How far is Austin, TX from Santa Rosa, TX?

The driving distance from Austin, TX to Santa Rosa, TX is about 320.6 miles (515.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 277.1 miles (446 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 39m 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
320.53 mi
05h 49m
Flight
277.14 mi
446.01 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
277.14 mi
Kilometers
446.01 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
320.53 mi
Kilometers
515.85 km
Drive Time
05h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Santa Rosa
Fri, May 1, 5:38 PM CDT
Return by in Austin
Fri, May 1, 11:28 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Austin
2026-05-01T11:48
Arrive Santa Rosa
Fri, May 1, 5:38 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:50 AM to 1:50 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
5:20 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
160.6 mi
02h 54m
To Santa Rosa
159.9 mi
02h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Friday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph NE
Destination
94°F
Today

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Austin and Santa Rosa.

  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

    118.7 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

    31.3 mi · 34 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77

    61.3 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77

    17.9 mi · 19 min · U.S. Highway 77

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Spur 413 West, FM 2629 East

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road

    1109 ft · 24 sec · Interstate 69E Frontage Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    6.4 mi · 11 min

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Santa Rosa Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 37 South
119 mi · 37%
U.S. Highway 77
79.2 mi · 25%
Purple Heart Trail
58.3 mi · 18%
I 69E
31.3 mi · 10%
Connally Loop
11 mi · 3%
North Pan Am Expressway
10 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 37 South

Merge slight left

119 mi · 01h 59m

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 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.5 mi
277.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
George West
02h 54m from Austin
Leave By
5:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Austin and Partly Sunny near Santa Rosa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Austin to Santa Rosa?

The road trip is about 320.6 miles (515.9 km) and usually takes 05h 49m 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 160.6 miles from Austin and 159.9 miles from Santa Rosa.

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 43.5 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 5:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.74 one way or $85.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Austin and Partly Sunny near Santa Rosa.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Santa Rosa. Straight-line distance: 277.14 mi (446.01 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
Santa Rosa

#2 Santa Rosa

The town of Cameron County, Texas, U.

Population2,684
Coordinates26.2567400, -97.8250000
Altitude15
CountryUnited States
Start: Austin (-97.74306, 30.26715)
End: Santa Rosa (-97.825, 26.25674)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 516 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.31 gal
42.82 L · about $42.74
Round trip
$85.48
22.62 gal · 85.64 L
Estimated CO2
100.5 kg one way
Round trip: 201 kg / 443 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $42.74 $85.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.09 $96.18
Premium $4.59 $51.92 $103.85
Diesel $3.99 $45.16 $90.32

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Austin and Santa Rosa. The current time is 11:48:46.

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.