How far is Sour Lake, TX from Austin, TX?

The driving distance from Sour Lake, TX to Austin, TX is about 233.3 miles (375.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 199.1 miles (320.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 52m 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
233.3 mi
03h 56m
Flight
199.16 mi
320.51 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sour Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
199.16 mi
Kilometers
320.51 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
233.3 mi
Kilometers
375.46 km
Drive Time
03h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Austin
Thu, Apr 23, 1:57 AM CDT
Return by in Sour Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 5:53 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sour Lake
2026-04-22T22:01
Arrive Austin
Thu, Apr 23, 1:57 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 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
9:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sour Lake
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
Prairie View
TX

City in Texas

From Sour Lake
114.8 mi
01h 58m
To Austin
118.5 mi
01h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E
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 Sour Lake and Austin.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sour Lake and Austin.

  1. 1

    Start on 5th Street

    2377 ft · 43 sec · 5th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto State Highway 326

    7.1 mi · 10 min · State Highway 326

  3. 3

    Turn right

    29.5 mi · 34 min

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Cleveland Street

    1028 ft · 24 sec · North Cleveland Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto West Clayton Street

    5.1 mi · 7 min · West Clayton Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East Grand Parkway North

    534 ft · 15 sec · East Grand Parkway North

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight

    1295 ft · 36 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto East Grand Parkway North

    56.3 mi · 1 hr · East Grand Parkway North

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 290: Austin, Houston

    1889 ft · 46 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on US 290 West, TX 6 North: Austin

    1.1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Northwest Freeway

    23 mi · 27 min · Northwest Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on US Highway 290

    19 mi · 21 min · US Highway 290

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 290 West: Austin

    53.4 mi · 1 hr

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    21.4 mi · 25 min

  15. 15

    Continue on Manor Expressway

    6.1 mi · 6 min · Manor Expressway

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, US 290 West

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

    1.6 km · 1 min · Purple Heart Trail

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Trail

  20. 20

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

    1096 ft · 27 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

    948 ft · 27 sec · North Interstate 35

  22. 22

    Turn right onto East 6th Street

    2578 ft · 1 min · East 6th Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Congress Avenue

    109 m · 18 sec · Congress Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto East 5th Street

    8 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 290 West
75.5 mi · 32%
East Grand Parkway North
56.6 mi · 24%
Northwest Freeway
23 mi · 10%
US Highway 290
19 mi · 8%
Manor Expressway
7.64 mi · 3%
State Highway 326
7.06 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

East Grand Parkway North

Merge slight left onto East Grand Parkway North

56.3 mi · 01h 00m

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 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.2 mi
199.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Prairie View
01h 58m from Sour Lake
Leave By
9:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Sour Lake 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 Sour Lake to Austin?

The road trip is about 233.3 miles (375.5 km) and usually takes 03h 56m 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?

Prairie View is a useful midpoint, sitting about 114.8 miles from Sour Lake and 118.5 miles from Austin.

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

The direct path is about 199.1 miles (320.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.2 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 9:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.10 one way or $62.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms around Sour Lake and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Austin.

Stop Ideas Near Prairie View

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

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

BUS

Prairie View, TX

2 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n
RAIL

Houston

70 mi away
902 Washington Ave.
BUS

Houston, TX

71 mi away
2121 Main Street
BUS

Bryan, TX

74 mi away
301 East 26th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sour Lake and Austin. Straight-line distance: 199.16 mi (320.51 km).

Sour Lake

#1 Sour Lake

City in Hardin County, Texas, United States

Population1,948
Coordinates30.1402100, -94.4110200
Altitude15
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: 5th Street (-94.411011, 30.140344)
End: East 5th Street (-97.743073, 30.267115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 375 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.23 gal
31.16 L · about $31.10
Round trip
$62.20
16.46 gal · 62.32 L
Estimated CO2
73.1 kg one way
Round trip: 146.3 kg / 323 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $31.10 $62.20
Mid-grade $4.25 $34.99 $69.99
Premium $4.59 $37.78 $75.57
Diesel $3.99 $32.86 $65.72

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 Sour Lake and Austin. The current time is 22:01:07.

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.