How far is Austin, TX from Scissors, TX?

The driving distance from Austin, TX to Scissors, TX is about 320 miles (515 km), with a travel time of about 05h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 285.8 miles (459.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 40m 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
319.99 mi
05h 50m
Flight
285.8 mi
459.95 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
285.8 mi
Kilometers
459.95 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
319.99 mi
Kilometers
514.98 km
Drive Time
05h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Scissors
Sun, Apr 12, 8:30 PM CDT
Return by in Austin
Mon, Apr 13, 2:20 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Austin
2026-04-12T14:39
Arrive Scissors
Sun, Apr 12, 8:30 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 50m
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
160.4 mi
02h 55m
To Scissors
159.6 mi
02h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
87°F
Sunday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 18 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    60.5 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 281 South

    15.2 mi · 19 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street

    66.2 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    9.5 mi · 10 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Falfurrias Expressway

    55.8 mi · 59 min · Falfurrias Expressway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    18.4 mi · 20 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    2577 ft · 34 sec

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    7.4 mi · 8 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard

    1301 ft · 32 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto Expressway 83

    2017 ft · 44 sec · Expressway 83

  21. 21

    Turn right onto North Salinas Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 5 min · North Salinas Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Lott Road

    1195 ft · 57 sec · Lott Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Grande Street

    110 m · 18 sec · Grande Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Cortez Street

    642 ft · 28 sec · Cortez Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cortez Street

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Falfurrias Expressway
82.1 mi · 26%
South Nueces Street
75.7 mi · 24%
I 37 South
60.9 mi · 19%
Purple Heart Trail
58.3 mi · 18%
US 281 South
15.2 mi · 5%
Connally Loop
11 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

South Nueces Street

Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street

66.2 mi · 01h 10m

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 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.2 mi
285.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
George West
02h 55m from Austin
Leave By
5:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 320 miles (515 km) and usually takes 05h 50m 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 160.4 miles from Austin and 159.6 miles from Scissors.

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

The direct path is about 285.8 miles (459.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.2 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 $42.66 one way or $85.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Scissors. Straight-line distance: 285.8 mi (459.95 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
Scissors

#2 Scissors

Census-designated place in Texas, United States

Population3,186
Coordinates26.1398000, -98.0538900
Altitude24
CountryUnited States
Start: Austin (-97.74306, 30.26715)
End: Scissors (-98.05389, 26.1398)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 515 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 19m
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
11.29 gal
42.74 L · about $42.66
Round trip
$85.33
22.58 gal · 85.48 L
Estimated CO2
100.3 kg one way
Round trip: 200.7 kg / 442 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $42.66 $85.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.01 $96.01
Premium $4.59 $51.83 $103.66
Diesel $3.99 $45.08 $90.16

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Austin and Scissors. The current time is 14:39:56.

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.