How far is Rio Bravo, TX from Austin, TX?

The driving distance from Rio Bravo, TX to Austin, TX is about 251.7 miles (405.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 226.4 miles (364.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 18m 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
251.69 mi
04h 09m
Flight
226.46 mi
364.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rio Bravo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
226.46 mi
Kilometers
364.45 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
251.69 mi
Kilometers
405.06 km
Drive Time
04h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Austin
Fri, Apr 17, 11:08 PM CDT
Return by in Rio Bravo
Sat, Apr 18, 3:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rio Bravo
2026-04-17T18:59
Arrive Austin
Fri, Apr 17, 11:08 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:09 AM to 12:09 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
8:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rio Bravo
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
Pearsall
TX

City in Texas

From Rio Bravo
124.1 mi
02h 04m
To Austin
127.6 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
96°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 18 mph SE
Destination
90°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rio Bravo and Austin.

  1. 1

    Start on Orquidia Lane

    1214 ft · 57 sec · Orquidia Lane

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Peña Drive

    547 ft · 22 sec · Peña Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Espejo Molina Road

    1 mi · 3 min · Espejo Molina Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto US 83 Frontage Road

    2272 ft · 43 sec · US 83 Frontage Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight

    1210 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 83 South

    2.2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 83 South

  7. 7

    Continue on South Zapata Highway

    5.4 mi · 8 min · South Zapata Highway

  8. 8

    Turn left onto South Meadow Avenue

    2.1 mi · 5 min · South Meadow Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Guadalupe Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Guadalupe Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Houston Street

    1856 ft · 48 sec · Houston Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto San Dario Avenue

    85 m · 6 sec · San Dario Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    144.4 mi · 2 hr 27 min · Purple Heart Trail

  13. 13

    Continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    9.3 mi · 11 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    10.5 mi · 13 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    7.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  17. 17

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Trail

  18. 18

    Continue on Interstate Highway 35

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

  19. 19

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    46.7 mi · 51 min · Purple Heart Trail

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward 6th - 12th Streets

    665 ft · 24 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto East 6th Street

    2863 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 Rio Bravo 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
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
203 mi · 81%
South Pan Am Expressway
21.5 mi · 9%
North Pan Am Expressway
7.38 mi · 3%
South Zapata Highway
5.37 mi · 2%
US Highway 83 South
2.18 mi · 1%
South Meadow Avenue
2.11 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Purple Heart Trail

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

144 mi · 02h 27m

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
04h 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.3 mi
226.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pearsall
02h 04m from Rio Bravo
Leave By
8:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Rio Bravo and Partly Sunny near Austin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rio Bravo to Austin?

The road trip is about 251.7 miles (405.1 km) and usually takes 04h 09m 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?

Pearsall is a useful midpoint, sitting about 124.1 miles from Rio Bravo and 127.6 miles from Austin.

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

The direct path is about 226.4 miles (364.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.3 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 8:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.56 one way or $67.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Rio Bravo and Partly Sunny near Austin.

Stop Ideas Near Pearsall

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

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

RAIL

San Antonio Station

84 mi away
350 Hoefgen Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rio Bravo and Austin. Straight-line distance: 226.46 mi (364.45 km).

Rio Bravo

#1 Rio Bravo

City in Webb County, Texas, United States

Population4,608
Coordinates27.3641900, -99.4800400
Altitude124
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: Orquidia Lane (-99.480042, 27.364296)
End: East 5th Street (-97.743073, 30.267115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 405 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.88 gal
33.62 L · about $33.56
Round trip
$67.12
17.76 gal · 67.24 L
Estimated CO2
78.9 kg one way
Round trip: 157.8 kg / 348 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $33.56 $67.12
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.76 $75.52
Premium $4.59 $40.77 $81.54
Diesel $3.99 $35.46 $70.92

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Rio Bravo and Austin. The current time is 18:59:23.

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.