This 331.5-mile journey from Maud, TX to Austin, TX is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 6 hours and 15 minutes. Primarily utilizing TX 155 and I-35, with a segment on Purple Heart Trail, the drive is largely highway-focused, making it a direct path through the Great Plains region of Texas. With a projected fuel cost of around $50, this route is an economical option for a single-day excursion. You'll experience a consistent driving profile for most of the trip, so planning for one primary stop along the way is sufficient. This route is best suited for those who prefer efficient travel.
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
165.8 miles from Maud, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TX 155
66.1 mi
1h 15m
I 35
55.8 mi
58m
Purple Heart Trail
40.3 mi
42m
State Highway 31 East
30.9 mi
35m
West State Highway 31
18.8 mi
21m
State Highway 31
17.2 mi
17m
State Highway 8
12.5 mi
13m
Corsicana Bypass
11.8 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
TX 155
— 66.1 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maud, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Fincher Drive
127 ft·5 sec·Fincher Drive
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto TX 8
8.8 mi·11 min·Houston Drive
4
Continue on TX 8
2.7 mi·3 min·North Street
5
Continue on TX 8
12 mi·13 min·State Highway 8
6
Turn sharp right onto TX 155
40 mi·45 min·TX 155
7
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.5 mi·1 min·North Wood Street
8
Turn straight onto TX 155
13 mi·15 min·TX 155
9
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto TX 155
13 mi·14 min·TX 155
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto US 271; TX 155
4.8 mi·5 min·US Highway 271
12
Turn right onto Loop 323
1.6 mi·2 min·East Northeast Loop 323
13
Continue on Loop 323
4.3 mi·6 min·West Northwest Loop 323
14
Continue on Loop 323
0.6 mi·43 sec·South Southwest Loop 323
15
Turn right onto TX 31
1.6 mi·1 min·Chandler Highway
16
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi·6 min·State Highway 31 West
17
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi·2 min·East Highway 31
18
Continue on TX 31
21 mi·23 min·State Highway 31 East
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
20
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi·7 min·Jed Robinson Loop
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
22
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft·14 sec
23
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 31 West
24
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi·6 min·East Royall Boulevard
25
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi·11 min·State Highway 31 East
26
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi·10 min·Northwest 2nd Street
27
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi·13 min·Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
28
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi·21 min·West State Highway 31
29
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi·5 min·Hubbard Bypass
30
Continue on TX 31
17 mi·17 min·State Highway 31
31
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi·2 min·East US Highway 84
32
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi·4 min·Bellmead Drive
33
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi·1 min·East Waco Drive
34
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft·12 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
35
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
36
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi·6 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
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.
40
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 234BToward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson UniversityUse the slight right lane.
41
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Interstate 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 6th Street
Use the right lane.
43
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft·17 sec·Congress Avenue
44
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft·0 sec·East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
45
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6 hours and 15-minute estimated drive time, leaving Maud, TX in the early morning is recommended to maximize daylight and arrive in Austin with ample time. While the total distance is manageable for a single day, consider breaking up the journey with a stop for fuel and a break, especially given the longest stretch of 66.1 miles on TX 155. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as you transition to I-35, as services can be more spaced out on certain highway segments. The $50 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always factor in potential price fluctuations.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.8 miles from Maud, TX, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.1 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 73 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.8 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 11m
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 Maud, 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 Maud, TX
This is one driving day of about 331.5 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Maud, 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 TX 155 for about 66.1 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 169.3 and 331.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
169.3 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
272.4 mi into trip|~5h 11m in|I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
328.2 mi into trip|~6h 10m 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
330.6 mi into trip|~6h 13m 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
331.5 mi into trip|~6h 15m in|East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.09 one way
$100.18 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$54.83
$109.66
premium
$4.54
$59.19
$118.37
diesel
$5.61
$73.19
$146.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.5
1
$34.81
$15.91
Efficient EV
82.9
0
$29.01
$13.26
EV Truck/SUV
132.6
1
$46.41
$21.22
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Maud, TX
Morning
in Maud on Sunday
Local time
11:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Morning
in Austin on Sunday
Local time
11:10 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
1 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
6h 15m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 228.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 68% of the journey on major roadways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 66.1 miles on TX 155, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While much of the drive is on interstates, the initial segments on TX 155 provide a different road experience before merging onto I-35. This mix means you'll experience both faster highway travel and potentially more local road characteristics early on, before the interstate dominates the latter half of your trip.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.1 mi on TX 155.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 155 and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 169.3 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 331.5 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 169.3 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 272.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 328.2 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 6h 15m. Total distance: 331.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.1 miles on TX 155. 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 169.3 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 272.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 328.2 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Austin, TX before the return drive.
