From Johnson City, the stage follows US 290 east. The opening kilometres cross rolling Hill Country terrain: low ridges, farm entrances, fences, scattered houses and open stretches between settlements. Near Henly, the turn-off toward Pedernales Falls State Park sits close to the route; after that, the road approaches Dripping Springs. Traffic gets heavier here, buildings become more frequent, and the stage gradually loses its rural character. The profile stays unsettled until western Austin: short climbs, crests, quick descents and very few long flat sections. From Oak Hill, the urban section begins. The final kilometres run on wider roads, through large junctions and the Barton Creek area into Austin.
