Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Buda, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 34m
Distance
200.6 mi
323 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
17 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 22m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 58m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buda, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Buda, TX to Fort Worth, TX is 200.6 miles and takes about 3h 34m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Given that most of the drive is on surface roads, expect a more local feel rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that doesn't require extensive planning, making it a good option if you need to get between these two points without much fuss.
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
100.3 miles from Buda, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 141.2 mi | 2h 28m |
| I 35W | 49.2 mi | 51m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| North Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Interstate 35 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Allen Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 141.2 mi, about 2h 28m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~3,430 veh/hr typical · worst 4,195
Quietest
2 AM
~587 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
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 Buda, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on North Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto South Interstate 35
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Interstate 35
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 35 North
4
Merge onto I 35
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 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 left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi
·
51 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Freeway
11
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
12
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Freeway
13
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just under 3.5 hours, this is easily a single-day trip. Leaving Buda in the morning should give you ample time to reach Fort Worth well before evening. Since the longest stretch on surface roads is significant, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 141.2-mile segment of Purple Heart Trail. While there's only one recommended stop, don't hesitate to pull over if you need a break or a quick refreshment, as flexibility is key on a route with many surface roads. Plan for a fuel cost around $29.
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 100.3 miles from Buda, TX, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.2 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 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.3 miles or 1h 49m 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 55m
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 Buda, 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 Buda, TX
This is one driving day of about 200.6 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Buda, 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 141.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 100.3 miles from Buda, 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 141.2 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.
Service Plaza
0.1 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
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
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
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
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
1.5 mi from route
QuikTrip
1.7 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, right off the route
First break
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.4 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
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Barton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
First break
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 200.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
15.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
150.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m 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
200.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m 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
5
200.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
|
East Allen Avenue
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.43 one way
$58.85 round trip
$3.73/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $32.63 | $65.27 |
| premium | $4.47 | $35.29 | $70.59 |
| diesel | $5.45 | $43.07 | $86.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-17.
EV Charging Along Route
17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Austin, TX - Spirit of Texas Drive - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
19 DCFC
Austin, TX - East Stassney Lane - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Austin, TX - East Ben White Boulevard - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Austin, TX - Frontage Road - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Austin, TX - South Lamar Boulevard - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Austin, TX - 5601 Brodie Lane - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
Tesla
8 DCFC
Sunset Valley Village Shopping Mall
Sunset Valley, TX
eVgo Network
6 DCFC
Leif Johnson Ford Truck City
Buda, TX
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Tesla: 6
ChargePoint Network: 4
eVgo Network: 3
Non-Networked: 1
NAYAX_ENERGY: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
GRAVITI_ENERGY: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.2 | 0 | $21.06 | $9.63 |
| Efficient EV | 50.2 | 0 | $17.55 | $8.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.2 | 1 | $28.08 | $12.84 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Buda, TX
Morning in Buda on Saturday
Local time
7:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 5 at 2:36AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 5 at 1:00AM CDT until September 5 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Morning in Fort Worth on Saturday
Local time
7:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Clear
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 5 at 2:36AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 5 at 1:00AM CDT until September 5 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
74°F
Troy, TX
100 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 34m on the road
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.
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 117.6
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 covers 200.6 miles with a highway share of 29%. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 141.2 miles on Purple Heart Trail, which consists mostly of surface roads. This means you'll likely experience a steady flow of local traffic and frequent intersections rather than continuous high-speed driving. Expect to transition from surface roads to the interstate system as you get closer to Fort Worth.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.2 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 35 / Purple Heart Trail.
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 200.6 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: at 3.1 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.9 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
865 ft
403 ft
Total Climb
948 ft
Total Descent
1,005 ft
Highest Point
865 ft
~57.3 mi in
Elevation Range
462 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Buda, TX
Full guide →Founded 1881
Top landmarks
- • Downtown Buda Historic District — historic district in Buda, Hays County, Texas
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 3h 34m. Total distance: 200.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 141.2 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.9 miles (I 35W): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Worth, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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