Top 10 Road Trips From Austin, Texas

road trips from austin
Leonora
Leonora 
Published
| 5 min read

Austin is one of the loveliest places in Texas. It is famous for its beautiful lakes and parks where hiking and bike trails can bring you to the wonderful natural beauty of the place. While there are many things to do in Austin, people who want a change in their environment can easily drive to nearby places that are just as fascinating. You can drive for a few hours to other cities or towns, stop to enjoy the magnificent view, go camping for the night, and drive to your ultimate destination the next day. To find the best road trips from Austin Texas, check our list below

1. Pine Bluff, AR

Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Paul Sableman used under CC BY 2.0

Pine Bluff is located in the state of Arkansas and it is 523.4 mi (842.3 km) from Austin, Texas via I-35 N and I-30 E. Feast your eyes on nature’s magnificent beauty along the way. Pine Bluff itself has numerous places of interest. Visit Arkansas Railroad Museum, where one of the steam engines that was built in 1942 is now displayed. Have fun at Crenshaw Springs Water Park or immerse yourself in nature’s beauty at Pine Bluff Regional Park.

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2. Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Gorup de Besanez used under CC BY-SA 4.0

A drive from Austin, Texas to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma covers around 338 miles (624.425) via I-35 N. It is the capital city of the state of Oklahoma. Along the way, you can see mountains, rolling hills, and flat land. It is known for being the center of cowboy culture, as showcased at National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum commemorates the people that died in the 1995 bombing of the city. While in the city. sample the juicy and delicious barbecue to make your experience of Oklahoma City complete.

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3. Nashville, Tennessee

Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Sean Russell used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Known as Music City, Nashville is a great destination for a road trip from Austin, Texas. Located 858.5 miles (1381.6 km) from Austin via I-30 E and I-40 E to the northeast direction, Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. Spend the night and watch the Ole Opry Show or see memorabilia of iconic performers at Country Music Hall of Fame. Have a drink at Downtown Pub Crawl and experience Nashville.

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4. Atlanta, GA

Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ken Lund used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The drive from Austin, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia can take 13 to 14 hours via I-10 or I-20. Try driving through I-10 to enjoy excellent views and a road that is lined by big trees. You will be passing by Louisiana where you can enjoy lunch. Driving on, you will be in Alabama, where you can spend the night. After breakfast the next day, you can drive to Atlanta, Georgia, where you can explore a little. You can stop by Georgia Aquarium, and proceed to the World of Coke. Visit Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, as well as Centennial Olympic Park, the venue of the famous sports events in 1996.

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5. Columbus, MS

The WaverlyMansion in Columbus, Mississippi
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Altairisfar used under CC BY-SA 3.0

About 11 hours and 59 minutes drive to the northeast of Austin, Texas is the city of Columbus in Mississippi. Columbus is use to be a trading post, serving as the center of trade in the surrounding regions. It is also the home town of the famous author and playwright, Tennessee Williams, who wrote The Cat On a Tin Roof, a box office hit in 1958. After a long drive, have a nice meal in Harveys, where you can enjoy Southern-American cuisine. Spend the night at any of the best hotels in the area and be prepared to explore the city the next day. Visit Waverly Mansion with its superb architecture and take your children to Slip and Dip to enjoy the huge pool. You would find that the long drive from Austin, Texas to Columbus, Mississippi is worth every minute of it.

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6. Memphis, TN

Graceland, House of Elvis Presley, King of Rock and Roll
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Edward Wayne Wilk... used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Memphis, Tennessee is 648 miles (1,042.85 kilometers) northeast of Austin, Texas by car. The drive is nine hours and eighteen minutes via I-30 and US-67 routes. A lot of beautiful places and excellent restaurants can be found along the route. If you have planned several days for this road trip, you can drop by some of the lovely spots along the way. However, if you only want to explore Memphis, there are many places to visit and enjoy. You can see Graceland, the house of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. You can spend the night and go bar-hopping at Beal Street, the heart of nightlife in Memphis.

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7. New Orleans, LA

Bourbon Street at Dusk, New Orleans, Louisiana
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pedro Szekely used under CC BY-SA 2.0

With its unique cuisine, language, and culture, New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the best road trip destinations from Austin, Texas. One can reach it by driving eastward from Austin for about 7 hours and 23 minutes, covering a distance of 508.3 miles (818.03 kilometers). Named after a French duke that served as the city’s regent from 1715 to 1723, New Orleans is famous for its jazz music, the Mardigras, and Creole and Cajun cuisine. Visit the French Quarter and Jackson Square or Bourbon Street and feel the beat of an exciting nightlife filled with music, dancing, dining, and drinking.

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8. Montgomery, AL

The Alabama State Capitol
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Luiz1940 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

A road trip from Austin, Texas to Montgomery, Alabama can take 11 hours and 31 minutes covering a distance of 794 miles (1277.82 kilometers) driving towards the northeast direction via the I-10 E route. You will be passing through Houston, Beaumont, Louisiana, and Mobile before you reach Montgomery. Known as the “Birthplace of Civil Rights”, Montgomery is rich in historical and cultural landmarks. You can visit Alabama State Capitol, the Civil Rights Memorial, and Montgomery Museum. If you are a water sports enthusiast, have fun at Lake Conroe Water Sports where you can enjoy excellent food in the restaurants nearby.

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9. Baton Rouge, LA

Mike the Tiger Habitat, Baton Rouge, LA
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Spatms used under CC BY-SA 3.0

A road trip from Austin to Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana, would take 6 hours and 23 minutes via the I-10 E route going eastward by car. The distance to cover is around 429.4 miles (691.05 kilometers) and you will be passing by some scenic spots. Once you arrive at Baton Rouge, you can enjoy the stunning views along the river and the unique cuisine served in the different restaurants in the area. While in Baton Rouge, take a peep at the home of Louisiana’s mascot, Mike the Tiger. Get acquainted with the French Creole style of architecture. The Old State Capitol Building built in a bluff is another place that you must visit to make the long drive worth it.

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10. Jacksonville, FL

Top Road Trips From Austin, Texas
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user LaggedOnUser used under CC BY-SA 2.0

About 1,030.8 miles (1,658.91 kilometers) from Austin is Jacksonville, a city in Florida and the largest city in the continental United States of America. If you drive by car, you will spend 14 hours and 41 minutes driving eastward via the I - 10 E and passing by Houston and Louisiana. Jacksonville has a lot of lovely places to visit and enjoy. You can go to the beach or take a day cruise. Little Talbot Island State Park offers scenic sites and interesting wildlife. Make sure to see the historic Kingsley Plantation or take a walking safari at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

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Discover the best road trips from Austin, Texas

Take your car and drive from Austin, Texas to several cities east and enjoy the scenic views along the way. Explore some of these places and learn about their history and culture. Consider taking several road trips from Austin for a relaxing and memorable drive.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Leonora Puno, a passionate writer and traveler, is drawn to destinations abundant in natural beauty. Having explored numerous parts of the Philippines that showcase the wonders of nature, she...Read more

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