Guide
Austin tech commute worksheet: from five West Austin communities to 12 destinations
I’m Cynthia Mattiza, an Associate Broker with Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty. This worksheet gives free-flow drive times from Westlake, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Rough Hollow and Spicewood to 12 Austin destinations, measured rush-hour ranges for 8 of them, and a method to test your own commute at your real departure window.
These are free-flow, no-traffic routing estimates from the public OSRM demo server, measured 2026-10-22. They are a floor, not a commute time: real drives at your departure window can be much longer, which is why the commute guide shows you how to test your own.
What does this table show, and what does it not?
It shows the shortest-route drive with no traffic, from a point in each community to each destination: free-flow, no traffic, OSRM, measured 2026-10-22. It does not show a commute. Real drives on Bee Caves Road, RM 2222, Loop 360 and MoPac at your departure window can take much longer. The free-flow table is a floor. For 8 of the 12 destinations I also have measured rush-hour ranges, shown separately and labeled in the worksheet section below; they cover one morning departure only. Use both to eliminate options, then test the survivors.
What are the free-flow drives from each community?
Distance in miles and time in minutes, free-flow, no traffic, OSRM, measured 2026-10-22. Destinations are ordered by the drive from Westlake.
| Destination | Westlake | Bee Cave | Lakeway | Rough Hollow (approx. point) | Spicewood (approx. point) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google, 601 W 2nd St (Sail Tower) | 4.6 mi / 9.3 min | 15.7 mi / 23.4 min | 20.7 mi / 31.4 min | 22.6 mi / 36.2 min | 34.9 mi / 48.3 min |
| Google, 500 W 2nd St | 4.7 mi / 9.4 min | 15.8 mi / 23.5 min | 20.8 mi / 31.5 min | 22.6 mi / 36.3 min | 34.9 mi / 48.4 min |
| Meta, 300 W 6th St | 4.9 mi / 10 min | 16 mi / 24 min | 21 mi / 32.1 min | 22.8 mi / 36.8 min | 35.2 mi / 48.9 min |
| Downtown core (Texas State Capitol reference point) | 5.7 mi / 11.9 min | 16.8 mi / 25.9 min | 21.8 mi / 34 min | 23.6 mi / 38.7 min | 36 mi / 50.8 min |
| AMD, 7171 Southwest Pkwy | 7.1 mi / 12.5 min | 7.4 mi / 13.4 min | 12.4 mi / 21.5 min | 14.2 mi / 26.2 min | 26.6 mi / 38.3 min |
| Oracle, 2300 Oracle Way | 6.6 mi / 15 min | 18.1 mi / 27.1 min | 23.1 mi / 35.1 min | 24.9 mi / 39.9 min | 37.2 mi / 52 min |
| Apple, 5501 W Parmer Ln (existing) | 16.5 mi / 21.7 min | 21.6 mi / 33.7 min | 22.1 mi / 35 min | 24 mi / 39.6 min | 40.7 mi / 58.5 min |
| Apple, new North Austin campus site (W Parmer Ln & Dallas Dr) | 17.8 mi / 23.5 min | 23.2 mi / 34.7 min | 20.8 mi / 33.1 min | 22.7 mi / 37.7 min | 38.8 mi / 57.3 min |
| NVIDIA, 11001 Lakeline Blvd | 18.9 mi / 26.3 min | 20.7 mi / 33.2 min | 18.2 mi / 30.6 min | 20 mi / 35.2 min | 36.2 mi / 54.8 min |
| Dell Technologies, Round Rock | 21.1 mi / 26.8 min | 27.5 mi / 39.3 min | 25.5 mi / 37.4 min | 27.3 mi / 42 min | 43.4 mi / 61.6 min |
| Tesla, 1 Tesla Road | 18.5 mi / 28.6 min | 25.8 mi / 37.6 min | 30.8 mi / 45.7 min | 32.7 mi / 50.4 min | 45 mi / 62.5 min |
| Samsung, Taylor (1530 FM 973) | 41.7 mi / 51.5 min | 48 mi / 63.9 min | 46 mi / 62.1 min | 47.9 mi / 66.7 min | 64 mi / 86.3 min |
What do the measured rush-hour ranges show?
For 8 destinations I have a measured rush-hour range from each of the five communities: Google Maps typical-traffic range for the first recommended route, departing 8:00 AM on a Tuesday (Oct 27, 2026), measured 2026-10-23. The table is in the worksheet section below, separate from the free-flow table. It is one departure time on one weekday, from Google’s own traffic model, so treat it as a starting point and not a promise.
Westlake and Bee Cave are closest to AMD’s Southwest Parkway campus: 10–20 min from Westlake and 10–16 min from Bee Cave (Google Maps, 8:00 AM Tuesday departure, measured 2026-10-23).
To the downtown core the spread is wide: 12–22 min from Westlake against 50–85 min from Spicewood (Google Maps, 8:00 AM Tuesday departure, measured 2026-10-23).
Samsung’s Taylor site is the longest drive in the measured set from every community: 40–55 min from Westlake up to 70–110 min from Spicewood (Google Maps, 8:00 AM Tuesday departure, measured 2026-10-23).
The ranges are wide on purpose: the same drive can swing a lot between a good morning and a bad one. They do not include the drive home, school drop-off, remote days or tolls, and some of the routes Google chose use a toll road, so check the toll before you count on it. Rush-hour ranges were not measured for the other four destinations in the free-flow table.
Where do the origin points sit?
Each community is represented by one point, so your address will differ. Westlake is Westlake Drive at Bee Caves Road; Bee Cave is the Hill Country Galleria; Lakeway is Lakeway City Hall. The Rough Hollow and Spicewood points are approximate: a street-level point in Rough Hollow and the place center of Spicewood.
- Westlake: Westlake (Westlake Dr & Bee Caves Rd)
- Bee Cave: Bee Cave (Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd)
- Lakeway: Lakeway (City Hall, 1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd)
- Rough Hollow: Rough Hollow (Lakeway; Rough Hollow Cove point) (approximate)
- Spicewood: Spicewood (Spicewood TX place center) (approximate)
How confident are the destination addresses?
Some are official and some are from press coverage or map data, and I have said which. Where an employer has not published an address, treat the figure as approximate and confirm your own office address.
- Google, 601 W 2nd St (Sail Tower): 601 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701. Address from Google’s own locations page.
- Google, 500 W 2nd St: 500 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701. Address from Google’s own locations page.
- Meta, 300 W 6th St: 300 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701. Address from press coverage and map data; Meta has not published one that we found.
- Downtown core (Texas State Capitol reference point): 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701. A reference point, not an employer.
- AMD, 7171 Southwest Pkwy: 7171 Southwest Pkwy, Austin, TX 78735. Address from an AMD investor-relations release (2013).
- Oracle, 2300 Oracle Way: 2300 Oracle Way, Austin, TX 78741. Address from Oracle’s field-offices listing as seen in search results (the page itself blocked our fetch).
- Apple, 5501 W Parmer Ln (existing): 5501 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78727. Apple named the site; the street address is from press coverage.
- Apple, new North Austin campus site (W Parmer Ln & Dallas Dr): NW corner area of W Parmer Ln & Dallas Dr, Austin, TX (no official street address found). Apple has not published a street address; the point is the intersection, approximate. Occupancy status not verified.
- NVIDIA, 11001 Lakeline Blvd: 11001 Lakeline Blvd, Austin, TX 78717. Address from press coverage and map data; other reported NVIDIA sites are unconfirmed.
- Dell Technologies, Round Rock: One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682. Map data only; not checked against dell.com.
- Tesla, 1 Tesla Road: 1 Tesla Road, Austin, TX 78725. Address from a Texas TDLR filing.
- Samsung, Taylor (1530 FM 973): 1530 FM 973, Taylor, TX 76574. Address from Texas TDLR and the City of Taylor; the point is the address geocode, not the fab building.
What does the table say about West Austin and the big campuses?
That West Austin is a long drive to Tesla in the southeast, Samsung in Taylor and Apple and Dell in the north, even before traffic. Downtown, Southwest Austin and Westlake are close to each other. If your workplace is in the north, Northwest Austin and Round Rock are honest alternatives to compare against West Austin; I do not market representation there.
How do I test my own commute?
Treat it like a small experiment. Write down your results; do not trust memory.
- Pick the dates: a typical weekday in the same part of the week you will commute, not a holiday or a school break, and a second day to check.
- Pick the window: the time you will actually leave, and the time you will actually come home. Do both directions.
- Choose the route: write down which road you take, and whether you pass through a toll. Ask what a toll costs and whether you would pay it every day.
- Measure it: drive it yourself, or ask a mapping app for a typical-traffic or arrive-by estimate, then confirm with one live drive.
- Record the worst result, not the average. A commute you can live with on your worst day is one you can live with.
- Count your remote days: multiply each drive by the number of round trips per week, and compare communities on the weekly total.
- Repeat after school starts or ends for the season if you have children, since it can change the road.
What if there are two workplaces?
Multiply the drive to each workplace by its weekly round trips, add them, and compare communities. The two-workplace tool does this with the free-flow figures and lets you add your priorities, but your own tested numbers should replace its inputs before you decide.
What should I write down? (printable worksheet)
Copy this into your notes or print the page. One block per community you are testing.
- Community and address or area:
- Workplace 1: office days per week, departure and arrival times, route taken, toll cost, best day, worst day.
- Workplace 2: office days per week, departure and arrival times, route taken, toll cost, best day, worst day.
- Weekly total: round trips × worst-day drive for each workplace, added together.
- Things the drive does not measure: school drop-off, airport trips, errands, lake days.
- Verdict: keep, maybe, cross off.
What should I do with this?
Cross off the communities that fail on your worst-day weekly total, then move on to schools, money and the home office with the field guide. If you would like a second opinion, ask for a shortlist.
Printable commute worksheet
Print this page or fill it in on screen. Nothing you type here leaves your device.
Measured rush-hour ranges (no JavaScript needed)
| Destination | Westlake | Bee Cave | Lakeway | Rough Hollow (approximate origin point) | Spicewood (approximate origin point) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown core (Texas State Capitol reference point) | 12–22 min | 26–50 min | 35–65 min | 40–75 min | 50–85 min |
| AMD, 7171 Southwest Pkwy | 10–20 min | 10–16 min | 18–30 min | 22–35 min | 30–55 min |
| Oracle, 2300 Oracle Way | 16–30 min | 26–45 min | 35–65 min | 40–70 min | 45–80 min |
| Apple, 5501 W Parmer Ln (existing) | 18–30 min | 30–55 min | 30–60 min | 35–65 min | 50–90 min |
| NVIDIA, 11001 Lakeline Blvd | 20–30 min | 30–65 min | 26–50 min | 30–60 min | 45–90 min |
| Dell Technologies, Round Rock | 22–30 min | 35–60 min | 30–55 min | 35–65 min | 50–100 min |
| Tesla, 1 Tesla Road | 24–35 min | 30–45 min | 35–65 min | 40–70 min | 50–80 min |
| Samsung, Taylor (1530 FM 973) | 40–55 min | 50–80 min | 50–80 min | 55–85 min | 70–110 min |
These are Google’s traffic-model estimates for one weekday departure time. They are a starting point, not a forecast: drive your own route at your own window, and also test the return trip, school drop-off, remote days and tolls. Other destinations in the free-flow table have no measured rush-hour range.
Rough Hollow and Spicewood: approximate origin point.
| Workplace or destination | Route you drove | Departure time | Arrival time | Tolls | Test day 1 (min) | Test day 2 (min) | Worst result (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
These are free-flow, no-traffic routing estimates from the public OSRM demo server, measured 2026-10-22. They are a floor, not a commute time: real drives at your departure window can be much longer, which is why the commute guide shows you how to test your own.
Official sources
- OSRM project (public demo routing server used for the free-flow figures) (opens in a new tab)project-osrm.org
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim (geocoding for origins and destinations) (opens in a new tab)nominatim.openstreetmap.org
- Google Maps driving directions (typical-traffic ranges, measured 2026-10-23) (opens in a new tab)Google
- Google: office locations (Austin addresses) (opens in a new tab)about.google
- AMD investor relations: sale and leaseback of the Austin campus (Southwest Parkway address) (opens in a new tab)ir.amd.com
- City of Taylor: Samsung Austin Semiconductor (site location) (opens in a new tab)taylortx.gov
- Apple Newsroom: Apple to build new campus in Austin (2018) (opens in a new tab)apple.com
More on cynthiamattiza.com
Frequently asked questions
How long is the commute from Westlake, Bee Cave or Lakeway to downtown Austin?
Google Maps showed 12–22 min from Westlake, 26–50 min from Bee Cave and 35–65 min from Lakeway to the downtown core when departing at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday (measured 2026-10-23). That is one departure time. The free-flow figures (OSRM, measured 2026-10-22) are a floor. Test your own route at your real hours.
Where do the rush-hour commute ranges come from, and what do they leave out?
They are Google Maps typical-traffic range for the first recommended route, departing 8:00 AM on a Tuesday (Oct 27, 2026), measured 2026-10-23, for 8 destinations. They cover one morning departure, not the drive home, and Google’s traffic model is an estimate. The other destinations on the page have free-flow figures only. Use the ranges as a starting point, then run the test method on this page for your own route, remote days, school drop-off and tolls.
What routing was used for the free-flow figures?
The public OSRM demo server, which returns shortest-route drives with no traffic, measured 2026-10-22. Origins and destinations were geocoded with OpenStreetMap data, and the Spicewood and Rough Hollow origin points are approximate.
How do I compare two workplaces?
Multiply the drive to each by its weekly round trips, add the two totals, and compare communities on the sum. The two-workplace tool does it with free-flow figures, but replace them with your tested numbers before deciding.
Is West Austin a good choice if my office is in North Austin or Round Rock?
Only if the space, lake or schools of West Austin matter enough to pay for the drive. The table shows long free-flow drives to the north campuses. Northwest Austin and Round Rock are honest alternatives to compare.
Keep going
-
Guide
The Austin tech relocation field guide
The overview: how to choose between Westlake, Bee Cave, Lakeway and Lake Travis when work is the starting point.
-
Guide and tool
Westlake vs. Bee Cave vs. Lakeway for tech
Scenarios by workplace and priorities, and the reasons each community can fail a requirement.
-
Interactive tool
Two-workplace commute tool
Two offices, office days per week and your priorities, ranked by weekly free-flow drive burden.
-
Guide
Home-office checklist
Verify internet, upload speed, cellular signal, workspace, cooling and noise at the address, not the ZIP code.
-
Guide
Austin scouting trip plan
A two-day itinerary: commute tests, community visits, tours and a decision worksheet.
-
Guide
Rent first, buy remotely or sell first?
Three decision paths and the questions that choose between them.
-
Guide and worksheet
West Austin monthly housing costs
Every input you need and where to get each number, with a worksheet that sums your own figures.
-
Guide
Buying a home with RSUs
How Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac treat RSU income, vested stock, lockups and the 2026 conforming limit.
-
Guide
Austin or Dallas for a tech move?
A decision-stage comparison using CBRE’s 2026 tech-talent rankings.
-
Case study
Relocation case studies
Seattle to Lake Pointe, a two-state move from Virginia, and a lifestyle-over-commute choice in Costa Bella.
