Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Belton, TX to Grand Prairie, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
140.7 mi
226 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Grand Prairie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Belton, TX to Grand Prairie, TX is 140.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35E, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic conditions as you make your way north. Consider this a practical route for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.3 miles from Belton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 69.7 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 35E | 47.3 mi | 48m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 9 mi | 9m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Belt Line Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North I-35 Frontage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Southeast 9th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 69.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belton, TX and Grand Prairie, TX.
1
Start on TX 317
215 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto North I-35 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
North I-35 Frontage Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 190 East
5
Merge onto I 35; US 190
37 mi
·
37 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
47 mi
·
48 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 20
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 457
Toward FM 1382
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto FM 1382
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
South Belt Line Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto Southeast 9th Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Southeast 9th Street
14
Turn left onto TX 180
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Main Street
15
Turn right
74 ft
·
5 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 140.7-mile drive, leaving in the morning should give you ample daylight to reach Grand Prairie, TX. You'll want to budget around $21 for fuel, so ensure your tank is full before you depart or plan a stop. With a total duration of about 2 hours and 32 minutes, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day without needing an overnight stay. Keep an eye out for the transition points between highway sections like I 35E and surface roads, as this is where your speed and the driving environment will change the most.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.3 miles from Belton, TX, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 31 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Prairie, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belton, TX
This is one driving day of about 140.7 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Belton, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 69.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.3 miles from Belton, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Cultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
First break
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteRipley's Believe It or Not!
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteLouis Tussaud's Palace of Wax
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 134.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 North, US 190 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 North, US 190 East
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 35; US 190 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35; US 190 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
77.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
124.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m 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
134.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward FM 1382
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 457
Toward FM 1382
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.26 one way
$42.52 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $23.27 | $46.54 |
| premium | $4.54 | $25.12 | $50.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.06 | $62.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.77 | $6.75 |
| Efficient EV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.31 | $5.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.3 | 0 | $19.70 | $9.00 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Origin
Belton, TX
Late night in Belton on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Grand Prairie, TX
Late night in Grand Prairie on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Hillsboro, TX
70 mi in
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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 43.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 45% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on Purple Heart Trail measuring 69.7 miles. You'll experience a mixed profile of highway cruising and surface road travel. Expect to transition from faster highway speeds to more moderated surface road conditions, particularly as you approach urban areas. The shift from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you navigate the 140.7 miles.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 140.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 35; US 190 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.5 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Belton, TX
Full guide →Founded 1850
Top landmarks
- • Bell County Courthouse — historic place in Belton, Bell County, Texas
Arriving in Grand Prairie, TX
Full guide →Founded 1863
Grand Prairie is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 140.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Grand Prairie, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 35; US 190 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.5 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grand Prairie, TX before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Grand Prairie, TX
More trips to Grand Prairie, TX
Explore more options from Belton, TX or browse trips ending in Grand Prairie, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.