Houston to Austin Drive With Kids
Houston to Austin is a comfortable half day, with Bastrop in a good spot for a break among the pines. If you arrive with energy left, McKinney Falls is inside the Austin city limits.
The drive
- Distance
- 165 miles
- Typical drive time
- 2 hours 45 minutes in normal traffic
Measured from Houston, as stated by the official source listed at the bottom of this page. Traffic, weather and stops with kids add time, so plan for a longer day than the map shows.
Kid-friendly stops on the way
Each stop was checked on its own official site. Open it before you go for current hours, prices and any closures.
Bastrop State Park
Bastrop, TX
A state park in the Lost Pines with seven miles of trail and a seasonal pool.
Official siteMcKinney Falls State Park
Austin, TX
A Texas state park inside Austin's city limits, 13 miles from the state capitol.
Official site
Need more ideas before you leave? Browse things to do with kids in Houston or plan a different route.
Free road-trip stop checklist
Stop before everyone runs out of patience: how to plan a real break to burn energy, pick an indoor backup in case it rains, and add up the family total before you pay. One page, emailed now. Then The Weekend Scout once a week: one family outing idea for the weekend. Free. Unsubscribe from any email.
Three things to plan before you leave
- Leave Houston outside rush hour if you can.
- Use Bastrop as the main restroom, food and fuel stop.
- Carry water and plan shaded breaks in hot weather.
Checked against: Visit Austin: getting here (checked )
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Plan the Houston to Austin family drive with the official drive time, Bastrop State Park and McKinney Falls.
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