Origin
Waelder, TX
Morning in Waelder on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waelder, 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
1h 23m
Distance
67.1 mi
108 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waelder, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Waelder to Austin is 67.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 23 minutes via I 10 and US Highway 183 South, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the Great Plains region of Texas, moving from one part of the state to another. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it ideal for a quick trip or an addition to a longer itinerary. You'll find the route is primarily on major roads, meaning you can expect consistent travel conditions. Plan for a single-day trip, as the duration is well within a typical travel day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 17 mi | 16m |
| US Highway 183 South | 11.8 mi | 15m |
| US 183 | 10.1 mi | 11m |
| Pickle Parkway | 9.8 mi | 8m |
| South Colorado Street | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| East Pierce Street | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| East 7th Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| South Magnolia Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 17 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waelder, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on Northwest 2nd Street
86 ft
·
5 sec
·
Northwest 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto FM 1115
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North E Avenue
3
Continue on TX 97
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
TX 97
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
5
Merge onto I 10
17 mi
·
16 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 632
Toward US 90, US 183: Luling, Lockhart
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 183
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Pierce Street
8
Turn right onto US 183; TX 80
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Magnolia Avenue
9
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
10
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
11
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
United States Highway 183
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
13
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
9.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 460
Toward US 183 North: Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 183
12 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 183 South
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on 183 Toll
0.7 mi
·
40 sec
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East 7th Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Turn left onto Brushy Street
352 ft
·
17 sec
·
Brushy Street
20
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
21
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft
·
17 sec
·
Congress Avenue
22
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.5 miles from Waelder, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 19.2 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
19.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward US 90, US 183: Luling, Lockhart
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.
Exit 632
Toward US 90, US 183: Luling, Lockhart
6
39.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
7
50.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward US 183 North: Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 460
Toward US 183 North: Austin
7
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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...
7
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.14 one way
$20.28 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.10 | $22.20 |
| premium | $4.54 | $11.98 | $23.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.81 | $29.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.05 | $3.22 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.39 | $4.29 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Morning in Austin on Sunday
Local time
9:36 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
13 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
1h 23m 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?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 76% of the drive on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 17 miles on I 10, offering a consistent, faster pace. While the majority is highway, the transition to US Highway 183 South will introduce a slightly different road character as you approach Austin. Expect a driving experience that emphasizes efficiency and direct travel, rather than winding scenic byways. The road profile suggests a straightforward drive with minimal complex navigation.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US Highway 183 South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Waelder, TX and Austin, TX, road signs point toward Lockhart and Waco.
Lockhart
19.2 mi in
|
~21m
Waco
39.9 mi in
|
~50m
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 1h 23m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17 miles on I 10. 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: at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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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