How far is Austin, TX from Rio Grande City, TX?
The driving distance from Austin, TX to Rio Grande City, TX is about 337.4 miles (543 km), with a travel time of about 06h 10m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 276.4 miles (444.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 20m 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 06h 10m.
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.
City in La Salle County, Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Austin and Rio Grande City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin and Rio Grande City.
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1
Start on East 5th Street
2551 ft · 1 min · East 5th Street
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
1893 ft · 40 sec · North Interstate 35
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3
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 South
899 ft · 22 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
46.4 mi · 50 min · Purple Heart Trail
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5
Continue on Interstate Highway 35
1.7 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35
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6
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
11.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Trail
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7
Continue on North Pan Am Expressway
10 mi · 12 min · North Pan Am Expressway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway
6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway
2.1 mi · 3 min · North Pan Am Expressway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway
10.4 mi · 12 min · South Pan Am Expressway
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11
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
144.4 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail
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12
Continue on Santa Ursula Avenue
549 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ursula Avenue
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13
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
2145 ft · 54 sec · Matamoros Street
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14
Continue on Chihuahua Street
1 mi · 2 min · Chihuahua Street
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15
Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · North Meadow Avenue
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16
Turn right onto South Zapata Highway
5.4 mi · 8 min · South Zapata Highway
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17
Continue on US Highway 83 South
14.2 mi · 16 min · US Highway 83 South
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18
Continue on United States Highway 83
54.3 mi · 1 hr 1 min · United States Highway 83
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19
Continue on North Grant Street
17.4 mi · 20 min · North Grant Street
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20
Continue on United States Highway 83
7.7 mi · 9 min · United States Highway 83
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21
Continue on West Main Street
2353 ft · 33 sec · West Main Street
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22
Turn left onto North Britton Avenue
114 m · 19 sec · North Britton Avenue
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Britton Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Austin and Rio Grande City.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Purple Heart Trail
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
144 mi · 02h 26m
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 Mostly Sunny near Rio Grande City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Austin to Rio Grande City?
The road trip is about 337.4 miles (543 km) and usually takes 06h 10m 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?
Cotulla is a useful midpoint, sitting about 169 miles from Austin and 168.4 miles from Rio Grande City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 276.4 miles (444.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 61 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 $45.01 one way or $90.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Austin and Mostly Sunny near Rio Grande City.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Rio Grande City. Straight-line distance: 276.46 mi (444.92 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 Rio Grande City
City in Starr County, Texas, United States
| Population | 14,511 |
| Coordinates | 26.3797900, -98.8203000 |
| Altitude | 53 |
| Country | United States |
End: Rio Grande City (-98.8203, 26.37979)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 543 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 14m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 26m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 44m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 37m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 49m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $45.01 | $90.02 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $50.64 | $101.28 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $54.68 | $109.36 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $47.56 | $95.11 |
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 · Jun 11, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.