Trip from Brownwood, TX to Fort Worth, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 20m

Distance

283.5 mi

456 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 7m ★

6 AM

5h 20m

8 AM

5h 47m

10 AM

5h 30m

12 PM

5h 27m

3 PM

5h 31m

5 PM

5h 46m

8 PM

5h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Brownwood, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Fort Worth, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Brownwood to Fort Worth covers 284.6 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 33 minutes of driving time. Since the entire journey stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Budgeting about $43 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. While the route is manageable for a one-day excursion, planning for at least one stop will help keep you refreshed. Because this isn't a high-speed interstate haul, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace rather than a quick commute.

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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

141.7 miles from Brownwood, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 45	174.6 mi	2h 59m
US 287	57.6 mi	1h 5m
Hardy Toll Road	21.8 mi	25m
East Freeway	12.3 mi	14m
East Loop North	5.9 mi	7m
South Freeway	3.4 mi	3m
Decker Drive	1.5 mi	1m
Bayway Drive	1.5 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 45 — 174.6 mi, about 2h 59m

Traffic on I-45

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

1 PM

~1,496 veh/hr typical · worst 2,185

Quietest

1 AM

~238 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 45 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 Brownwood, TX and Fort Worth, TX.

Start on Mapleton Avenue

0.2 mi · 1 min · Mapleton Avenue

Turn right onto Bayshore Drive

0.8 mi · 5 min · Bayshore Drive

Keep slight right at fork onto Bayshore Drive

0.5 mi · 3 min · Bayshore Drive

Turn left onto West Schreck Street

0.7 mi · 3 min · West Schreck Street

Turn left onto Bayway Drive

1.5 mi · 2 min · Bayway Drive

Turn left onto Decker Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · Decker Drive

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 10 West

Merge onto Spur 330

0.7 mi · 46 sec · Decker Drive

Use the straight lane.

Merge onto I 10

12 mi · 14 min · East Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 775A Toward I 610 South, I 610 North Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 610 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 610

5.9 mi · 7 min · East Loop North

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 19B Toward Hardy Toll Road North Use the slight right lane.

Continue on HTR

22 mi · 25 min · Hardy Toll Road

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 45

175 mi · 2 hr 59 min · I 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 287

58 mi · 1 hr 5 min · US 287

Exit 247 Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 437 Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Toward I 35W North: Denton Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35W North: Fort Worth

Merge onto I 35W

3.2 mi · 3 min · South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 49A Toward Allen Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto South Freeway

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Freeway

Turn left onto East Allen Avenue

210 ft · 12 sec · East Allen Avenue

Turn left onto South Freeway

258 ft · 5 sec · South Freeway

Arrive at destination

South Freeway

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 284.6-mile journey, aim to hit the road early to account for the slower pace of local streets. Since the route requires one planned stop, look for a convenient spot midway to stretch your legs and refuel. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, stay alert for changing speed limits as you transition between local road segments. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the lack of highway congestion allows you to adjust your pace without the pressure of heavy traffic flows. Keep your navigation system running, as the reliance on local roads like West Schreck Street requires precise turns that are easy to miss.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 141.7 miles from Brownwood, TX, or about 2h 46m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.6 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 62 miles or 1h 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 141.7 miles or 2h 46m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 20m

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 Brownwood, 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 Brownwood, TX

This is one driving day of about 283.5 miles and 5h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Brownwood, 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 I 45 for about 174.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Italy, TX

142 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

Houston, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Italy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 141.7 miles from Brownwood, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Waxahachie, Texas

Hours: 5–9 pm

+12149801053

Visit website

Candy Cane Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Conroe, Texas

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+19365223804

Visit website

Forest 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 website

Carl Barton Jr Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Conroe, Texas

Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm

+19365223000

Visit website

Dennis Johnston Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour

Spring, Texas

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17132740930

Visit website

Bicentennial Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12814206597

Visit website

ARs Entertainment Hub Baytown

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 4–10 pm

+18889999440

Visit website

Fort 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 website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 17.7 and 279 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

17.7 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward I 610 South, I 610 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 775A Toward I 610 South, I 610 North

17.9 mi into trip | ~34m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 610 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 610 North

24.4 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward Hardy Toll Road North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 19B Toward Hardy Toll Road North

221.5 mi into trip | ~4h 8m in | US 287

Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 247 Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth

279 mi into trip | ~5h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 437 Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.83 one way

$77.66 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 99 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$43.37	$86.75
premium	$4.23	$47.16	$94.31
diesel	$4.80	$53.53	$107.06

Estimated Tolls: $1.74

Hardy Toll Road (21.8 mi) $1.74

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	85.1	1	$29.77	$13.61
Efficient EV	70.9	0	$24.81	$11.34
EV Truck/SUV	113.4	1	$39.69	$18.14

Gas CO2

99 kg

EV CO2

33 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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Brownwood, TX

Afternoon in Brownwood on Sunday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

S 10 to 15 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:32PM CDT until July 19 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:22PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Fort Worth, TX

Afternoon in Fort Worth on Sunday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Partly Cloudy

S 10 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:32PM CDT until July 19 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:22PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

100°F

Italy, TX

142 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

5 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

5h 20m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on roads like Bayshore Drive, West Schreck Street, and Bayway Drive to navigate the landscape. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be cruising at high speeds on major freeways for the duration of the trip. The road’s personality is defined by these technical local sections, requiring you to navigate turns frequently rather than settling into a long, uninterrupted stretch. Keep your focus sharp, as the shifting nature of these local roads makes for a distinct driving experience compared to standard highway travel.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 174.6 mi on I 45.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and US 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 21 significant decision points across 283.5 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 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

652 ft 5 ft

Total Climb

713 ft

Total Descent

66 ft

Highest Point

652 ft

~283.5 mi in

Elevation Range

647 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 Brownwood, TX to Fort Worth, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Hardy Toll Road North along the way.

Hardy Toll Road North

24.4 mi in | ~42m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

MOD Pizza

Fast_food

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: pizza

Hours: Mo-We 10:30-22:00; Th-Sa 10:30-23:00; Su...

Visit website

Pizza Hut

Restaurant

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: pizza

Visit website

Jack in the Box

Fast_food

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: burger

Visit website

Gringo's Mexican Kitchen (Conroe)

Restaurant

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: mexican

Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00

Visit website

Arby's

Fast_food

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Normangee, TX

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: 10:00-22:00

Visit website

Potbelly

Fast_food

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: sandwich

Rogers-O'Daniel House

Attraction

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

San Jacinto State Park

Park

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Museum

Museum

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Visit website

Alma

Memorial

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum of Texas

Museum

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Huntsville, TX

Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-17:00

Visit website

Cade Cemetery

Memorial

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

The W. A. "Bay" Evans Home

Memorial

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Man With A Briefcase

Artwork

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Value Place

Motel

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Fort Worth Elks Lodge 124

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Etta's Place

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

La Quinta Inn

Hotel

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Brownwood, TX

Full guide →

Brownwood is a city in central Texas. Founded in 1857, it has some of the common origin stories of Texas towns with railroads and oil booms, and it was considered to be the biggest cotton center west of Fort Worth at the turn of the century. What really spurred its growth though was the establishment of a WWII training camp called Camp Bowie. Today, Brownwood is known for its Baptist college Howard Payne University and its reservoir with fishing and swimming nearby.

Top landmarks

• St. John's Episcopal Church — church building in Brownwood, Texas, United States of America

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

• Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
• Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
• St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth — church located in Fort Worth, 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 5h 20m. Total distance: 283.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 174.6 miles on I 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.74 in tolls one way, starting with Hardy Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 29 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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