How far is Friendswood, TX from Austin, TX?

The driving distance from Friendswood, TX to Austin, TX is about 190.7 miles (306.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 160.6 miles (258.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 02m 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
190.72 mi
03h 01m
Flight
160.56 mi
258.4 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Friendswood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
160.56 mi
Kilometers
258.4 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
190.72 mi
Kilometers
306.94 km
Drive Time
03h 01m

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 03h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Austin
Sat, Apr 18, 1:18 PM CDT
Return by in Friendswood
Sat, Apr 18, 4:20 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Friendswood
2026-04-18T10:17
Arrive Austin
Sat, Apr 18, 1:18 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:01 AM to 11:01 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Friendswood
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
Columbus
TX

City in Colorado County, Texas, United States

From Friendswood
92.2 mi
01h 30m
To Austin
98.5 mi
01h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
77°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Friendswood Drive

    10 m · 6 sec · South Friendswood Drive

  2. 2

    Continue on South Friendswood Drive

    2234 ft · 51 sec · South Friendswood Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Edgewood Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East Edgewood Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Friendswood Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Friendswood Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Clear Lake City Boulevard

    95 m · 12 sec · Clear Lake City Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight toward I 45 North

    1530 ft · 37 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Gulf Freeway

    18.2 mi · 21 min · Gulf Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West: San Antonio

    717 ft · 18 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Katy Freeway

    73.8 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Katy Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

    2832 ft · 33 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    77.2 mi · 1 hr 22 min

  13. 13

    Continue on Bastrop Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

  14. 14

    Continue on East State Highway 71

    2.2 mi · 3 min · East State Highway 71

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas

    2773 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Bastrop Highway

    2088 ft · 27 sec · Bastrop Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Bergstrom Expressway

    1.1 km · 41 sec · Bergstrom Expressway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport Boulevard

    2724 ft · 54 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on East 7th Street

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East 7th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Brushy Street

    107 m · 18 sec · Brushy Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto East 6th Street

    3066 ft · 1 min · East 6th Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Congress Avenue

    109 m · 18 sec · Congress Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto East 5th Street

    8 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
24 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
TX 71 West
77.7 mi · 41%
Katy Freeway
73.8 mi · 39%
Gulf Freeway
18.2 mi · 10%
East 7th Street
2.79 mi · 1%
East State Highway 71
2.15 mi · 1%
Bastrop Freeway
1.9 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

TX 71 West

Keep slight left

77.2 mi · 01h 22m

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
03h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.1 mi
160.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbus
01h 30m from Friendswood
Leave By
10:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 190.7 miles (306.9 km) and usually takes 03h 01m 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?

Columbus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 92.2 miles from Friendswood and 98.5 miles from Austin.

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

The direct path is about 160.6 miles (258.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.1 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.43 one way or $50.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Friendswood and Austin. Straight-line distance: 160.56 mi (258.4 km).

Friendswood

#1 Friendswood

A city in Galveston County, Texas.

Population40,011
Coordinates29.5294000, -95.2010400
Altitude10
CountryUnited States
Austin

#2 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
Start: South Friendswood Drive (-95.201068, 29.529373)
End: East 5th Street (-97.743073, 30.267115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 307 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.73 gal
25.48 L · about $25.43
Round trip
$50.87
13.46 gal · 50.96 L
Estimated CO2
59.8 kg one way
Round trip: 119.6 kg / 264 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $25.43 $50.87
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.62 $57.23
Premium $4.59 $30.90 $61.79
Diesel $3.99 $26.87 $53.75

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Friendswood and Austin. The current time is 10:17:19.

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.