TEXAS ROAD MAP

Use Texas Road Map for driving directions and points of interest when you travel to Austin. Every area of the state is covered.

If you're driving to Austin from out of state or any of Texas' major cities you're going to drive several hundred miles.

There are seven different regions to Texas each with
different topography, scenery, climate and environment.
Photo/Barbara Lynne

Big Bend Country
TEXAS ROAD MAP – El Paso to Del Rio east and west, Midland to the north and Big Bend National Park to the south. Big Bend is referred to as the Hard Country. Bordering Mexico and the Rio Grande River, Big Bend is a 1,170,000 acre wilderness. It's hot. Desert, tumbleweeds, cacti. This is the Texas portrayed in Hollywood films. The scorpions here have pet names like 'Cujo.'

Gulf Coast Region
TEXAS ROAD MAP – Texas has 624 miles of shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico. Houston and Beaumont to the far north and Brownsville at the southern tip of Texas. As east as you can go without swimming. Hurricane alley. Tourist beach areas like Padre Island, Galveston, Corpus Christi. Wildlife abounds. This is the bird watching capital of the US. Coastal breezes and warm summer nights. Some nasty oil and other anti-scenery but most is sultry and island like.

South Texas Plains
TEXAS ROAD MAP – Old San Antonio to the north to Hidalgo in the far south bordering Mexico. East to Fannin, west to Eagle Pass. Old world Texas. Still rough plains. Except to the far south Rio Grande Valley which is semi-tropical. Complete with palm trees. Laredo, McAllen and San Antonio are the population centers of this region. Flat unassuming plains to tropical grandeur.

Prairies and Lakes Region
TEXAS ROAD MAP – North central Texas, Dallas to the north. Victoria south, Comanche west, Houston east. Includes College Station, home of Texas A&M. Largest of any region in the state. Includes Ft. Hood, Waco, Ft. Worth and Houston. It's prairies, some flat, some rolling, can be pretty. Can be dull. Lake Texoma boarders Oklahoma. Lake Fork, Lake Dallas are a few of many lakes in the region.

Texas Hill Country
TEXAS ROAD MAP – Central Texas, Austin to the east, Goldthwaite to the north, Big Lake west and Devine to the South. My home. Emerald rolling hills, pristine lakes, friendly people, wide open roads with breathtaking scenery. The Hill Country is where the rest of Texas comes to play. Travel to Austin whenever you're in the Hill Country. Austin is the home of the University of Texas Longhorns and is the undisputed 'Live Music Capital of the World.' Other cities of interest in the Hill Country include Fredericksburg, Johnson City, Canyon Lake, Luckenbach, Blanco, Bandera and Boerne. Most scenic, interesting and culturally rich region in the state.

Panhandle Plains
TEXAS ROAD MAP – Borders Oklahoma to the north and New Mexico to the west and goes to San Angelo in the south. Another enormous region where topography and scenery vary. The Texas panhandle is so flat you can stand on a beer can and see Chicago. Big sky. Majestic big scenery. Cities include old Route 66 mainstay Amarillo, Wichita Falls, Lubbock, Abilene and San Angelo. This is the wide open little dogie part of the state.

Piney Woods Region
TEXAS ROAD MAP – Borders Arkansas and Oklahoma to the north, Louisiana to the east and Tyler to the west. Lush green and swampy. More like Louisiana than what you expect from Texas. Lakes and pine forests abound. It's everywhere. Great for camping, boating and most any outdoor activity. Home to Davey Crockett, Sabine, Angelina, Sam Houston National Forest and Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend reservoirs. No big cities. Country through and through.

Click here for a printable version of this map.

Texas Road Map
"Travel to Austin From Big Bend Country"

View from South Rim at Big Bend.
Photo/AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker

El Paso to Austin is 583 miles. Take IH-10 east out of El Paso. Stay on IH-10 until you exit Hwy. 290 east to Harper and Fredericksburg. Continue east on Hwy. 290 to Johnson City. Turn right on Hwy. 281 for approximately six miles. Turn left on Hwy. 290 east and follow it until you reach IH-35 north which delivers you to downtown Austin.

Texas Road Map Route Highlights

• Chuy's Mexican Restaurant – In Van Horn, approximately 121 miles east of El Paso on IH-10. Where John Madden parks his bus and eats when he's traveling cross country. Big plates and cheap. Fun time.
• Ft. Davis and Davis Mountains State Park & Lodge – Exit IH-10 to Hwy. 17 south at Balmorhea. Drive 32 miles south to Ft. Davis and the state park. The lodge is old, romantic and the mountains are green and beautiful.
• Marfa Lights – Go 21 miles south to Marfa on Hwy. 17 from Ft. Davis. Watch the famed Marfa Lights do their ghostly mystery dance.
• Big Bend National Park – Take Hwy. 118 south out of Ft. Davis through Alpine to Big Bend National Park. Borders Mexico, desert wilderness, wildlife, primitive cabins.
• Fredericksburg – Approximately 41 miles east after you take Hwy. 290 east exit from IH-10. Nice little old German town with unique shops, great German food and the Nimitz Navel Museum. Pick up Fredericksburg peaches when in season. Big as a grapefruit and sweet and juicy like a watermelon.
• Stonewall LBJ Ranch – Eight miles east of Fredericksburg on Hwy. 290. You will have to take the Stonewall Loop to access the ranch and Lady Bird Wild Flower Center. Both are great sights. The LBJ Ranch tour is a must.
• Johnson City – Lyndon Johnson's hometown. 21 miles east of Fredericksburg on Hwy. 290. Visit the boyhood home of LBJ and take the tour. The tour guide is worth the price of admission. Which is free. Donations accepted.

Texas Road Map
”Travel to Austin From Midland-Odessa”

Midland and Odessa are 318 and 339 miles respectively from Austin. From Midland and Odessa you use an identical route. Take Hwy. 158 east out of Midland. Exit Hwy. 87 south just north of Sterling City. Proceed south east on Hwy. 87 through San Angelo (it jags) and follow Hwy. 87 to Brady. Take Hwy. 71 southeast to Llano and eventually Bee Cave Road (FM 2244) in Bee Cave, Texas. Take a left and follow Bee Cave Road into the Austin suburbs, Westlake Hills and Rollingwood. At the end of Bee Cave Road you go under MoPac overpass. Take a left and end up in Zilker Park. Or you can get on MoPac for north travel to Austin.

Texas Road Map Route Highlights

• State Highway 158 – What a find. Hardly a sign of life. Solitude. A nice drive and unique scenery you don't see anywhere else.
• Zetner's Daughter Steak House – Amazing story to go along with amazing steaks in the original Zetner's steakhouse in San Angelo. I stop here for porterhouse, baked potato and shrimp cocktail. Old, worn and a delightful treasure.
• Llano – 54 miles south of Brady where you exit Hwy. 87 to Hwy. 71 south. Llano is home to Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ. A Texas legend, 'home of the big chop.' Folks come to Cooper's from all over the world (more info about Cooper's here).
• Spicewood – Another attraction on Hwy. 71. Willie Nelson's hometown. Spicewood is home to the Krause Springs Park and Pace Bend Park. The Backstage Steakhouse on Hwy. 71 has a statewide reputation for fine dining and black Angus steaks and killer creme brulee.

Texas Road Map
"Travel to Austin From Gulf Coast Region"

Houston to Austin is 162 miles. Exit Houston's 610 Loop to Hwy. 290 west until you come to IH-35. Go south on IH-35 to Austin.

Texas Road Map Route Highlights

• Brenham - Town of 13,507, located half way between Austin and Houston on Hwy. 290. Awarded the 'National Mainstreet City.' Bluebonnets and other Texas wildflowers add a kaleidescope of color to the area from March through April and beyond depending on rainfall. For most scenic viewing routes call (888) 273-6426 or visit www.brenhamtexas.com. Brenham is also the home of Blue Bell Ice Cream. Best ice cream I've tasted. Locals say the reason the ice cream is so good is “the cows think they're in heaven.” Visit www.bluebell.com for tour times of the old creamery. Located southeast of downtown on FM 577 just off Hwy. 290.

Victoria to Austin – is 123 miles. Take Hwy. 77 north to Hwy. 71 east at La Grange. Follow 71 east until you reach IH-35 north. Three miles to downtown Austin.

Texas Road Map Route Highlights

• La Grange, where Hwy. 77 meets Hwy. 71 is approximately 79 miles north of Victoria. La Grange is the town made famous by the ZZ Top song of the same name. Also where John Travolta's movie 'Michael' was filmed. Many shops and restaurants in the old time Texas town justify a stop and look.
• Bastrop – 30 miles east of Austin on Hwy. 71. Home of the amazing Lost Pines Resort nestled on the banks of the Colorado River. Historic downtown. Parks, picnic areas, canoing and 3,550 acre Bastrop State Park. Exceptional restaurants.

Corpus Christi to Austin – 192 miles southeast of Austin on the Gulf coast. Take IH-37 northwest to San Antonio. Exit onto 410 Loop and go to IH-35 north to Austin. Approximately 80 miles.

Brownsville to Austin – is 331 miles. Take Hwy. 77 north to Hwy. 37 (fifteen miles east of Corpus Christi) to San Antonio, Exit Loop 410 and go to IH-35 north to Austin.

Texas Road Trip Route Highlights

• San Antonio – Population, 1,144,646. The Alamo, early Texas missions, riverwalk. Menger Hotel, original Fuddruckers, County Line BBQ. Too many attractions to list. A destination itself and a perfect Austin day trip. History, beauty, elegance in a true Mexican atmosphere.
• New Braunfels – Approximately 30 miles northeast of San Antonio on IH-35. Home of the famous Schlitterbahn Water Park. Great family fun. Plan on spending better part of the day.
• San Marcos – 26 miles south of Austin on IH-35. Picturesque Texas college town offering more outlet malls than you can shake a stick at. Great shopping all in one place. Also, check out Aquarena Center, glass bottom boat rides may underwhelm you. Also visit Belvin Street Historic District. Old time Texas homes lined up one after another on gorgeous live oak tree lined streets.

Texas Road Map
”Travel to Austin From South Texas Plains”

Koch Creek in Blanco, Texas. Photo/charkesw

San Antonio - is 80 miles south of Austin on IH-35. Go north on IH-35 straight shot to downtown Austin.

San Antonio to Austin Scenic Route – Take 410 Loop to Hwy. 281 north. Hwy. 281 goes through the scenic Hill Country. Take the Hwy. 290 east exit off Hwy. 281 about eight miles out of Blanco. Hwy. 290 will deliver you to Oak Hill, a south Austin community.

Laredo to Austin – Take IH-35 north to Austin, 233 miles. Texas Road Map attractions are the same as San Antonio and Corpus Christi.

Texas Road Map
”Travel to Austin From the
Prairie & Lakes Region”

Dallas, Ft. Worth and Waco are short drives south on IH-35 to Austin. Dallas is 202 miles, Ft. Worth is 192 miles and Waco is 106 miles – north of Austin.

Bryan College Station is 103 miles from Austin. Take Hwy. 21 southwest to Hwy. 290 east at Paige, Texas. It's 41 miles to IH-35 north and south to Austin.

Texas Road Map Route Highlights

The Dallas, Arlington, Ft. Worth metroplex is the most traveled destination in Texas.

• Arlington, population 355,007, in the middle of Dallas/Ft. Worth. Home of the Texas Rangers MLB team and future home of the Dallas Cowboys. River Legacy Park is a 950 acre nature park, hiking and biking trails. Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Water Park.
• Dallas, population 1,188,580 - Big D, Big Tex and the Texas State Fair. Cotton Bowl and the OU and UT football game. Deep Ellum entertainment district, Dallas Zoo. Pioneer Plaza where the world's largest bronze herd of longhorns graze.
• Ft. Worth, population 661,850, unique city with many attractions. Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Stockyard National Historic District, Sundance Entertainment District, Texas Trail of Fame with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Charlie Goodnight and more.
• Waco, population 113,726, the town of Waco was once known as “Six Shooter Junction”, home of Baylor University and the Texas Ranger Museum. Check out the Dr Pepper Museum. Nice riverwalk along the Brazos River. Texas Sports Hall of Fame is a must for any Texas sports enthusiast. Texas travel must!
• Bryan College Station, population 133,570, home of Texas A&M and the Carnegie Library, George Bush Presidential Library.

Texas Road Map
”Travel to Austin From the Hill Country”

View of approaching thunderstorm from Enchanted Rock. Photo/Krikit ♥

Austin is in the far eastern corner of the Hill Country. Called Gateway to the Hill Country. Austin is the state capital and largest city in the Hill Country. You'll find many small, friendly rural and lake towns like Fredericksburg, Marble Falls, Kerrville, Brady, San Saba, Lampasas, Bandera, Burnet and Llano. Follow the signs in any of these town, they all lead to Austin.

Take your time moseying around TravelAustinTexas.com and see Texas travel's best site.

Texas Road Map
”Travel to Austin From the Panhandle Plains”

Far northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle, outside Texline. Photo/longhorndave

Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene and Wichita Falls are the major cities of the Panhandle. From Austin, Amarillo is furthest at 485 miles away, Lubbock is 377 miles away, Wichita Falls is 283 miles and Abilene 216 miles.

From Amarillo take IH-27 south to Hwy. 84 in Lubbock. Proceed south to IH-20 east. Go east past Abilene and take Hwy. 283 south at Baird, approximately 25 miles after you pass through Abilene. Follow Hwy. 283 south until you reach Hwy. 87, four miles outside Brady. Take Hwy. 87 through Brady and turn on Hwy. 71 south to Austin.

• Amarillo, population 173,627. Original old Route 66 city. Follow the old cross country highway through the city. Check out the Splash Amarillo 14 acre water park. See the buried Cadillacs at the Cadillac Ranch then end your Amarillo adventure at the Big Texas Steak Ranch. Eat a 72 ounce steak dinner in an hour and dinner's free - 72 ounces is five pounds!
• Lubbock, population 206,481. Home to Texas Tech University. Visit the Buddy Holly Center, permanent exhibition that includes the Buddy Holly Gallery, Texas musicians Hall of Fame. Located at 1801 Avenue G in the Depot District. Call (806) 767-2686 or visit www.buddyhollycenter.org. Cactus Theater is a 1930s restored theater. Another nice high country surprise.
• Abilene, population 120,000. Abilene State Park is 1,200 acre park with 4,000 native pecan trees. Frontier Texas multi media travel guide to the Texas frontier wins the “what will they think of next” award.
• Wichita Falls, population 104,191. Travel to Austin by taking Hwy. 281 south to Burnet. Turn east on Hwy. 29 at Burnet and proceed approximately 38 miles to IH-35 at Georgetown. Turn south on IH-35 and follow to downtown Austin.

Texas Road Map
”Travel to Austin From Piney Woods Region”

Go to Tyler, Texas for the roses. Photo/Bill and Mavis

Texarkana to Austin – take IH-30 west to Dallas. Intersect with IH-35 south to Austin.

Tyler to Austin – take Hwy. 69 south out of Tyler. Turn southeast on Hwy. 79 in Jacksonville. Follow Hwy. 79 to Round Rock and turn south on IH-35 to Austin.

Texas Road Map Rought Highlights

• The entire Piney Wood region is like one big national forest with pristine lakes and reservoirs.
• Davey Crockett National Forest is the largest in the state offering camping, boating, fishing and 20 miles of hike and bike trails. Crockett one of the oldest towns in the state.
• Tyler, home of the nations largest rose garden with 38,000 rose bushes of 500 different varieties. More info on the city's site, Texas Rose Festival (opens in a new window).

For more Texas travel day trips, see Motorcycle Travel in Central Texas.

Texas Road Map – Law Info

• You must have vehicle insurance and be able to provide proof if requested by police.
• Wear seat belts front and back of vehicle. Car seats are required for kids under 36 inches in height. Under 17 must wear seat belts regardless if they sit in the front or back.
• Don't carry folks in the back of an open pickup or flatbed truck.
• Open containers of alcoholic beverages is not allowed in the vehicle passenger compartment.
• Protective head gear required when over 21 on motorbikes.
• Call 1-800-525-5555 for roadside assistance.
• For road conditions and trip planning assistance call 1-800-452-9292 or visit www.txdot.gov (opens in a new window).
• Speed limits are posted, no tolerance given.
• Send for your own Texas Travel Guide and official Texas travel map at 1-800-452-9292, or Texas State Travel Guide, PO Box 149249, Austin, Texas 78714-9249. You can also request it online at www.traveltex.com (opens in a new window).

Check www.texasgasprices.com for gas prices state wide. You can also find the best prices in the list of cities.

Any way you travel to Austin, you're assured of seeing majestic scenery and enjoying a new adventure.

Make your own Texas Road Map on the back ranch roads and you may not see another human for days. Happy driving my friend!

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