How far is Austin, TX from Carthage, TX?

The driving distance from Austin, TX to Carthage, TX is about 280 miles (450.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 239.9 miles (386.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 53m 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
279.98 mi
05h 26m
Flight
239.89 mi
386.06 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
239.89 mi
Kilometers
386.06 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
279.98 mi
Kilometers
450.59 km
Drive Time
05h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carthage
Thu, Apr 23, 9:33 AM CDT
Return by in Austin
Thu, Apr 23, 3:00 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Austin
2026-04-23T04:07
Arrive Carthage
Thu, Apr 23, 9:33 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:27 AM to 1:27 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
6:06 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
Madisonville
TX

City in Texas, USA

From Austin
140 mi
02h 43m
To Carthage
140 mi
02h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East 5th Street

    1836 ft · 52 sec · East 5th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Red River Street

    711 ft · 20 sec · Red River Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East 7th Street

    757 ft · 17 sec · East 7th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Interstate 35

    928 ft · 27 sec · North Interstate 35

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, US 290 East

    906 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

    2985 ft · 42 sec · Purple Heart Trail

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Purple Heart Trail

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 290 East: Houston

    2.5 mi · 4 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Manor Expressway

    6.2 mi · 6 min · Manor Expressway

  10. 10

    Continue on East US Highway 290

    29 mi · 34 min · East US Highway 290

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    726 ft · 20 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    85 m · 13 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left

    53.5 mi · 58 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    79.2 mi · 1 hr 31 min

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn right

    33 mi · 37 min

  16. 16

    Turn left

    20.9 mi · 31 min

  17. 17

    Turn left

    1527 ft · 42 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Southwest Stallings Drive

    5.9 mi · 7 min · Southwest Stallings Drive

  19. 19

    Continue on North US Highway 59

    1.4 km · 58 sec · North US Highway 59

  20. 20

    Take the exit left

    933 ft · 25 sec

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    741 ft · 20 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 259

    11.2 mi · 13 min · US Highway 259

  23. 23

    Continue on US Route 259

    3 mi · 3 min · US Route 259

  24. 24

    Continue on South Railroad Avenue

    2.6 mi · 3 min · South Railroad Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right

    26.7 mi · 29 min

  26. 26

    Turn slight left

    81 m · 8 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left onto North Shelby Street

    61 m · 5 sec · North Shelby Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Panola Street

    35 m · 5 sec · Panola Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Panola Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
29 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East US Highway 290
108 mi · 39%
US Highway 259
11.2 mi · 4%
Manor Expressway
6.18 mi · 2%
Southwest Stallings Drive
5.92 mi · 2%
Purple Heart Trail
3.46 mi · 1%
US Route 259
3.01 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

East US Highway 290

Keep slight left

79.2 mi · 01h 31m

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 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.1 mi
239.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Madisonville
02h 43m from Austin
Leave By
6:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Austin and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Carthage.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 280 miles (450.6 km) and usually takes 05h 26m 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?

Madisonville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 140 miles from Austin and 140 miles from Carthage.

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

The direct path is about 239.9 miles (386.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.1 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.34 one way or $74.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Austin and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Carthage.

Stop Ideas Near Madisonville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Madisonville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Madisonville.

BUS

Bryan, TX

54 mi away
301 East 26th Street
BUS

Prairie View, TX

98 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Carthage. Straight-line distance: 239.89 mi (386.06 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
Carthage

#2 Carthage

City in Texas

Population6,354
Coordinates32.1573800, -94.3374200
Altitude95
CountryUnited States
Start: Austin (-97.74306, 30.26715)
End: Carthage (-94.33742, 32.15738)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 451 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.88 gal
37.4 L · about $37.34
Round trip
$74.67
19.76 gal · 74.8 L
Estimated CO2
87.8 kg one way
Round trip: 175.6 kg / 387 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $37.34 $74.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $42.01 $84.02
Premium $4.59 $45.36 $90.72
Diesel $3.99 $39.45 $78.90

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Austin and Carthage. The current time is 04:07:16.

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.