Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Montopolis, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
139.6 mi
225 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilltop Lakes, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
This 139.6-mile drive from Montopolis, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 51 minutes. The route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 97% of the journey on main roads like State Highway 21 East and Texas State Highway 71. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, this journey offers a budget-friendly option for a quick getaway. Both your starting point in Montopolis and your destination in Hilltop Lakes are located within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape throughout your travels. This drive is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
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
69.8 miles from Montopolis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 21 East | 65.2 mi | 1h 11m |
| TX 21 | 29.2 mi | 34m |
| Texas State Highway 71 | 18.9 mi | 21m |
| FM 39 South | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| FM 3 South | 7.8 mi | 13m |
| East State Highway 71 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Bastrop Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Hilltop Boulevard | 1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 21 East
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montopolis, TX and Hilltop Lakes, TX.
1
Start on this road
219 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
2
Merge onto 183 Toll
0.8 mi
·
47 sec
·
Bergstrom Expressway
3
Continue on US 183
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on TX 71
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
·
East State Highway 71
8
Continue on TX 71
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
10
Turn straight onto College Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
College Street
11
Turn left onto TX 21; TX 95
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
State Highway 95
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto TX 21; Loop 150
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Chestnut Street
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on TX 21
65 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
State Highway 21 East
14
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 21
29 mi
·
34 min
·
TX 21
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
16
Turn left onto FM 39
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
FM 39 South
17
Turn left onto FM 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
18
Continue on FM 3
7.8 mi
·
13 min
·
FM 3 South
19
Turn right onto Hilltop Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hilltop Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Deerfield Drive
226 ft
·
10 sec
·
Deerfield Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Deerfield Drive
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour and 51-minute duration for this 139.6-mile trip, you have the flexibility to depart Montopolis at your convenience. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight for your drive and arrival. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $21, planning is minimal. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 65.2 miles on State Highway 21 East, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination without unnecessary detours. This route is designed for straightforward travel, so focus on enjoying the steady progress toward Hilltop Lakes.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.8 miles from Montopolis, TX, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilltop Lakes, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Montopolis, 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 Montopolis, TX
This is one driving day of about 139.6 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Montopolis, 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 State Highway 21 East for about 65.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.8 miles from Montopolis, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before State Highway 21 East if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.2 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.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~9 min detour
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 92.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom Internation...
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway
Turn straight onto 71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 T...
6
26.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
TX 21; TX 95 / State Highway 95
Turn left onto TX 21; TX 95 / State Highway 95
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
26.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
TX 21; Loop 150 / Chestnut Street
Turn right onto TX 21; Loop 150 / Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
92.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
TX 21
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 21
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.09 one way
$42.19 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $23.09 | $46.18 |
| premium | $4.54 | $24.92 | $49.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.82 | $61.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.66 | $6.70 |
| Efficient EV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.21 | $5.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.54 | $8.93 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Origin
Montopolis, TX
Late night in Montopolis on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hilltop Lakes, TX
Late night in Hilltop Lakes on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Lexington, TX
70 mi in
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
5 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
2h 51m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this 139.6-mile route, as 97% of it is on main roads. You'll spend most of your time on State Highway 21 East, which forms the backbone of this journey. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 65.2 miles, so you'll have ample opportunity to settle into a rhythm. This route offers a consistent driving experience, primarily on well-maintained highways that allow for steady progress toward Hilltop Lakes. The profile suggests a driving experience geared towards efficiency rather than winding scenic byways.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.2 mi on State Highway 21 East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 21 East and TX 21. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 139.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles (TX 21; TX 95 / State Highway 95): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 139.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.2 miles on State Highway 21 East. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Hilltop Lakes, 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 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles (TX 21; TX 95 / State Highway 95): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hilltop Lakes, TX before heading back.
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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