Before visiting Austin from Houston, you must know briefly about both places. Austin is the capital of Texas and is home to the University of Texas flagship campus. Houston is a metropolis in Texas that is majorly known for the Space Centre Houston and the Houston Zoo. It always helps to know how far is Austin from Houston, as people may want to visit and explore these places in the two cities. The distance between the two cities can vary based on how you want to cover it.
Driving or flying to these cities in the U.S. are the best options you have. To know the routes by road, flights, and relevant airports, you can also read this page. We have elaborated on these in detail.
Driving Non-stop from Houston to Austin
Driving non-stop is the quickest way you can use to reach from Houston to Austin via road. The following is the total driving time and distance from Houston to Austin
 Nonstop Driving Distance | 165 Miles/266 KM |
 Nonstop Driving Time | 2 Hours 04 Minutes |
Estimated Drive Time Between Houston to Austin
| Average Speed | Travel Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48 km/h) | 05 hours 30 minutes |
| 40 mph (64 km/h) | 04 hours 07 minutes |
| 50 mph (80 km/h) | 03 hours 18 minutes |
| 60 mph (97 km/h) | 02 hours 45 minutes |
| 70 mph (112 km/h) | 02 hours 21 minutes |
| 75 mph (120 km/h) | 02 hours 12 minutes |
To cover the distance from Houston to Austin non-stop, there are three routes for Houston to Austin drive. You can look at them below to choose which one seems preferable:
- I-10W is the longest route and takes the longest time to reach from Houston, TX, to Austin, TX. It requires you to cover 189 miles or 304 kilometers in around 3 hours. You can opt for this route if you wish to take a quick detour to Columbus.
- The other route goes through I-10W and State Hwy 71-W. It takes about 2.3 hours to cover 165 miles/266 kilometers.
- The last one is via US-290 W. It also takes 2.3 hours to cover 162 miles or 261 kilometers by driving
Road Trip from Houston to Austin
There might be times when you want to go from Houston to Austin on a road trip. The best part about road trips to such cities is that you can cover the distance non-stop or go slow by taking breaks.
When you want to enjoy the journey via road, stopping at the best locations can be a great idea. Certain itineraries have been mentioned here:
- Sealy
- Weimar
- Smithville
- Zilker Park
The following can be your itinerary for your road trip from Houston, TX, to Austin, TX:
- Start in Houston and drive for about 50 minutes. You will reach Sealy, where you can take a break of 1 hour.
- Resume your journey and after 39 minutes, stop at Weimar. You can rest for about an hour at this place.
- After this, drive for 49 minutes and you will reach Smithville. You can rest here for an hour or so.
- This portion of the drive is comparatively the longest. You need to drive for 54 minutes to reach Zilker Park. After reaching it, you can rest for another hour.
- From Zilker Park, Austin is just a 5-minute drive away. So, within 5 minutes, you would have reached your final destination following this road trip plan.
Tip: The itinerary mentioned above is just to show you how many possible stops you can take. However, you can choose to cut down on the stops as per your convenience. For example, you can start in Houston and after 1.3 hours, you can directly stop at Weimar.
When you are in Austin, you can go out sightseeing. There are many places to visit here such as Texas Capitol, Barton Springs Municipal Pool, McKinney Falls State Park, Zilker Park, etc.
Flying Non-stop from Houston to Austin
 Nonstop Distance in Air | 147 Miles/236 KM |
 Nonstop Time in Air | 50 Minutes |
If you want to fly non-stop from Houston, TX, to Austin, TX, then there are multiple options available for you. The aerial distance from Houston to Austin is about 147 miles/236 kilometers. This can be covered in nearly 50 minutes by flying using a preferred mode.
In commercial flights, United Airlines and American Airlines are the best for this route. You can get the best departing flights and the highest options with these airlines. The flight time can remain the same across all aerial modes of travel.
Note: In commercial flights and private jets, you would have to consider the travel time to and from the airport. In commercial flights, the travel may further extend due to security checks and other boarding processes.
Houston to Austin Airports and Flights
Houston Airport or George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is often preferred for reaching Austin from Houston. For your return trip to Houston, you can go to the Austin Airport or Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA).
Some airlines can offer connecting flights. These flights can span over 6 hours to almost 19 hours. However, the majority of commercial flights from Austin, TX, to Houston, TX, are non-stop and cover 147 miles/236 kilometers in nearly 50 minutes. The airlines available for this route are United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
Houston, TX, to Austin, TX: Road Vs. Air Travel
Flying is the quickest form of travel since ages. It requires the least effort as your luggage is handled by a dedicated staff and you only need to sit and enjoy. Air travel always comes with a sense of safety due to extremely high security standards. Also, if you wish to deliver something quickly and safely, then the airline will take care of it.
But with positives come the drawbacks too. For short distances, flying can turn out to be an ordeal. Most of the travel time would be spent in various airport procedures. It is a known fact that the economy seating of most commercial flights is cramped, leading to rather uncomfortable air travel. The tickets are quite costly during festive days and there are chances of delays, cancellations, and lost baggage as well. Hence, flying from Houston, TX, to Austin, TX, or vice versa is ideal for those who are willing to spend more and do less effort.
Considering a Houston to Austin drive, the pros can outweigh the cons. You can take as much baggage as you desire. While air travel is generally non-stop, here, you can take as many breaks as you wish. However, road travel is not as secure as air travel. During an emergency, immediate help won’t always be available. Long road trips can turn out to be boring and exhausting.
If the weather is ideal and you want a hassle-free journey, then there is no better option than air travel for you. However, when the flights are constantly getting delayed, rescheduled, or canceled due to bad weather, it is advisable to consider traveling via road. Moreover, if you like adventures, then a road trip can be perfect.
Conclusion
We read how far is Austin from Houston. By road as well as air, we helped you understand the distance. Additionally, we shared the transport modes available, traveling as a road trip, and a comparison between road and air travel.
We hope that you were able to receive all the information you needed for carrying forward your journey. When planning your visit, this information will help you make an appropriate choice. You can also visit TravoMonk’s website for more such reads.
