How far is Stafford, TX from Austin, TX?

The driving distance from Stafford, TX to Austin, TX is about 163 miles (262.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.4 miles (222.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 27m 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
163.08 mi
02h 43m
Flight
138.35 mi
222.66 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Stafford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
138.35 mi
Kilometers
222.66 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
163.08 mi
Kilometers
262.45 km
Drive Time
02h 43m

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 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Austin
Mon, Apr 20, 4:50 AM CDT
Return by in Stafford
Mon, Apr 20, 7:34 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Stafford
2026-04-20T02:06
Arrive Austin
Mon, Apr 20, 4:50 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:44 AM to 12:44 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Stafford
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
Columbus
TX

City in Colorado County, Texas, United States

From Stafford
79.8 mi
01h 21m
To Austin
83.3 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph E
Destination
68°F
Monday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    34 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    2.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on US Highway 90A

    5.9 mi · 9 min · US Highway 90A

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Grand Parkway South

    2767 ft · 1 min · West Grand Parkway South

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto West Grand Parkway South

    14.2 mi · 16 min · West Grand Parkway South

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West, I 10 East: San Antonio, Houston

    2303 ft · 56 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: San Antonio

    1.3 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Katy Freeway

    48.2 mi · 49 min · Katy Freeway

  9. 9

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

    2832 ft · 33 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    77.2 mi · 1 hr 22 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Bastrop Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on East State Highway 71

    2.2 mi · 3 min · East State Highway 71

  13. 13

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

    2773 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Bastrop Highway

    2088 ft · 27 sec · Bastrop Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Bergstrom Expressway

    1.1 km · 41 sec · Bergstrom Expressway

  16. 16

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

    2724 ft · 54 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on East 7th Street

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East 7th Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Brushy Street

    107 m · 18 sec · Brushy Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East 6th Street

    3066 ft · 1 min · East 6th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Congress Avenue

    109 m · 18 sec · Congress Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto East 5th Street

    8 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Stafford 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
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
TX 71 West
77.7 mi · 48%
Katy Freeway
48.2 mi · 30%
West Grand Parkway South
14.7 mi · 9%
US Highway 90A
5.94 mi · 4%
East 7th Street
2.79 mi · 2%
North Main Street
2.21 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 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 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.6 mi
138.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbus
01h 21m from Stafford
Leave By
1:02 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Stafford 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 Stafford to Austin?

The road trip is about 163 miles (262.4 km) and usually takes 02h 43m 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?

Columbus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.8 miles from Stafford and 83.3 miles from Austin.

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

The direct path is about 138.4 miles (222.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.6 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 1:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.73 one way or $43.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Stafford 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 Stafford and Austin. Straight-line distance: 138.35 mi (222.66 km).

Stafford

#1 Stafford

City in Texas

Population17,052
Coordinates29.6160700, -95.5577200
Altitude26
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: (-95.557705, 29.616108)
End: East 5th Street (-97.743073, 30.267115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 262 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.75 gal
21.78 L · about $21.73
Round trip
$43.46
11.5 gal · 43.56 L
Estimated CO2
51.1 kg one way
Round trip: 102.2 kg / 225 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $21.73 $43.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.45 $48.90
Premium $4.59 $26.40 $52.80
Diesel $3.99 $22.96 $45.92

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 20, 2026

There is no time difference between Stafford and Austin. The current time is 02:06:40.

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.