Traveling from Yorktown to Austin is a straightforward 104.3-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 9 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience consistent terrain throughout the trip. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stop. Budgeting roughly $16 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. By utilizing a combination of North Mehnert Street, State Highway 80 North, and US Highway 183 South, you can navigate between these two points with ease. It is a highly practical drive for those looking to reach the state capital efficiently without unnecessary complications.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.2 miles from Yorktown, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 80 North
30.8 mi
35m
North Mehnert Street
20.1 mi
26m
US Highway 183 South
11.8 mi
15m
US 183
10.1 mi
11m
Pickle Parkway
9.8 mi
8m
State Highway 80
9.6 mi
10m
South Colorado Street
4.9 mi
8m
East 7th Street
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 80 North
— 30.8 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yorktown, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on TX 72
0.4 mi·44 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn right onto TX 119
20 mi·26 min·North Mehnert Street
3
Turn right onto TX 80
9.6 mi·10 min·State Highway 80
4
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nixon Avenue
5
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi·35 min·State Highway 80 North
6
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
7
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
8
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
10
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
9.8 mi·8 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 460Toward US 183 North: AustinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 183
12 mi·15 min·US Highway 183 South
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on 183 Toll
0.7 mi·40 sec·Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport BoulevardUse the right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
2.8 mi·4 min·East 7th Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Turn left onto Brushy Street
352 ft·17 sec·Brushy Street
17
Turn right onto East 6th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East 6th Street
18
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
357 ft·17 sec·Congress Avenue
19
Turn left onto East 5th Street
28 ft·0 sec·East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a manageable two-hour trip, you have the flexibility to depart at almost any time of day without needing to stress over a rigid schedule. Since there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily complete the entire 104.3 miles in one go, though you may want to account for a quick break if you prefer to stretch your legs. Keep your $16 fuel budget in mind as you prepare, and try to fill up before leaving Yorktown to avoid any mid-trip price fluctuations. If you encounter heavy traffic on US Highway 183 South, remember that the highway-heavy nature of the route means you will likely regain your momentum quickly once you clear the busier intersections.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.2 miles from Yorktown, TX, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.8 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.2 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
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 Yorktown, 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 Yorktown, TX
This is one driving day of about 104.3 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Yorktown, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 80 North for about 30.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 77.2 and 104.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
100.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
100.8 mi into trip|~2h 2m 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
104.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.76 one way
$31.52 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$17.25
$34.50
premium
$4.54
$18.62
$37.24
diesel
$5.61
$23.03
$46.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.01
Efficient EV
26.1
0
$9.13
$4.17
EV Truck/SUV
41.7
0
$14.60
$6.68
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Yorktown, TX
Late night
in Yorktown on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Late night
in Austin on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Luling, TX
52 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive relies on major roads for 70% of your travel time, ensuring a relatively steady pace. You will spend a significant portion of your time on State Highway 80 North, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 30.8 miles. The transition between local streets and highway corridors creates a predictable rhythm behind the wheel. Because the route is not a monotonous interstate slog, you get a balanced experience that moves you between smaller-town settings and larger transit arteries. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes directness over technical, winding backroads.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.8 mi on State Highway 80 North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 80 North and North Mehnert Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 77.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 104.3 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 77.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.3 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
605 ft274 ft
Total Climb
539 ft
Total Descent
327 ft
Highest Point
605 ft
~82 mi in
Elevation Range
330 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 Yorktown, TX to Austin, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 104.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.8 miles on State Highway 80 North. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 77.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.3 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.
