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Travel leg · Texas BBQ Trail

Dallas to Austin

Dallas and Austin sit about 293 km (182 mi) apart in a straight line, with Austin to the south. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Texas BBQ Trail itinerary, a 5-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.

Directions in Google Maps See the full Texas BBQ Trail route
Dallas, where this leg starts
From · Dallas
Austin, where this leg ends
To · Austin
Straight-line distance
293 km · 182 mi
Est. road distance
352–410 km
Est. drive time
3 h 45 min – 6 h 15 min
Direction
Heading south
Curated routes
1 itinerary

Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.

Ways to get there

We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.

By car

Most travelers on our Texas BBQ Trail itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 352–410 km (219–255 mi) of road and 3 h 45 min – 6 h 15 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.

Austin, San Antonio and Dallas are linked by major highways, and most groups drive between them in a rental or shared car. Buses and flights are alternatives for certain legs. Inside each city, ride shares and walking cover the downtown areas.

Open Dallas → Austin directions in Google Maps ↗

Worth stopping for

Picks from our curated guides at both ends.

When you arrive in Austin

Give it two days to fit a Franklin line, a Lockhart side trip, a Barton Springs swim and live music.

Before you leave Dallas

Spend a day and a night: Pecan Lodge for lunch, Dealey Plaza history, then Deep Ellum for beer and music.

On this curated route

Where Dallas → Austin sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.

Going the other way? Austin to Dallas is the same 293 km in a straight line, heading north. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗

Weather at each end

The biggest gap comes in February, when Austin averages highs 3°C warmer than Dallas.

Average monthly high temperature and rainfall in Dallas and Austin
MeasureJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Dallas high13°15°20°25°29°34°36°36°32°26°19°14°
Austin high16°18°23°27°31°34°36°37°32°28°22°17°
Dallas rain58678883116965562771025761
Austin rain5845736311178606387955949

Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Austin month guides.

Dallas to Austin: questions travelers ask

How far is Dallas from Austin?

Dallas is about 293 km (182 mi) from Austin in a straight line, with Austin to the south. By road, we estimate 352–410 km (219–255 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.

How long does it take to drive from Dallas to Austin?

An estimated 3 h 45 min – 6 h 15 min, assuming 352–410 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.

Which itineraries include the trip from Dallas to Austin?

Our Texas BBQ Trail itinerary includes this leg. Texas BBQ Trail runs about 5 days across 3 stops, best in Oct – Apr.

Onward from Austin

Guides for both ends

Austin by month

More to explore

Plan Dallas → Austin with your crew

Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.

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