How far is Red Oak, TX from Austin, TX?

The driving distance from Red Oak, TX to Austin, TX is about 177.8 miles (286.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 165 miles (265.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 25m 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
177.84 mi
02h 42m
Flight
165.05 mi
265.63 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Red Oak.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
165.05 mi
Kilometers
265.63 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
177.84 mi
Kilometers
286.2 km
Drive Time
02h 42m

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 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Austin
Thu, Apr 23, 12:34 AM CDT
Return by in Red Oak
Thu, Apr 23, 3:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Red Oak
2026-04-22T21:51
Arrive Austin
Thu, Apr 23, 12:34 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:43 AM to 12:43 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Red Oak
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
Lorena
TX

City in Texas

From Red Oak
88.8 mi
01h 21m
To Austin
89 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Red Oak and Austin.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    34 m · 10 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Red Oak Road

    2512 ft · 1 min · West Red Oak Road

  3. 3

    Continue on West Red Oak Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · West Red Oak Road

  4. 4

    Turn sharp right

    119 m · 19 sec

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North Interstate 35E

    1010 ft · 20 sec · North Interstate 35E

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 35E South

    1413 ft · 19 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    71.9 mi · 1 hr 13 min

  8. 8

    Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

  9. 9

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    55.8 mi · 59 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Trail

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward 8th–3rd Streets, Huston-Tillotson University

    1096 ft · 27 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

    948 ft · 27 sec · North Interstate 35

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East 6th Street

    2578 ft · 1 min · East 6th Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Congress Avenue

    109 m · 18 sec · Congress Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto East 5th Street

    8 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
96.1 mi · 54%
I 35E South
72.1 mi · 41%
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.63 mi · 4%
West Red Oak Road
1.18 mi · 1%
East 6th Street
0.49 mi
8th–3rd Streets
0.21 mi
Longest Stretch

I 35E South

Merge slight left

71.9 mi · 01h 13m

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 42m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.8 mi
165 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lorena
01h 21m from Red Oak
Leave By
1:04 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Red Oak 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 Red Oak to Austin?

The road trip is about 177.8 miles (286.2 km) and usually takes 02h 42m 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?

Lorena is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.8 miles from Red Oak and 89 miles from Austin.

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

The direct path is about 165 miles (265.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.8 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 1:04 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.69 one way or $47.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Red Oak and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Austin.

Stop Ideas Near Lorena

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

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

RAIL

McGregor

19 mi away
1 Amtrak Blvd.
BUS

Waco, TX

20 mi away
301 South 8th Street
RAIL

Temple

35 mi away
315 West Ave B
BUS

Killeen, Texas

57 mi away
200 East Avenue C

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Red Oak and Austin. Straight-line distance: 165.05 mi (265.63 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Red Oak

City in and county seat of Montgomery County, Iowa, United States

Population14,098
Coordinates32.5176400, -96.8044400
Altitude185
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: (-96.804185, 32.517642)
End: East 5th Street (-97.743073, 30.267115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 286 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.27 gal
23.75 L · about $23.69
Round trip
$47.39
12.54 gal · 47.5 L
Estimated CO2
55.7 kg one way
Round trip: 111.4 kg / 246 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $23.69 $47.39
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.66 $53.32
Premium $4.59 $28.79 $57.57
Diesel $3.99 $25.04 $50.07

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Red Oak and Austin. The current time is 21:51:53.

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.