Trip from The Colony, TX to Austin, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 59m

Distance

219.3 mi

353 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 46m ★

6 AM

3h 59m

8 AM

4h 25m

10 AM

4h 8m

12 PM

4h 6m

3 PM

4h 10m

5 PM

4h 24m

8 PM

3h 51m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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The Colony, TX

Mark Direen

Austin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The Colony, TX to Austin, TX is 219.3 miles and takes about 3h 59m via South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for the entire trip, staying within Texas. Most of this drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for a direct route. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under four hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day.

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

109.7 miles from The Colony, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
Purple Heart Trail	40.3 mi	42m
Dallas North Tollway	17.4 mi	19m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
Windhaven Parkway	2 mi	4m
North Stemmons Freeway	1.9 mi	2m
Plano Parkway	1.6 mi	2m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 84 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~4,165 veh/hr typical · worst 4,960

Quietest

2 AM

~724 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 The Colony, TX and Austin, TX.

Start on this road

208 ft · 20 sec · this road

Turn left onto Blair Oaks Drive

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Blair Oaks Drive

Turn left onto Clover Valley Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · Clover Valley Drive

Turn left onto Worley Drive

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Worley Drive

Turn right onto Paige Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Paige Road

Continue on Plano Parkway

1.6 mi · 2 min · Plano Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto Windhaven Parkway

2.0 mi · 4 min · Windhaven Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Dallas Parkway

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Dallas Parkway

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward DNT Toll South

Merge onto DNT

17 mi · 19 min · Dallas North Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35E South Use the right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

329 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 35E South Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway

0.1 mi · 12 sec · North Stemmons Freeway

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward I 35E South

Merge onto I 35E

1.8 mi · 2 min · North Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 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

Given the 3h 59m duration, leaving The Colony in the morning should allow you to reach Austin with plenty of time to spare. The $32 fuel cost is an estimate, so keep an eye on gas prices as you travel. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your break. Consider a mid-morning or early afternoon stop to break up the 89.9-mile stretch on South R L Thornton Freeway. Since this is a relatively short, highway-focused drive, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.

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 109.7 miles from The Colony, TX, or about 2h 2m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 48 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 109.7 miles or 2h 2m 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 15m

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 The Colony, 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 The Colony, TX

This is one driving day of about 219.3 miles and 3h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from The Colony, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Italy, TX

110 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

Glenn Heights, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 109.7 miles from The Colony, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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

Kids Colony

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

The Colony, Texas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+19726251106

Visit website

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games The Colony

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

The Colony, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+14695273278

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Carrollton, Texas

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+19724663080

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 23.2 and 219.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

23.2 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 35E South

23.6 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E South

216 mi into trip | ~3h 53m 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

218.4 mi into trip | ~3h 56m 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...

219.3 mi into trip | ~3h 59m in | East 5th Street

Turn left onto East 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.92 one way

$65.84 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$36.43	$72.85
premium	$4.57	$39.41	$78.83
diesel	$6.28	$54.19	$108.37

Estimated Tolls: $1.39

Dallas North Tollway (17.4 mi) $1.39

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	65.8	0	$23.03	$10.53
Efficient EV	54.8	0	$19.19	$8.77
EV Truck/SUV	87.7	1	$30.70	$14.04

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Oct 19, 2026

Origin

The Colony, TX

Night in The Colony on Saturday

Local time

10:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Austin, TX

Night in Austin on Saturday

Local time

10:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Mostly Sunny

ENE 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

60°F

Italy, TX

110 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

4 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 59m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 ~11 min detour Free near mile 113.4

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 72% of the 219.3 miles on major roads. You'll experience an 89.9-mile stretch on South R L Thornton Freeway, which is a significant portion of the route. Expect a more urban feel with frequent exits during the initial part of your drive as you navigate out of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The remainder of the trip is primarily on I 35, offering a consistent cruising experience.

72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

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 219.3 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 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 216 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

822 ft 487 ft

Total Climb

821 ft

Total Descent

922 ft

Highest Point

822 ft

~203.7 mi in

Elevation Range

335 ft

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 The Colony, TX to Austin, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas Zoo along the way.

Dallas Zoo

26.3 mi in | ~36m | via I 35E

About the Cities

Starting in The Colony, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1969

The Colony, City by the Lake, is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region of Texas, less than 30 miles from Downtown Dallas. Best known for beautiful views of Lake Lewisville, The Colony extends 23 miles along its eastern shoreline, with hundreds of acres of wildlife and a myriad of recreational opportunities including camping, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, picnicking and cycling.

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 3h 59m. Total distance: 219.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.39 in tolls one way, starting with Dallas North Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 24 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 24 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Austin, 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, 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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Trip from The Colony, 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

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Ascent Travel Center

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Austin Bat Tours

Kids Colony

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games The Colony

Botanical Gates of Paradise

NTER - The Great Escape

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Village of Salado Visitors Center

Oak Hills Splash Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

The Colony, TX

Austin, TX

Same local time

4 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 59m 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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in The Colony, TX

Arriving in Austin, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

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

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