Origin
Buffalo, TX
Late night in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
108.6 mi
175 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo, TX to Dallas, TX is 108.6 miles and takes about 1h 54m via I 45, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward journey begins in the Great Plains region of Texas and concludes in the same area, offering a quick transition between two points. Expect a drive that is predominantly highway, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B without significant detours. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. It's a practical choice for those prioritizing speed and simplicity over a leisurely exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.3 miles from Buffalo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 105 mi | 1h 47m |
| Donie Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Commerce Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Buffalo Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, TX and Dallas, TX.
Start on US 79
Take the exit
Turn straight onto TX 75
Turn left onto TX 164
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 45
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Elm Street
Turn right onto North Lamar Street
Arrive at destination
With a drive time of under two hours and a fuel cost estimated at $16, this is an easy same-day trip. You have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, perhaps leaving Buffalo, TX in the late morning to arrive in Dallas in the early afternoon. Since the drive is short, you won't need to plan for extensive rest stops, but it's always wise to take breaks as needed. Watch for the transition from I 45 to local roads as you near Dallas, as this is where you'll need to pay closer attention to navigation. Ensure your fuel tank is sufficiently full before leaving Buffalo, as the longest stretch on I 45 covers most of the route.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 24 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.3 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallas, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Buffalo, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, TX
This is one driving day of about 108.6 miles and 1h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 54.3 miles from Buffalo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 108.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Main Street West, Elm Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Elm Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto North Lamar Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$16.41 one way
$32.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $17.96 | $35.92 |
| premium | $4.54 | $19.39 | $38.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.98 | $47.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.40 | $5.21 |
| Efficient EV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.50 | $4.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.20 | $6.95 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is heavily focused on highway driving, with a 97% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 105 miles on I 45, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. The drive will largely consist of cruising on this major interstate, characterized by its directness and efficiency. While the profile is primarily highway, brief transitions onto local roads like Donie Road and Elm Street may occur as you approach your final destination in Dallas. Overall, anticipate a smooth, albeit potentially monotonous, interstate experience.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and Donie Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 54m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The largest city in New York State's Niagara Frontier, Buffalo is a city full of surprises. Though Buffalo is sometimes the butt of jokes about chicken wings, its long-suffering sports teams, and the mountains of snow under which it is supposedly buried each winter, those in the know tell a different story: one of vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods with strong community spirit – and the sunniest summers in Northeastern United States.
“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 1h 54m. Total distance: 108.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
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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