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Trip from Benavides, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 24m
Distance
400.1 mi
644 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$60
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 14m
★
6 AM
7h 25m
8 AM
7h 45m
10 AM
7h 32m
12 PM
7h 30m
3 PM
7h 33m
5 PM
7h 44m
8 PM
7h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Benavides, TX
Pixabay
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Benavides to Fort Worth is 400.1 miles and takes about 7h 24m via Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway, and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip travels entirely within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Expect a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. The route is best suited for those who want to cover ground efficiently between South Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.1 miles from Benavides, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| Pickle Parkway | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| I 35W | 49.2 mi | 51m |
| I 69C | 39.9 mi | 45m |
| King David Drive | 31.8 mi | 39m |
| State Highway 80 North | 30.8 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| East Main Street | 15.4 mi | 22m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,839 veh/hr typical · worst 3,735
Quietest
2 AM
~452 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Benavides, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on TX 359; FM 2295
15 mi
·
22 min
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on TX 359
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Doctor E.E. Dunlap Street
3
Turn right onto TX 44; TX 359
8.0 mi
·
8 min
·
East Gravis Avenue
4
Turn left onto US Highway 281 Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
US Highway 281 Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
6
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
40 mi
·
45 min
·
I 69C; US 281
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Nueces Street
8
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi
·
39 min
·
King David Drive
9
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
10
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
11
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
12
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
13
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
14
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
15
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
16
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
17
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
United States Highway 183
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
19
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi
·
51 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
26
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Freeway
27
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
28
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Freeway
29
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
Leaving Benavides early, around 7 AM, will give you ample daylight to reach Fort Worth comfortably within the estimated 7 hours and 24 minutes. With only two recommended stops, plan them strategically to break up the 97.7-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning between the Pickle Parkway and I 35W, as services can vary. Given the 400.1-mile distance, this is a manageable one-day drive, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider splitting it near the halfway point where highway and surface roads offer different stopping options.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200.1 miles from Benavides, TX, or about 4h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 88 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.1 miles or 4h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benavides, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Benavides, TX
This is one driving day of about 400.1 miles and 7h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Benavides, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
200 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 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 200.1 miles from Benavides, 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 97.7 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.
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
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
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Circle K
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteFort Worth Herd
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 186.8 and 399.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
186.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
5
187.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 49m in
|
TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway
Merge onto TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
245.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 44m 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
350.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 31m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
399.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 23m in
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.06 one way
$120.12 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
140 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $66.46 | $132.92 |
| premium | $4.57 | $71.91 | $143.82 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $98.86 | $197.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 120 | 1 | $42.01 | $19.20 |
| Efficient EV | 100 | 1 | $35.01 | $16.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 160 | 2 | $56.01 | $25.61 |
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Benavides, TX
Afternoon in Benavides on Saturday
Local time
2:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 2 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Afternoon in Fort Worth on Saturday
Local time
2:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
9 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
7h 24m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 317.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 55% of this 400.1-mile route is on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail before transitioning to surface roads. The drive involves merging onto I 35W, which can bring denser traffic and more frequent exits as you approach Fort Worth. Be prepared for a shift from more open cruising to busier interstate conditions.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 186.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 400.1 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 186.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.2 miles (TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
858 ft
208 ft
Total Climb
1,036 ft
Total Descent
758 ft
Highest Point
858 ft
~257.2 mi in
Elevation Range
651 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Benavides, TX to Fort Worth, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
Waco
186.8 mi in
|
~3h 48m
About the Cities
Starting in Benavides, TX
Full guide →Arriving in Fort Worth, TX
Full guide →“Panther city” · Founded 1849
Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.
Top landmarks
- • Kimbell Art Museum — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
- • Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
- • Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
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 7h 24m. Total distance: 400.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 24m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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 Fort Worth, 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. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 186.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.2 miles (TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.7 miles: 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 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Worth, TX before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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