How far is Austin, TX from Preston, TX?
The driving distance from Austin, TX to Preston, TX is about 283.2 miles (455.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 258.1 miles (415.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST.
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 05h 09m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Town in Ellis County, Texas, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Austin and Preston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin and Preston.
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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
95.6 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Purple Heart Trail
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8
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi · 8 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
-
9
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 35E: Dallas
56.2 mi · 58 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
2094 ft · 42 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
129 m · 6 sec
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
2206 ft · 33 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana
117 m · 6 sec
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15
Continue on East R L Thornton Freeway
1.2 km · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
2421 ft · 46 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North: McKinney
2512 ft · 1 min
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18
Keep slight right to continue on US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
1697 ft · 27 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway
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20
Continue on North Central Expressway
45 mi · 48 min · North Central Expressway
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21
Continue on South Henry Hynds Expressway
10.1 mi · 10 min · South Henry Hynds Expressway
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22
Continue on South Sam Rayburn Freeway
8.8 mi · 9 min · South Sam Rayburn Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward US 82: Bonham, Gainesville
1193 ft · 29 sec
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24
Turn straight onto North Sam Rayburn Freeway
1687 ft · 43 sec · North Sam Rayburn Freeway
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25
Turn left onto East Highway 82
1497 ft · 32 sec · East Highway 82
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26
Take the ramp slight left
559 ft · 14 sec
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27
Merge slight left onto East Buck Owens Freeway
4.6 mi · 5 min · East Buck Owens Freeway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward TX 289: Dallas, Pottsboro, North Texas Regional Airport
1525 ft · 42 sec
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29
Turn slight left onto TX 289 South: Dallas
46 m · 6 sec
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30
Turn right onto State Highway 289
6.5 mi · 7 min · State Highway 289
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31
Turn right onto West FM 120
1060 ft · 26 sec · West FM 120
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32
Continue on West FM 120
158 m · 18 sec · West FM 120
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33
Turn right
139 m · 18 sec
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34
Turn left
547 ft · 18 sec
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35
At the end of the road, turn right onto Preston Bend Road
9.9 mi · 18 min · Preston Bend Road
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Preston Bend Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Austin and Preston.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail
95.6 mi · 01h 40m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving Austin and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Preston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Austin to Preston?
The road trip is about 283.2 miles (455.8 km) and usually takes 05h 09m 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?
Milford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.8 miles from Austin and 141.4 miles from Preston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 258.1 miles (415.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.1 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:40 AM CST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.86 one way or $69.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around Austin and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Preston.
Stop Ideas Near Milford
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Historic City Hall
Frost City Hall
Town Hall Estates Hillsboro
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Milford.
Cleburne
Waco, TX
Union Station
Dallas, TX
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Preston. Straight-line distance: 258.09 mi (415.36 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 Preston
Preston is a place in Texas, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.8823200, -96.6330500 |
| Altitude | 204 |
| Country | United States |
End: Preston (-96.63305, 33.88232)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 456 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 04m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 39m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 02m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 31m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.49 | $34.86 | $69.71 |
| Mid-grade | $4.00 | $39.93 | $79.86 |
| Premium | $4.38 | $43.71 | $87.41 |
| Diesel | $5.60 | $55.98 | $111.97 |
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 · Nov 09, 2026