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Trip from Rusk, TX to Montopolis, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 18m
Distance
208.8 mi
336 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 6m
★
6 AM
4h 19m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 28m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rusk, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Montopolis, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Rusk to Montopolis is 208.8 miles and takes about 4h 18m via US 79 and US Highway 84 West, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, taking you across the Great Plains region. With 85% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct path for most of the way. It's a single-day trip, making it a good option for a quick transit or a visit to a nearby area without needing an overnight stay.
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
104.4 miles from Rusk, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 79 | 131.2 mi | 2h 36m |
| US Highway 84 West | 27 mi | 40m |
| West Oak Street | 12.6 mi | 14m |
| Pickle Parkway | 10 mi | 9m |
| East 2nd Street | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Bergstrom Expressway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Manor Expressway | 3.7 mi | 3m |
| East 6th Street | 2.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 79
— 131.2 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rusk, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on US 84
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East 6th Street
2
Continue on US 84
27 mi
·
40 min
·
US Highway 84 West
3
Turn right onto US 84; US 287; TX 19
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Crockett Road
4
Turn left onto US 84; US 287
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Spring Street
5
Turn left onto US 84
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Oak Street
6
Continue on US 84
355 ft
·
9 sec
·
Court Drive
7
Turn left onto US 79; US 84
12 mi
·
13 min
·
West Oak Street
8
Turn straight onto US 79
75 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
US 79
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
10
Continue on US 79; US 190
54 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
US 79; US 190
11
Turn left onto Porter Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Porter Street
12
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
East 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 79
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 79
14
Turn left onto FM 685
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Chris Kelley Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto FM 685
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
TX 130 Frontage Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
Exit 426
Toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
14 sec
·
this road
Exit 426
Toward Toll 130 South: Austin, Pflugerville
18
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
10 mi
·
9 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 437B
Toward 290 Toll West: Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto 290 Toll
3.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Manor Expressway
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward US 183 South, US 183 North: Lockhart, Lampasas
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto US 183
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 183
24
Continue on 183 Toll
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
26
Turn straight onto US 183
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
27
Take the ramp
486 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
28
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 18m estimated duration, leaving Rusk in the morning should allow you to reach Montopolis with plenty of daylight remaining. The 208.8-mile distance is manageable for a single day, so you have flexibility with stop timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 131.2-mile stretch on US 79, as services might be less frequent in some sections. The estimated fuel cost is around $30, so plan accordingly. Your single stop can be a good opportunity for a break or a quick meal.
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 104.4 miles from Rusk, TX, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.2 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 46 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.4 miles or 2h 11m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rusk, 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 Rusk, TX
This is one driving day of about 208.8 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Rusk, 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 US 79 for about 131.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.4 miles from Rusk, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.2 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.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.9 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 186.2 and 208.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
186.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m in
Take the ramp toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 426
Toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
7
196.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m in
Take the exit toward 290 Toll West: Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 437B
Toward 290 Toll West: Austin
7
201.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 183 South, US 183 North: Lockhart, Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 183 South, US 183 North: Lockhart, La...
7
202.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
7
208.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.60 one way
$57.20 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $31.94 | $63.89 |
| premium | $4.23 | $34.73 | $69.46 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $39.43 | $78.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.6 | 0 | $21.92 | $10.02 |
| Efficient EV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.27 | $8.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.5 | 1 | $29.23 | $13.36 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Rusk, TX
Late night in Rusk on Monday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph
31% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Late night in Montopolis on Monday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 mph
42% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
96°F
Cameron, TX
104 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
2 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
4h 18m 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?
About 85% of this 208.8-mile route is highway, so you'll spend most of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 131.2 miles, primarily on US 79. You'll transition to surface roads like West Oak Street as you approach Montopolis. Expect a generally open road feel for the majority of this drive.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.2 mi on US 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 79 and US Highway 84 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 186.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 208.8 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 186.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 196.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 201.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
660 ft
264 ft
Total Climb
838 ft
Total Descent
893 ft
Highest Point
660 ft
~179 mi in
Elevation Range
396 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rusk, TX and Montopolis, TX, road signs point toward Pflugerville, Toll 130 South: Austin and 290 Toll West: Austin.
Pflugerville
186.2 mi in
|
~3h 52m
Toll 130 South: Austin
186.4 mi in
|
~3h 53m
290 Toll West: Austin
196.6 mi in
|
~4h 2m
About the Cities
Starting in Rusk, TX
Full guide →Founded 1846
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 18m. Total distance: 208.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.2 miles on US 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Montopolis, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 186.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 196.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 201.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Montopolis, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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