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Trip from Lumberton, TX to Austin, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 49m

Distance

258.7 mi

416 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 36m ★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 16m
10 AM
4h 59m
12 PM
4h 56m
3 PM
5h 0m
5 PM
5h 15m
8 PM
4h 41m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Texas, United States

Lumberton, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Planning a trip from Lumberton, TX, to Austin, TX? This 258.7-mile drive will take you approximately 4 hours and 49 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day excursion. You'll primarily be on the Eastex Freeway, TX 71, and the Katy Freeway, with a substantial 93% of the route being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $39, this is an economical option for exploring within the Great Plains region of Texas. The overall feel is a straightforward highway-focused journey, perfect for getting from point A to point B efficiently.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

129.3 miles from Lumberton, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Eastex Freeway 84.2 mi 1h 36m
TX 71 77.7 mi 1h 22m
Katy Freeway 74.4 mi 1h 21m
North Main Street 12.7 mi 14m
East 7th Street 2.8 mi 4m
East State Highway 71 2.2 mi 2m
Bastrop Freeway 1.9 mi 2m
Bergstrom Expressway 0.7 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Eastex Freeway — 84.2 mi, about 1h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 96

13 mi · 14 min · North Main Street
2

Keep slight right at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287

84 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Eastex Freeway
Toward Houston, Port Arthur Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3

Continue on I 10; US 90

74 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Katy Freeway
Use the straight lane.
4

Take the exit onto TX 71

0.5 mi · 33 sec · TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
5

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71

77 mi · 1 hr 22 min · TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto US 183

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway
10

Continue on 183 Toll

0.7 mi · 40 sec · Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

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.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street

2.8 mi · 4 min · East 7th Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13

Turn left onto Brushy Street

352 ft · 17 sec · Brushy Street
14

Turn right onto East 6th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street
15

Turn left onto Congress Avenue

357 ft · 17 sec · Congress Avenue
16

Turn left onto East 5th Street

28 ft · 0 sec · East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
17

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Trip Plan

For this 4 hour and 49 minute drive, leaving Lumberton in the morning will allow you to reach Austin with plenty of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop as needed, but consider consolidating your breaks to maximize your time upon arrival. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the longest 84.2-mile stretch on the Eastex Freeway, to avoid any unnecessary delays. The $39 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra for potential detours or unexpected stops.

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 129.3 miles from Lumberton, TX, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.2 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 57 miles or 1h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 129.3 miles or 2h 26m 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 55m

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 Lumberton, 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 Lumberton, TX

This is one driving day of about 258.7 miles and 4h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Lumberton, 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 Eastex Freeway for about 84.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sugar Land, TX

129 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

Baytown, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sugar Land, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.3 miles from Lumberton, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Eastex Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.2 miles.

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.

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13462417524

Visit website

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

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 website

Tyrrell Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Beaumont, Texas

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+14098383613

Visit website

Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands & Boardwalk

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Beaumont, Texas

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+14095542447

Visit website

ARs Entertainment Hub Baytown

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 4–10 pm

+18889999440

Visit website

Botanical 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

Allenbrook Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12814206597

Visit website

Chambers County Museum at Wallisville

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Wallisville, Texas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+14093892252

Visit website

W.L. Jenkins Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12814206597

Visit website

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 12.7 and 258.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
12.7 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway toward Houston, Port Arthur

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Houston, Port Arthur
6
171.8 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in | TX 71

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
253 mi into trip | ~4h 39m in

Take the exit toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
7
254.6 mi into trip | ~4h 41m 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...
7
258.7 mi into trip | ~4h 49m in | East 5th Street

Turn left onto East 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$39.09 one way

$78.18 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $42.79 $85.57
premium $4.54 $46.19 $92.38
diesel $5.61 $57.12 $114.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.6 0 $27.16 $12.42
Efficient EV 64.7 0 $22.64 $10.35
EV Truck/SUV 103.5 1 $36.22 $16.56

Gas CO2

91 kg

EV CO2

30 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 20, 2026

Origin

Lumberton, TX

Late night in Lumberton on Tuesday

Local time

3:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Late night in Austin on Tuesday

Local time

3:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°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

20 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

4h 49m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 258.7-mile journey, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 84.2 miles on the Eastex Freeway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While the primary roads are major highways, the transition between them offers a dynamic driving experience. This route is designed for making good time, so the character is less about winding backroads and more about covering distance on well-maintained, high-speed thoroughfares.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.2 mi on Eastex Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Eastex Freeway and TX 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.7 miles in near US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway.

Driving Effort 8/10

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 258.7 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 12.7 miles (US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 171.8 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 253 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 4h 49m. Total distance: 258.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 84.2 miles on Eastex 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 12.7 miles (US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 171.8 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 253 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Austin, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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