop. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, specifically South R L Thornton Freeway, I-35, and the Purple Heart Trail. With an estimated fuel cost of $33, the route is budget-friendly for a quick getaway. Because both your starting point and destination reside within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional landscape throughout the entire transit. Overall, it is a practical, highway-focused drive that prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
108.6 miles from Kaufman, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway
80.3 mi
1h 22m
I 35
55.8 mi
58m
Purple Heart Trail
40.3 mi
42m
US 175
19.5 mi
20m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
10.8 mi
11m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
7m
Ed Hall Drive
0.7 mi
1m
East 6th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kaufman, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on TX 243
85 ft·4 sec·East Mulberry Street
2
Turn right onto TX 243
233 ft·9 sec·North Washington Street
3
Turn left onto TX 243
0.1 mi·12 sec·West Grove Street
4
Turn straight onto TX 243
0.7 mi·1 min·Ed Hall Drive
5
Take the ramp onto TX 243
0.1 mi·13 sec·TX 243
Toward US 175 West
6
Merge onto US 175
20 mi·20 min·US 175
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 20
11 mi·11 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 467BToward I 35E South: WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35E
80 mi·1 hr 22 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
2.4 mi·3 min·Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton StreetUse the slight left lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 234BToward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson UniversityUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft·17 sec·Congress Avenue
19
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft·0 sec·East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 50-minute drive, consider leaving early in the morning to navigate the heavier traffic sections of I-35 with more ease. Since the route only requires one planned stop, use that break strategically to refuel and stretch your legs before the final push into Austin. Keep your $33 fuel budget in mind when planning your fill-ups, as prices can fluctuate significantly once you hit the busier stretches of the interstate. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on real-time traffic reports. A concrete tip for this trek: monitor the I-35 corridor closely for delays before you depart, as this is the most critical link in your 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 108.6 miles from Kaufman, TX, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 48 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.6 miles or 1h 55m 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 7m
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 Kaufman, 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 Kaufman, TX
This is one driving day of about 217.2 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Kaufman, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 80.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.5 and 217.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
20.5 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
32.2 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward I 35E South: Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 467B
Toward I 35E South: Waco
8
213.8 mi into trip|~3h 45m 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
216.2 mi into trip|~3h 48m 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...
7
217.2 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.82 one way
$65.64 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$35.92
$71.85
premium
$4.54
$38.78
$77.56
diesel
$5.61
$47.96
$95.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.2
0
$22.81
$10.43
Efficient EV
54.3
0
$19.01
$8.69
EV Truck/SUV
86.9
1
$30.41
$13.90
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kaufman, TX
Late night
in Kaufman on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Late night
in Austin on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
10 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
3h 50m 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.
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 112.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused, high-speed experience, as 80% of this route is comprised of highways. You will settle into the rhythm of the road early on, facing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 80.3 miles while navigating the South R L Thornton Freeway. The transition from regional thoroughfares onto the heavy-traffic lanes of I-35 defines the middle portion of your trip. While the drive is largely a functional interstate grind, the shift from smaller stretches to major highway systems keeps the pace brisk. You will find yourself behind the wheel on a route designed for directness, demanding steady focus as you traverse the Texas landscape.
80% 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: 80.3 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 217.2 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 20.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.8 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 217.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.3 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.8 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Austin, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
