How far is Austin, TX from Cactus, TX?
The driving distance from Austin, TX to Cactus, TX is about 555.5 miles (894 km), with a travel time of about 09h 57m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 469.4 miles (755.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 09h 57m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Austin and Cactus.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin and Cactus.
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1
Start on East 5th Street
1836 ft · 52 sec · East 5th Street
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2
Turn left onto Red River Street
711 ft · 20 sec · Red River Street
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3
Turn right onto East 7th Street
757 ft · 17 sec · East 7th Street
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4
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
928 ft · 27 sec · North Interstate 35
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5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, US 290 East
906 ft · 22 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
2985 ft · 42 sec · Purple Heart Trail
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail
4 mi · 5 min · Purple Heart Trail
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8
Take the exit slight right toward US 183 North: Lampasas
1.4 km · 2 min
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9
Merge slight left
11.3 mi · 13 min
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10
Continue straight
14.6 mi · 15 min
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11
Continue on North US Highway 183
35.7 mi · 39 min · North US Highway 183
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12
Continue on South Key Avenue
2.3 mi · 5 min · South Key Avenue
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13
Continue on North US Highway 281
965 ft · 15 sec · North US Highway 281
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14
Keep slight left to continue on North US Highway 183
36.9 mi · 40 min · North US Highway 183
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15
At the end of the road, turn left
30.4 mi · 35 min
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16
Turn left onto Early Boulevard
1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard
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17
Continue on East Commerce Street
22 mi · 25 min · East Commerce Street
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Wallis Avenue
7.2 mi · 8 min · Wallis Avenue
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19
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
1.5 km · 1 min · East Walnut Street
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20
Continue on West Walnut Street
1 mi · 2 min · West Walnut Street
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21
Continue on State Highway 153
69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153
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22
Keep slight right to continue on State Highway 153
6 m · 1 sec · State Highway 153
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23
Turn right onto State Highway 70
10.4 mi · 11 min · State Highway 70
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24
Continue on Lamar Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Lamar Street
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25
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
670 ft · 17 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue
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26
Take the ramp slight left toward I 20 West: Midland
104 m · 8 sec
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27
Merge slight left
6 mi · 6 min
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28
Take the exit slight right toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
1721 ft · 20 sec
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29
Keep slight left
74.2 mi · 1 hr 14 min
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30
Turn right onto South Avenue F
1 mi · 2 min · South Avenue F
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31
Keep slight left to continue on North Avenue F
617 ft · 11 sec · North Avenue F
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32
Turn straight onto Ralls Road
1863 ft · 39 sec · Ralls Road
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33
Turn left onto East 15th Street
734 ft · 17 sec · East 15th Street
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34
Turn right onto North US Highway 84
1 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
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35
Continue on Highway 84
20 mi · 20 min · Highway 84
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36
Continue on Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
4.6 mi · 5 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
-
37
Continue on East Highway 84
6.8 mi · 7 min · East Highway 84
-
38
Continue on Slaton Road
4.5 mi · 6 min · Slaton Road
-
39
Take the exit slight right
1302 ft · 27 sec
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40
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
98 m · 6 sec · Interstate 27
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41
Take the ramp straight
1303 ft · 32 sec
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42
Merge slight left onto Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
109.9 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
-
43
Continue on Canyon Expressway
13.5 mi · 15 min · Canyon Expressway
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44
Keep slight left to continue on US 87 North
1.5 km · 2 min
-
45
Keep slight right to continue on South Fillmore Street
45.4 mi · 48 min · South Fillmore Street
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46
Continue on South Dumas Avenue
15.1 mi · 16 min · South Dumas Avenue
-
47
Turn right onto North Drive
1054 ft · 32 sec · North Drive
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48
Turn right onto Rector Avenue
46 m · 4 sec · Rector Avenue
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49
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Rector Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Austin and Cactus.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
Merge slight left onto Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
110 mi · 01h 51m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Austin and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Cactus.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Austin to Cactus?
The road trip is about 555.5 miles (894 km) and usually takes 09h 57m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Snyder is a useful midpoint, sitting about 277.7 miles from Austin and 277.8 miles from Cactus.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 469.4 miles (755.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 86.1 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $75.24 one way or $150.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 174.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Austin and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Cactus.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Cactus. Straight-line distance: 469.4 mi (755.43 km).
#1 Austin
The eleventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the Austin metropolitan area.
| Population | 995,484 |
| Coordinates | 30.2671500, -97.7430600 |
| Altitude | 149 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cactus
Situated in Moore County on the high plains of the Texas Panhandle, this community rests at an elevation of 3,619 feet along U.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 36.0522600, -102.0024000 |
| Altitude | 1103 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cactus (-102.0024, 36.05226)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 894 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 53m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 15m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.84 | $75.24 | $150.49 |
| Mid-grade | $4.35 | $85.20 | $170.40 |
| Premium | $4.72 | $92.57 | $185.14 |
| Diesel | $5.78 | $113.21 | $226.42 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
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