Origin
Smithville, TX
Late night in Smithville on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smithville, TX to Austin, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
42.4 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smithville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Smithville and Austin, this 42.4-mile trip is a highly efficient choice. You can easily complete the drive in about 51 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel is sufficient for the transit, which relies heavily on TX 21, TX 95, and East 7th Street. Since both ends of your journey sit within the Great Plains region of Texas, the landscape remains consistent throughout the trip. Because the duration is under an hour, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-trip hotel stays. This route is designed for those who value speed and directness over a meandering scenic tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 21 | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| TX 95 | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| East 7th Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| East State Highway 71 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Bastrop Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Loop 230 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| TX 71 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Bergstrom Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
TX 21
— 17.1 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smithville, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Main Street
43 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto Loop 230
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
3rd Street
3
Turn right onto TX 95; Loop 230
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Royston Street
4
Continue on TX 95; Loop 230
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
TX 95; Loop 230
5
Take the ramp onto TX 95
13 mi
·
14 min
·
TX 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on TX 71; TX 21
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
TX 71; TX 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on TX 21; TX 71
17 mi
·
19 min
·
TX 21; TX 71
8
Continue on 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 183
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Bastrop Highway
12
Continue on 183 Toll
0.7 mi
·
40 sec
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East 7th Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Turn left onto Brushy Street
352 ft
·
17 sec
·
Brushy Street
16
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
17
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
18
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from Smithville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Loop 230 / 3rd Street
Turn right onto Loop 230 / 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
7
36.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
7
38.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Stree...
6
38.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
East 7th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
42.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.41 one way
$12.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $7.01 | $14.03 |
| premium | $4.54 | $7.57 | $15.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.36 | $18.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Austin, TX
Late night in Austin on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
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 experience, as 84% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 17.1 miles specifically on TX 21. The transition from the more rural feel of Smithville to the urban approach of Austin happens smoothly as you navigate the primary highway corridors. While the drive is functional rather than technical, it offers a consistent pace that keeps you moving toward your destination without unnecessary complications. Behind the wheel, you will find a predictable environment that rewards drivers who enjoy clear, well-marked highway travel.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.1 mi on TX 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 21 and TX 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Loop 230 / 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 42.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Loop 230 / 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
On the drive from Smithville, TX to Austin, TX, road signs begin pointing toward 183 Toll North: Lampasas along the way.
183 Toll North: Lampasas
36.8 mi in
|
~42m
About the Cities
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 51m. Total distance: 42.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.1 miles on TX 21. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Loop 230 / 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Austin, 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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