Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 59–73°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers73°F Fredericksburg8:15 AM CDT Light rain showers likely66°F Junction9:15 AM CDT Light rain showers likely65°F Ozona10:30 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers65°F Fort Stockton12 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers64°F Marathon Gap12:30 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers59°F Marathon12:45 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers67°F Big Bend2 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers70°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 63–72°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers72°F Fredericksburg8:15 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers66°F Junction9:15 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers65°F Ozona10:30 AM CDT Mostly cloudy68°F Fort Stockton12 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers69°F Marathon Gap12:30 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers63°F Marathon12:45 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers69°F Big Bend2 PM CDT Mostly cloudy72°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 64–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Partly sunny70°F Fredericksburg8:15 AM CDT Partly sunny66°F Junction9:15 AM CDT Partly sunny66°F Ozona10:30 AM CDT Partly sunny68°F Fort Stockton12 PM CDT Partly sunny69°F Marathon Gap12:30 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers64°F Marathon12:45 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers69°F Big Bend2 PM CDT Partly sunny74°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–78°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Mostly sunny67°F Fredericksburg8:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny62°F Junction9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F Ozona10:30 AM CDT Sunny68°F Fort Stockton12 PM CDT Mostly sunny73°F Marathon Gap12:30 PM CDT Mostly sunny69°F Marathon12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny73°F Big Bend2 PM CDT Mostly sunny78°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Fredericksburg8:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny62°F Junction9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Ozona10:30 AM CDT Sunny69°F Fort Stockton12 PM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Marathon Gap12:30 PM CDT Mostly sunny73°F Marathon12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Big Bend2 PM CDT Mostly sunny82°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Mostly sunny67°F Fredericksburg8:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny62°F Junction9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F Ozona10:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny69°F Fort Stockton12 PM CDT Mostly sunny74°F Marathon Gap12:30 PM CDT Mostly sunny72°F Marathon12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Big Bend2 PM CDT Sunny81°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Mostly sunny67°F Fredericksburg8:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny62°F Junction9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Ozona10:30 AM CDT Sunny69°F Fort Stockton12 PM CDT Mostly sunny75°F Marathon Gap12:30 PM CDT Sunny72°F Marathon12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny75°F Big Bend2 PM CDT Sunny81°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Austin (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Austin, TXStart 535 ftelevation
- Fredericksburg, TXMile 79 · 1 h 22 min 1,697 ftelevation
- Junction, TXMile 140 · 2 h 17 min 1,710 ftelevation
- Ozona, TXMile 231 · 3 h 29 min 2,336 ftelevation
- Fort Stockton, TXMile 338 · 4 h 55 min 2,983 ftelevation
- Marathon Gap, TXMountain pass · Mile 371 · 5 h 23 min 4,572 ftelevation
- Marathon, TXMile 395 · 5 h 44 min 4,044 ftelevation
- Big Bend, TXMile 463 · 6 h 58 min 3,743 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Austin, Marathon and Big Bend.
| Month | Austin 670 ft | Marathon 3,989 ft | Big Bend Panther Junction station · 3,740 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 63° / 42° | 0 | 62° / 27° | 0 | 61° / 37° | 0 |
| Feb | 67° / 46° | 0 | 66° / 30° | 0 | 66° / 41° | 0 |
| Mar | 73° / 52° | 0 | 73° / 38° | 0 | 74° / 47° | 0 |
| Apr | 80° / 59° | 0 | 81° / 44° | 0 | 82° / 54° | 0 |
| May | 87° / 67° | 0 | 87° / 53° | 0 | 89° / 62° | 0 |
| Jun | 93° / 73° | 0 | 92° / 60° | 0 | 94° / 68° | 0 |
| Jul | 97° / 75° | 0 | 91° / 62° | 0 | 92° / 70° | 0 |
| Aug | 98° / 75° | 0 | 91° / 62° | 0 | 91° / 69° | 0 |
| Sep | 91° / 70° | 0 | 85° / 57° | 0 | 86° / 63° | 0 |
| Oct | 83° / 61° | 0 | 79° / 47° | 0 | 80° / 55° | 0 |
| Nov | 72° / 51° | 0 | 69° / 34° | 0 | 69° / 45° | 0 |
| Dec | 64° / 43° | 0 | 62° / 27° | 0 | 62° / 38° | 0.1 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY (USW00013958, 670 ft); MARATHON (USC00415579, 3,989 ft); PANTHER JUNCTION (USC00416792, 3,740 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Texas rather than repeat them.
- Texas · TxDOTDriveTexas road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Austin to Big Bend with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Austin to Big Bend?
463 miles, about 7 hours of driving without stops, by way of US-290, I-10 and US-385. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Marathon Gap, at 4,572 ft. It comes at mile 371, about 5 h 23 min of driving after you leave Austin.
How cold is Big Bend in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Panther Junction (3,740 ft), averages a high of 61°F and a low of 37°F in January (1991–2020 normals).