The Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum
Near the start, right off the route
Brownwood, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13256436376
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
167.5 mi
270 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownwood, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Brownwood to Dallas covers 167.6 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 58 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach the city without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $25 for fuel to complete the journey. The route begins and ends in the Great Plains region of Texas, keeping you within a consistent landscape for the duration of the trip. Navigating this path involves transitioning from local streets onto broader corridors, making it a manageable drive for most travelers. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a functional connection between the two points.
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
83.8 miles from Brownwood, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Big Bend Trail | 61.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| US Highway 67 | 44.2 mi | 50m |
| US Highway 67/377 East | 19 mi | 21m |
| South US Highway 377 | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Marvin D Love Freeway | 5.5 mi | 5m |
| Dublin Bypass | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Early Boulevard | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brownwood, TX and Dallas, TX.
Start on this road
Turn right
Turn slight right onto US 377
Take the ramp onto US 377
Merge onto US 67; US 84; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 377
Turn straight onto US 67; US 377
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 377
Turn right onto US 67
Continue on US 67
Continue on US 67
Continue on US 67
Continue on US 67
Merge onto I 35E
Continue on I 35E
Take the exit
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily pace the 167.6-mile journey to suit your comfort level. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $25 estimate is based on local travel; filling up before you leave Brownwood can save you the hassle of stopping in busier areas. Because you are traveling on local roads like Main Street and Early Boulevard, allow for potential traffic variations that might affect your estimated 2-hour and 58-minute transit time. Focus on navigating the turns carefully, and enjoy the benefit of a direct route that doesn't require complex multi-day planning.
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.
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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.8 miles or 1h 38m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallas, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 167.5 miles and 3h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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.
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 83.8 miles from Brownwood, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Northeast Big Bend Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the start, right off the route
Brownwood, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13256436376
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Brownwood, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13256411926
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 167.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 377 / West South Loop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 35E / South R L Thornton Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Continental Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$25.31 one way
$50.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $27.70 | $55.41 |
| premium | $4.54 | $29.91 | $59.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.98 | $73.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.3 | 0 | $17.59 | $8.04 |
| Efficient EV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.66 | $6.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67 | 0 | $23.45 | $10.72 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Brownwood on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, as this route features 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating through local thoroughfares, including Main Street, West Commerce Street, and Early Boulevard. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on Main Street is 0 miles, you should be prepared for frequent turns and a more active driving experience. The road's personality is defined by its local character, requiring you to stay alert through constant directional changes. It is a practical, hands-on drive that avoids the monotony of long highway miles, keeping you engaged with the road throughout the nearly three-hour duration.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 167.5 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 59.8 miles (US 67; US 377 / West South Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.5 miles (I 35E / South R L Thornton Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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
“Big D” · Founded 1841
Dallas, with a population of more than 1.3 million residents, is the ninth largest city in the United States and the third largest in the state of Texas. It is an impressive melting pot of culture and character. Boasting high-end luxury hotels, innumerable fine dining spots, and one of the busiest airports in the world, Dallas maintains an upscale ethos reflected by an affluent population, world-class museums, and a shimmering modern skyline. Its history was marred by the infamous assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, but there is more historic and contemporary heritage to be discovered in the city. As a center of the oil and cotton industries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dallas was a classic American boom town and remains one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 167.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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