Houston to Austin distance
Houston and Austin are 147 miles (236 km) apart in a straight line and 162 miles (261 km) apart by road: about 3 hr of driving without stops, mostly on TX 71 and I-10. Below you’ll find the route map, both halfway points, the bearing and where every figure comes from.
By the Mapsfera Team
- By road
- 162 mi (261 km)
- Driving time
- 3 hr
- Straight line
- 147 mi (236 km)
- Driving route
- Straight line
- Straight-line midpoint
- Halfway by road
Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection centered on the midpoint. Route: FOSSGIS OSRM with data © OpenStreetMap contributors, calculated on October 31, 2026; simplified line.
The figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight line | 147 mi (236 km) geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid |
| By road | 162 mi (261 km) fastest driving route (OSRM) |
| Driving time | 3 hr no stops, no traffic |
| Road detour | +10% 1.10 times the straight line |
| Average speed | 54 mph (87 km/h) along the route, without stops |
| Bearing | 284° (west) leaving Houston toward Austin |
| Midpoint | 30.0206° N, 96.5502° W near Industry (Texas) |
| Halfway by road | Near Glidden (Texas) 81.0 mi from each city by road |
| Time difference | None both share the same time |
| Elevation | Houston: 36 ft (11 m) · Austin: 487 ft (148 m) USGS 3DEP |
| Population | Houston: 2,397,315 · Austin: 1,002,632 Census Bureau estimate for 2025 |
Houston to Austin by road
The fastest driving route is 162 miles (261 km) long and takes about 3 hr without stops or traffic. It runs mostly on TX 71 (81.8 mi) and I-10 (71.2 mi).
The whole route stays in Texas. That’s an average of 54 mph (87 km/h). AAA recommends a break every two hours or 100 miles: with 1 stop of 20 minutes, the trip takes about 3 hr 20 min. The time is OSRM’s estimate with OpenStreetMap data: no traffic and speeds somewhat below the limits, so real trips can differ.
Straight-line distance and bearing
In a straight line, the shortest distance over the Earth’s surface, Houston and Austin are 147 miles (236 km) apart. That’s the geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the distance “as the crow flies”.
The road is 10% longer: for every 100 miles in a straight line you drive 110. The route runs almost straight. Of the 40 US pairs in this series, it ranks 27th for detour (the average is 14%).
From Houston, Austin lies to the west (bearing 284°), and from Austin, Houston lies to the east.
Halfway between Houston and Austin
Halfway along the straight line, 73.4 miles (118 km) from each city, is the point 30.0206° N, 96.5502° W. It falls near Industry (Texas, pop. 298), 4.8 mi away. The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Sienna (Texas, pop. 24,992), 72.8 mi away.
By road, the halfway point is 81.0 miles (130 km) from each city, near Glidden (Texas, pop. 1,071), 5.2 mi away. The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Sienna (Texas, pop. 24,992), 70.0 mi away. The two midpoints are 18.1 mi apart: if you want to meet halfway, the one on the road is the useful one.
Time zone and flight
Houston and Austin share the same time all year: both are on Central Time.
No flight time is given: under 500 km (311 miles) in a straight line, time at the airport outweighs time in the air.
The two cities
Houston sits at 36 ft (11 m) and Austin at 487 ft (148 m), 451 ft (137 m) higher.
Houston has 2.4 million people and Austin 1.0 million people (Census Bureau estimate for 2025).
Frequently asked questions
How many miles is it from Houston to Austin?
147 miles (236 km) in a straight line and 162 miles (261 km) by road on the fastest route (mostly on TX 71 and I-10).
How long is the drive from Houston to Austin?
About 3 hr without stops or traffic, according to OSRM with OpenStreetMap data; with 1 stop of 20 minutes, about 3 hr 20 min.
Where is the halfway point between Houston and Austin?
In a straight line, near Industry (Texas). By road, 81.0 mi from each city, near Glidden (Texas).
Are Houston and Austin in the same time zone?
Yes: both are on Central Time all year.
Which city is higher, Houston or Austin?
Austin, at 487 ft (148 m); Houston sits at 36 ft (11 m).
Measure it yourself on the map
The same two cities, already set up in the tools: move the points, get the route by bike or on foot and download the map.
- Distance between two points Measure the distance between any two places or points on the map, in miles or kilometers.
- Straight line vs driving distance Compare the as-the-crow-flies distance with the real driving distance and see how much the road adds.
- Halfway point Find the exact halfway point between two places and see it on the map, ready to share.
More distances from Houston
All distancesMore distances from Austin
Sources
- Driving route: FOSSGIS OSRM, car profile (calculated on October 31, 2026) · FOSSGIS e.V.
- Roads, streets and places · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Straight line, bearings and midpoint (geodesics on the WGS84 ellipsoid) · GeographicLib (C. F. F. Karney)
- US city centers (GNIS) and their elevation (3DEP) · USGS (public domain)
- Population estimates, Vintage 2025 · US Census Bureau (public domain)
- Places near the midpoints: Mapsfera gazetteer (GeoNames, INE, IGN and Census) · Mapsfera
- Time zones (timezone-boundary-builder outlines and the IANA database) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Map: provinces (IGN), states (US Census Bureau) and countries (Natural Earth) · IGN, Census and Natural Earth
- Methodology