How far is Preston, TX from Austin, TX?
The driving distance from Preston, TX to Austin, TX is about 284.2 miles (457.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 258.1 miles (415.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST.
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 04h 44m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Town in Ellis County, Texas, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Rain Showers Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Preston and Austin.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Preston and Austin.
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1
Start on Preston Bend Road
9.8 mi · 18 min · Preston Bend Road
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2
Turn left
64 m · 17 sec
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3
Turn right
143 m · 37 sec
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4
At the end of the road, turn right
99 m · 14 sec
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5
Turn left onto Preston Bend Road
154 m · 10 sec · Preston Bend Road
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6
Continue on Hardenburg Lane
6.9 mi · 8 min · Hardenburg Lane
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7
Take the ramp left toward US 82 East: Sherman
1654 ft · 45 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Highway 82
4.5 mi · 5 min · Highway 82
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9
Take the exit slight right toward US 75: Denison, Dallas
760 ft · 19 sec
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10
Turn straight onto East Highway 82
1059 ft · 21 sec · East Highway 82
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11
Turn slight right
56 m · 8 sec
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12
Turn slight right onto North Sam Rayburn Freeway
2097 ft · 42 sec · North Sam Rayburn Freeway
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13
Take the ramp slight left
837 ft · 20 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto North Sam Rayburn Freeway
8.7 mi · 9 min · North Sam Rayburn Freeway
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15
Continue on North Collins Freeway
10.1 mi · 10 min · North Collins Freeway
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16
Continue on North Central Expressway
44.9 mi · 48 min · North Central Expressway
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17
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
153 m · 12 sec
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18
Continue on North Central Expressway
1.2 km · 1 min · North Central Expressway
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19
Turn right onto Elm Street
93 m · 11 sec · Elm Street
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20
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
1086 ft · 29 sec · North Pearl Expressway
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21
Turn right onto Young Street
572 ft · 20 sec · Young Street
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22
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
96 m · 8 sec · South Harwood Street
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23
Turn right onto Canton Street
2105 ft · 48 sec · Canton Street
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24
Take the ramp slight left toward I 30 West
1773 ft · 38 sec
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25
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
607 ft · 15 sec
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26
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
67 m · 5 sec
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27
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South: Waco
1915 ft · 30 sec
-
28
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
2866 ft · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway
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29
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
89.3 mi · 1 hr 32 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
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30
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
-
31
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
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32
Keep slight left
55.8 mi · 59 min
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33
Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail
2.4 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Trail
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34
Take the exit slight right toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University
1096 ft · 27 sec
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35
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
948 ft · 27 sec · North Interstate 35
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36
Turn right onto East 6th Street
2578 ft · 1 min · East 6th Street
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37
Turn left onto Congress Avenue
109 m · 18 sec · Congress Avenue
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38
Turn left onto East 5th Street
8 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Preston and Austin.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
South R L Thornton Freeway
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
89.3 mi · 01h 32m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Preston and Rain Showers Likely near Austin.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Preston to Austin?
The road trip is about 284.2 miles (457.3 km) and usually takes 04h 44m 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?
Milford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.5 miles from Preston and 142.7 miles from Austin.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 258.1 miles (415.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.1 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:32 AM CST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.99 one way or $69.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Preston and Rain Showers Likely near Austin.
Stop Ideas Near Milford
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Historic City Hall
Frost City Hall
Town Hall Estates Hillsboro
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Milford.
Cleburne
Waco, TX
Union Station
Dallas, TX
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Preston and Austin. Straight-line distance: 258.09 mi (415.36 km).
#1 Preston
Preston is a place in Texas, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.8823200, -96.6330500 |
| Altitude | 204 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: East 5th Street (-97.743073, 30.267115)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 457 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 28m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.49 | $34.99 | $69.99 |
| Mid-grade | $4.00 | $40.09 | $80.18 |
| Premium | $4.38 | $43.88 | $87.76 |
| Diesel | $5.60 | $56.21 | $112.42 |
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 · Nov 09, 2026