Alton, TX to Irving, TX is 507.3 miles and takes about 9h 23m via I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $76 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive primarily within the Great Plains region of Texas. While it's possible to complete this trip in a single day, it's recommended to split it over two days for a more relaxed pace. You'll encounter a mix of major highways and potentially some surface roads as you traverse the state.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
253.6 miles from Alton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69C
138.2 mi
2h 31m
Purple Heart Trail
97.7 mi
1h 39m
Pickle Parkway
58.5 mi
54m
I 35E
47.3 mi
48m
King David Drive
31.8 mi
39m
State Highway 80 North
30.8 mi
35m
State Highway 80
23.6 mi
25m
TX 107
11.1 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
I 69C
— 138.2 mi, about 2h 31m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,975 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,836
Quietest
2 AM
~487 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on FM 676
102 ft·6 sec·Main Avenue
2
Turn right onto TX 107
2.0 mi·2 min·TX 107
3
Continue on TX 107
9.1 mi·13 min·TX 107
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107
400 ft·12 sec·North 10th Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107
377 ft·13 sec·West McIntyre Street
6
Turn left onto US 281 Business
3.3 mi·5 min·North Closner Boulevard
7
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
0.7 mi·1 min·North Expressway 281
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
9
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 69C; US 281
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi·14 min·Nueces Street
12
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi·39 min·King David Drive
13
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
14
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
15
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi·10 min·Helena Road
16
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi·25 min·State Highway 80
17
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nixon Avenue
18
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi·35 min·State Highway 80 North
19
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
20
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
21
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
23
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
47 mi·48 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
29
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 418AToward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the slight right lane.
30
Merge onto I 20
6.6 mi·7 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 460Toward Spur 408Use the slight right lane.
32
Merge onto Spur 408
3.9 mi·4 min·Patriot Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Merge onto Loop 12
5.4 mi·5 min·South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
492 ft·12 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
35
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Loop 12
36
Turn left onto TX 356
0.4 mi·59 sec·East State Highway 356
Use the left / straight lanes.
37
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi·2 min·East Irving Boulevard
38
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi·26 sec·West Irving Boulevard
39
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft·2 sec·North Ohio Street
40
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
For this 9h 23m drive, consider departing early to maximize your daylight hours, especially if you plan to complete it in one go. If you're splitting this 507.3-mile trip over two days, aiming for around 4.5 hours of driving each day is reasonable. Plan for at least two stops to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 138.2-mile stretch on I 69C, as services might be less frequent in some sections.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 253.6 miles from Alton, TX, or about 4h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.2 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 112 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 253.6 miles or 4h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 253.6 miles or 4h 56m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irving, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alton, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alton, TX
Aim for roughly 254 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Irving, TX
Aim for roughly 254 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Alton, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 69C for about 138.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 253.6 miles from Alton, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 254 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 495 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
11.1 mi into trip|~16m in|US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
335.5 mi into trip|~6h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
440.2 mi into trip|~8h 8m in|I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
487.5 mi into trip|~8h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
495 mi into trip|~9h 6m in
Take the exit toward Spur 408
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.60 one way
$147.20 round trip
$3.69/gal25.4 MPG avg178 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.08
$81.55
$163.09
premium
$4.43
$88.52
$177.04
diesel
$5.60
$111.83
$223.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 177.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
152.2
1
$53.27
$24.35
Efficient EV
126.8
1
$44.39
$20.29
EV Truck/SUV
202.9
2
$71.02
$32.47
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Aug 27, 2026
Origin
Alton, TX
Afternoon
in Alton on Friday
Local time
4:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
102°F
Sunny
SE 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 27 at 4:11AM CDT until August 27 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 27 at 1:30AM CDT until August 27 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Irving, TX
Afternoon
in Irving on Friday
Local time
4:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
101°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 27 at 4:11AM CDT until August 27 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 27 at 1:30AM CDT until August 27 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
9h 23m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 402.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive covers 507.3 miles, with 67% of it on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 138.2 miles on I 69C, offering consistent cruising. Beyond the highway segments, expect to transition to surface roads, which will slow your average speed. The density of exits will likely increase as you approach more populated areas.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.2 mi on I 69C.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 9h 23m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in near US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 507.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 335.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 440.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
785 ft81 ft
Total Climb
814 ft
Total Descent
495 ft
Highest Point
785 ft
~340.9 mi in
Elevation Range
703 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alton, TX to Irving, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents.
Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
Top landmarks
•Ruth Paine Home — house in Irving, Texas, United States
The longest stretch is about 138.2 miles on I 69C. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 254 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Irving, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 335.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 440.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Irving, TX before the return drive.
