How far is Austin, TX from Stafford, TX?

The driving distance from Austin, TX to Stafford, TX is about 160.1 miles (257.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.4 miles (222.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
160.1 mi
02h 59m
Flight
138.35 mi
222.66 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Austin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
138.35 mi
Kilometers
222.66 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
160.1 mi
Kilometers
257.65 km
Drive Time
02h 59m

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 02h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Stafford
Mon, Apr 20, 6:31 AM CDT
Return by in Austin
Mon, Apr 20, 9:31 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Austin
2026-04-20T03:32
Arrive Stafford
Mon, Apr 20, 6:31 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:59 AM to 12:59 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Austin
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Columbus
TX

City in Colorado County, Texas, United States

From Austin
80 mi
01h 29m
To Stafford
80.1 mi
01h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Overnight

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
71°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    3 mi · 5 min · East 7th Street

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Airport Boulevard

    1279 ft · 20 sec · Airport Boulevard

  5. 5

    Continue on Ed Bluestein Boulevard

    552 ft · 9 sec · Ed Bluestein Boulevard

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart

    705 ft · 17 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Bergstrom Expressway

    1.3 km · 47 sec · Bergstrom Expressway

  8. 8

    Continue on Bastrop Highway

    2119 ft · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

    2541 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Continue on East State Highway 71

    2.2 mi · 3 min · East State Highway 71

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Bastrop Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on East State Highway 71

    2388 ft · 29 sec · East State Highway 71

  13. 13

    Continue on Texas State Highway 71

    125.5 mi · 2 hr 12 min · Texas State Highway 71

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand Parkway

    2346 ft · 45 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on TX 99 South: Grand Parkway

    1.2 km · 2 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto West Grand Parkway South

    14.1 mi · 17 min · West Grand Parkway South

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 90 Alternate, FM 1464: Sandhill Drive

    3048 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East US Highway 90A

    5.5 mi · 9 min · East US Highway 90A

  19. 19

    Continue on US Highway 90A

    2484 ft · 32 sec · US Highway 90A

  20. 20

    Continue on Main Street

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  21. 21

    Take the exit left toward Stafford Road

    140 m · 18 sec · Stafford Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    78 m · 12 sec · North Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn left

    17 m · 7 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right

    16 m · 4 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Texas State Highway 71
126 mi · 78%
West Grand Parkway South
14.1 mi · 9%
East US Highway 90A
5.51 mi · 3%
East 7th Street
3.03 mi · 2%
East State Highway 71
2.67 mi · 2%
Main Street
2.32 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Texas State Highway 71

Continue on Texas State Highway 71

126 mi · 02h 12m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.7 mi
138.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbus
01h 29m from Austin
Leave By
12:32 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Austin and Chance Rain Showers near Stafford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 160.1 miles (257.6 km) and usually takes 02h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Columbus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80 miles from Austin and 80.1 miles from Stafford.

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

The direct path is about 138.4 miles (222.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.35 one way or $42.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Austin and Chance Rain Showers near Stafford.

Stop Ideas Near Columbus

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Columbus, 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 Columbus.

BUS

Prairie View, TX

67 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n
BUS

Bryan, TX

109 mi away
301 East 26th Street
RAIL

Houston

113 mi away
902 Washington Ave.
BUS

Houston, TX

113 mi away
2121 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Stafford. Straight-line distance: 138.35 mi (222.66 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
Stafford

#2 Stafford

City in Texas

Population17,052
Coordinates29.6160700, -95.5577200
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Start: Austin (-97.74306, 30.26715)
End: Stafford (-95.55772, 29.61607)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 258 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.65 gal
21.38 L · about $21.35
Round trip
$42.70
11.3 gal · 42.76 L
Estimated CO2
50.2 kg one way
Round trip: 100.4 kg / 221 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $21.35 $42.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.02 $48.05
Premium $4.59 $25.94 $51.88
Diesel $3.99 $22.56 $45.12

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 20, 2026

There is no time difference between Austin and Stafford. The current time is 03:32:33.

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.