How far is Austin, TX from Alton, TX?

The driving distance from Austin, TX to Alton, TX is about 312.1 miles (502.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 277.1 miles (446 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
312.13 mi
05h 42m
Flight
277.16 mi
446.05 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Austin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
277.16 mi
Kilometers
446.05 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
312.13 mi
Kilometers
502.33 km
Drive Time
05h 42m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alton
Sat, Apr 11, 7:02 AM CDT
Return by in Austin
Sat, Apr 11, 12:45 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Austin
2026-04-11T01:19
Arrive Alton
Sat, Apr 11, 7:02 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:43 AM to 1:43 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Austin
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
George West
TX

City in Texas, United States

From Austin
156.5 mi
02h 51m
To Alton
155.7 mi
02h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
86°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 16 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Austin and Alton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Austin and Alton.

  1. 1

    Start on East 5th Street

    2551 ft · 1 min · East 5th Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Interstate 35

    1893 ft · 40 sec · North Interstate 35

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 South

    899 ft · 22 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

    46.4 mi · 50 min · Purple Heart Trail

  5. 5

    Continue on Interstate Highway 35

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

  6. 6

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Trail

  7. 7

    Continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    10 mi · 12 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Connally Loop

    11 mi · 12 min · Connally Loop

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

    1184 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 37 South: Corpus Christi

    2457 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    60.5 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 281 South

    15.2 mi · 19 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street

    66.2 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    9.5 mi · 10 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Falfurrias Expressway

    55.8 mi · 59 min · Falfurrias Expressway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    7.2 mi · 8 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 281 Business South: Edinburg

    1507 ft · 23 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on North Expressway 281

    2291 ft · 39 sec · North Expressway 281

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    3 mi · 5 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West McIntyre Street

    115 m · 14 sec · West McIntyre Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North 10th Avenue

    110 m · 10 sec · North 10th Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West University Drive

    9.1 mi · 13 min · West University Drive

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Conway Street

    2 mi · 3 min · Conway Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Main Avenue

    31 m · 2 sec · Main Avenue

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Austin and Alton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Nueces Street
75.7 mi · 24%
Falfurrias Expressway
63 mi · 20%
I 37 South
60.9 mi · 20%
Purple Heart Trail
58.3 mi · 19%
US 281 South
15.2 mi · 5%
Connally Loop
11 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

South Nueces Street

Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street

66.2 mi · 01h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35 mi
277.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
George West
02h 51m from Austin
Leave By
5:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Austin and Chance Rain Showers near Alton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Austin to Alton?

The road trip is about 312.1 miles (502.3 km) and usually takes 05h 42m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

George West is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.5 miles from Austin and 155.7 miles from Alton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 277.1 miles (446 km), while the road route adds roughly 35 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.61 one way or $83.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Austin and Chance Rain Showers near Alton.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Alton. Straight-line distance: 277.16 mi (446.05 km).

Austin

#1 Austin

The eleventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the Austin metropolitan area.

Population995,484
Coordinates30.2671500, -97.7430600
Altitude149
CountryUnited States
Alton

#2 Alton

City in Texas

Population18,785
Coordinates26.2872900, -98.3133500
Altitude49
CountryUnited States
Start: Austin (-97.74306, 30.26715)
End: Alton (-98.31335, 26.28729)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 502 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.01 gal
41.69 L · about $41.61
Round trip
$83.21
22.02 gal · 83.38 L
Estimated CO2
97.8 kg one way
Round trip: 195.7 kg / 431 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $41.61 $83.21
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.81 $93.63
Premium $4.59 $50.55 $101.09
Diesel $3.99 $43.96 $87.93

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Apr 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Austin and Alton. The current time is 01:19:37.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.