This 199.3-mile drive from Livingston, TX to Austin, TX will take you approximately 3 hours and 53 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $30, it's a manageable day trip. You'll spend about 74% of your journey on highways, making it a straightforward trip through the Great Plains region of Texas. This route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The overall feel is a practical, highway-focused journey connecting two points in the same state.
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
99.6 miles from Livingston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West State Highway 21
58.8 mi
1h 4m
State Highway 30 West
46.6 mi
54m
West Church Street
42.5 mi
49m
US 290
31.8 mi
37m
Manor Expressway
6.1 mi
6m
Purple Heart Trail
3.4 mi
4m
Boonville Road
3.3 mi
5m
East William J Bryan Parkway
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
West State Highway 21
— 58.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on US 59 Business
11 ft·4 sec·North Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 190
42 mi·49 min·West Church Street
3
Continue on US 190; TX 30
1.7 mi·2 min·11th Street
4
Continue on TX 30
47 mi·54 min·State Highway 30 West
5
Continue on FM 158
0.7 mi·1 min·Farm-to-Market Road 158
6
Continue on FM 158
3.3 mi·5 min·Boonville Road
7
Continue on FM 158
2.2 mi·3 min·East William J Bryan Parkway
8
Continue on FM 158
1.0 mi·1 min·West William J Bryan Parkway
9
Turn left onto TX 21
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·West State Highway 21
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
11
Merge onto US 290
7.7 mi·8 min·US 290
12
Continue on US 290
21 mi·25 min·US 290
13
Continue on 290 Toll
6.1 mi·6 min·Manor Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 290
1.6 mi·1 min·US 290
15
Take the exit onto US 290
1.1 mi·2 min·US 290
Toward I 35 South, US 290 WestUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 35; US 290
1.0 mi·1 min·Purple Heart Trail
17
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.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 234BToward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson UniversityUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft·17 sec·Congress Avenue
22
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft·0 sec·East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 53-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning from Livingston, TX will allow you to arrive in Austin with ample time to spare. With only one suggested stop and a manageable 199.3 miles, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 58.8-mile stretch on West State Highway 21, as services might be less frequent there. The $30 fuel estimate should cover the trip comfortably, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer.
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 99.6 miles from Livingston, TX, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.8 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.6 miles or 1h 59m 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 10m
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 Livingston, 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 Livingston, TX
This is one driving day of about 199.3 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Livingston, 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 West State Highway 21 for about 58.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 193.8 and 199.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
193.8 mi into trip|~3h 44m 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
195.9 mi into trip|~3h 48m 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
198.4 mi into trip|~3h 51m 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...
6
198.7 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|East 6th Street
Turn right onto East 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
199.3 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.11 one way
$60.23 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$32.96
$65.93
premium
$4.54
$35.58
$71.17
diesel
$5.61
$44.00
$88.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
Efficient EV
49.8
0
$17.44
$7.97
EV Truck/SUV
79.7
0
$27.90
$12.76
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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
Livingston, TX
Late night
in Livingston on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Late night
in Austin on Sunday
Local time
2:30 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
3 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
3h 53m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 74% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 58.8 miles on West State Highway 21, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. The journey involves navigating West State Highway 21 and State Highway 30 West, suggesting a mix of efficient travel with some transitions onto local roads like West Church Street as you approach your destination. Expect a drive that prioritizes directness over winding scenic byways.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.8 mi on West State Highway 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West State Highway 21 and State Highway 30 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 193.8 miles in near US 290.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 199.3 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 193.8 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.9 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 53m. Total distance: 199.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.8 miles on West State Highway 21. 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 193.8 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.9 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Austin, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
