Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Maud, TX to Austin, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 15m
Distance
331.5 mi
534 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 3m
★
6 AM
6h 16m
8 AM
6h 41m
10 AM
6h 25m
12 PM
6h 22m
3 PM
6h 26m
5 PM
6h 40m
8 PM
6h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maud, TX
Thomas balabaud
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
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
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,006 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~683 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
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 Street
Use the slight left lane.
40
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 234B
Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
Use 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
166 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 165.8 miles from Maud, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 155 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.1 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.
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
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 websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteBotanical 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
Barton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteVillage of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 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
$45.41 one way
$90.81 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
116 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $50.72 | $101.43 |
| premium | $4.23 | $55.14 | $110.28 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $62.59 | $125.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
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, 2026-07-13.
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.
Origin
Maud, TX
Late night in Maud on Sunday
Local time
3:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Late night in Austin on Sunday
Local time
3:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 1:41AM CDT until July 20 at 3:02AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:11PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
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
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
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 Effort
9/10
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
850 ft
254 ft
Total Climb
821 ft
Total Descent
622 ft
Highest Point
850 ft
~307.9 mi in
Elevation Range
596 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Maud, TX
Full guide →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 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.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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