Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Buda, TX to Irving, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
218 mi
351 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buda, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Irving, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Buda, TX to Irving, TX is 218 miles and takes about 3h 55m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35E, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, traversing Texas for its entirety. Expect a mix of highway and surface roads as you make your way north. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have flexibility in your schedule, making it easy to depart at your convenience.
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
109 miles from Buda, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 141.2 mi | 2h 28m |
| I 35E | 47.3 mi | 48m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Walton Walker Boulevard | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| Patriot Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Interstate 35 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 141.2 mi, about 2h 28m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,811 veh/hr typical · worst 4,425
Quietest
2 AM
~656 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 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 Irving, 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 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
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto Spur 408
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Patriot Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto Loop 12
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
492 ft
·
12 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Loop 12
16
Turn left onto TX 356
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
East State Highway 356
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Irving Boulevard
18
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Irving Boulevard
19
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Ohio Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day trip of under 4 hours, you can depart anytime. Aim to leave Buda in the morning to have ample daylight for the drive. Plan for one stop to break up the 141.2-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, which is the longest segment before hitting more populated areas. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $32, and services may become more frequent once you're on the interstate sections. Arriving in Irving later in the afternoon or early evening should be straightforward.
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 109 miles from Buda, TX, or about 1h 58m 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 48 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irving, 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 218 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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
109 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 109 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
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
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
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
Marlstone Retail Center
1.5 mi from route
QuikTrip
1.7 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Village of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.2 mi from route
~11 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websiteRipley's Believe It or Not!
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteToybrary Austin
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~12 min detour
First break
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+15124343927
Visit websiteLouis Tussaud's Palace of Wax
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 15.7 and 215.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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 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
198.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 30m 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
205.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward Spur 408
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
6
215.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.86 one way
$59.72 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $33.35 | $66.70 |
| premium | $4.23 | $36.26 | $72.52 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $41.16 | $82.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.89 | $10.46 |
| Efficient EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.08 | $8.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.2 | 1 | $30.52 | $13.95 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Buda on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:46PM CDT until July 18 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 4:38PM CDT until July 18 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Destination
Irving, TX
Late night in Irving on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:46PM CDT until July 18 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 4:38PM CDT until July 18 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
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 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 55m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 120.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 30% of this 218-mile drive is on highways, specifically I-35E and Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 141.2 miles along the Purple Heart Trail. You'll notice the transition from more rural cruising on the Purple Heart Trail to urban merging as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 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?
9/10
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 15.7 miles in near I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 13 significant decision points across 218 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 15.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
805 ft
484 ft
Total Climb
759 ft
Total Descent
984 ft
Highest Point
805 ft
~31.1 mi in
Elevation Range
321 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 Buda, TX to Irving, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 408 along the way.
Spur 408
205.8 mi in
|
~3h 39m
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 Irving, TX
Full guide →Founded 1903
Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents. Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
Top landmarks
- • Ruth Paine Home — house in Irving, Texas, United States
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 55m. Total distance: 218 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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 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 Irving, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Irving, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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