Trip from Queen City, TX to Austin, TX

Pin this trip

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

Drive Time

6h 7m

Distance

324.3 mi

522 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

5h 55m ★

6 AM

6h 8m

8 AM

6h 33m

10 AM

6h 17m

12 PM

6h 14m

3 PM

6h 18m

5 PM

6h 32m

8 PM

6h 0m

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

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Queen City, TX

Arian Fernandez

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Queen City to Austin is 324.3 miles and takes about 6h 7m via TX 155 and I-35, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Great Plains region of Northeast Texas into the heart of Central Texas. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a straightforward drive. Consider this route if you're looking for a single-day trip with a clear path and manageable driving time. The estimated fuel cost makes it an economical option for a quick getaway.

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

162.1 miles from Queen City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
TX 155	66.2 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
Corsicana Bypass	11.8 mi	13m
US 59	11.1 mi	12m

Longest stretch: TX 155 — 66.2 mi, about 1h 15m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 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 Queen City, TX and Austin, TX.

Start on FM 74

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Houston Street

At end of road, turn left onto Loop 236

0.5 mi · 1 min · Loop 236

Turn left onto US 59

0.7 mi · 44 sec · US 59

Turn straight onto US 59

2.1 mi · 3 min · Loop 59

Take the exit onto US 59

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 59

Toward US 59 South, TX 77 West: Marshall, Naples

Merge onto US 59; TX77

2.8 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

Continue on US 59; FM 2328

10 mi · 11 min · US 59; FM 2328

Turn right onto TX 155

40 mi · 45 min · TX 155

Turn left onto US 271; TX 155

1.5 mi · 1 min · North Wood Street

Turn straight onto TX 155

13 mi · 15 min · TX 155

Turn right onto US 80; TX 155

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto TX 155

13 mi · 14 min · TX 155

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 271; TX 155

4.8 mi · 5 min · US Highway 271

Turn right onto Loop 323

1.6 mi · 2 min · East Northeast Loop 323

Continue on Loop 323

4.3 mi · 6 min · West Northwest Loop 323

Continue on Loop 323

0.6 mi · 43 sec · South Southwest Loop 323

Turn right onto TX 31

1.6 mi · 1 min · Chandler Highway

Continue on TX 31

5.6 mi · 6 min · State Highway 31 West

Continue on TX 31

2.0 mi · 2 min · East Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

21 mi · 23 min · State Highway 31 East

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7

6.2 mi · 7 min · Jed Robinson Loop

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec

Keep slight left at fork

445 ft · 14 sec

Turn right onto TX 31

4.0 mi · 4 min · State Highway 31 West

Continue on TX 31

5.4 mi · 6 min · East Royall Boulevard

Continue on TX 31

9.9 mi · 11 min · State Highway 31 East

Continue on TX 31

9.3 mi · 10 min · Northwest 2nd Street

Turn left onto TX 31

12 mi · 13 min · Corsicana Bypass

Use the straight lane.

At end of road, turn left onto TX 31

19 mi · 21 min · West State Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

5.5 mi · 5 min · Hubbard Bypass

Continue on TX 31

17 mi · 17 min · State Highway 31

Continue on US 84

2.5 mi · 2 min · East US Highway 84

Continue on US 84

2.6 mi · 4 min · Bellmead Drive

Turn straight onto US 84

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Waco Drive

Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

519 ft · 12 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 35 South, US 77 South

Merge onto I 35; US 77

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Exit 234B Toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 27 sec · North Interstate 35

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto East 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto Congress Avenue

357 ft · 17 sec · Congress Avenue

Turn left onto East 5th Street

28 ft · 0 sec · East 5th Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 6-hour drive, plan to leave Queen City early in the morning. This allows you to take advantage of the full daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic jams closer to Austin. With only one recommended stop and a predominantly highway profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 66.2-mile stretch on TX 155, as services might be less frequent there. Your estimated fuel cost of $51 should cover the 324.3 miles.

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 162.1 miles from Queen City, TX, or about 3h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.2 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 71 miles or 1h 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 162.1 miles or 3h 10m 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 4m

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 Queen City, 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 Queen City, TX

This is one driving day of about 324.3 miles and 6h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Queen City, 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 66.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Seagoville, TX

162 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

Big Sandy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Italy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 162.1 miles from Queen City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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 website

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 28

5 decision points cluster between mile 162.1 and 324.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

162.1 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in | TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass

Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

265.1 mi into trip | ~5h 3m 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.

320.9 mi into trip | ~6h 2m 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

323.3 mi into trip | ~6h 5m 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...

324.3 mi into trip | ~6h 7m in | East 5th Street

Turn left onto East 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.42 one way

$88.84 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 114 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$49.62	$99.23
premium	$4.23	$53.94	$107.89
diesel	$4.80	$61.23	$122.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 113.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	97.3	1	$34.05	$15.57
Efficient EV	81.1	0	$28.38	$12.97
EV Truck/SUV	129.7	1	$45.40	$20.76

Gas CO2

113 kg

EV CO2

38 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Queen City, TX

Morning in Queen City on Tuesday

Local time

10:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

93°F

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 0 to 5 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 10:45AM CDT until July 17 at 1:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Austin, TX

Morning in Austin on Tuesday

Local time

10:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

92°F

Partly Sunny

SSE 5 to 10 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 10:45AM CDT until July 17 at 1:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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 7m 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...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour Free near mile 223.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is mostly highway, with 69% of the 324.3 miles on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 66.2 miles on TX 155 before merging onto I-35. Expect a consistent flow of traffic as you get closer to Austin, with more frequent exits and potential for urban merging. Outside of these areas, you'll find more open cruising on the rural segments.

69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 66.2 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 162.1 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 28 significant decision points across 324.3 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 162.1 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 265.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 320.9 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

807 ft 313 ft

Total Climb

671 ft

Total Descent

540 ft

Highest Point

807 ft

~303.4 mi in

Elevation Range

495 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Queen City, 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 7m. Total distance: 324.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 66.2 miles on TX 155. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 13 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Queen City, TX or browse trips ending in Austin, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Queen City, TX to Austin, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Cass County Southbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Buc-ee's

Ascent Travel Center

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Austin Bat Tours

Cultural Activities Center

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Tyler Rose Garden

Tyler Rose Museum & Gift Shop

Visit Tyler/SPORTyler

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Village of Salado Visitors Center

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Queen City, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 7m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Queen City, TX

Arriving in Austin, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Austin, TX

More from Queen City, TX

More trips to Austin, TX