Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Canadian, TX to Montopolis, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 39m
Distance
519.6 mi
836 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 31m
★
6 AM
9h 39m
8 AM
9h 57m
10 AM
9h 45m
12 PM
9h 44m
3 PM
9h 46m
5 PM
9h 56m
8 PM
9h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Canadian, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Montopolis, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Canadian, TX to Montopolis, TX is 519.6 miles and takes about 9h 39m via Central East Freeway and US 83, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive is a long-haul trip that stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains and ending in the same region. Given the nearly 10-hour drive time, this route is best tackled over two days to avoid fatigue. Plan for a comfortable pace, as the majority of the route is on well-maintained highways, making for efficient travel.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
259.8 miles from Canadian, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central East Freeway | 99.2 mi | 1h 46m |
| US 83 | 98.7 mi | 2h 9m |
| North South Freeway | 84.6 mi | 1h 27m |
| US Highway 287 | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| I 35 | 52.6 mi | 54m |
| US Highway 287 East | 40.5 mi | 42m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| South 2nd Street | 7.4 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
Central East Freeway
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,227 veh/hr typical · worst 3,978
Quietest
2 AM
~510 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Canadian, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on FM 2388
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 60; US 83
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
South 2nd Street
3
Turn slight left onto US 83
99 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
US 83
4
Turn left onto US 287
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Avenue F Northwest
5
Continue on US 287
54 mi
·
58 min
·
US Highway 287
6
Continue on US 287
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
41 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 287
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest Freeway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Northwest Freeway
Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
10
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
97 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Central East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 81; US 287
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 35W; US 287
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 35W Express Toll South
Use the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
4.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 35W
85 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
53 mi
·
54 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 240B
Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Use the slight left lane.
25
Merge onto US 183
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on 183 Toll
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn straight onto US 183
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
29
Take the ramp
486 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
30
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 39m duration, splitting this trip into two days is highly recommended for safety and enjoyment. Aim to depart mid-morning to allow for a relaxed start and reach your overnight stop with daylight to spare. You'll have two planned stops, which are a good pace for breaking up the 519.6 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach the 99.2-mile stretch on the Central East Freeway, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments. Your estimated fuel cost is around $75.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 259.8 miles from Canadian, TX, or about 5h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 114 miles or 2h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 259.8 miles or 5h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 259.8 miles or 5h 4m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Canadian, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Canadian, TX
Aim for roughly 260 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Montopolis, TX
Aim for roughly 260 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from Canadian, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Central East Freeway for about 99.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
171 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
343 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Burleson, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
260 mi · about 4.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Plainview, TX after about 260 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 114 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 259.8 miles from Canadian, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Central East Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 260 miles or 4.8 hours on the road.
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.
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Wise County Northbound
0 mi from route
Wichita County Southbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls
0 mi from route
Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Wichita County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Collingsworth County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Pilot 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
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Cultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteAustin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Final third
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 212.1 and 518.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
212.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 12m in
|
US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, U...
6
218.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m in
|
US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
510.7 mi into trip
|
~9h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
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 240B
Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
7
510.9 mi into trip
|
~9h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
7
518.8 mi into trip
|
~9h 37m in
Take the exit toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$71.17 one way
$142.34 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
182 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $79.49 | $158.99 |
| premium | $4.23 | $86.43 | $172.86 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $98.11 | $196.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 181.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 155.9 | 1 | $54.56 | $24.94 |
| Efficient EV | 129.9 | 1 | $45.47 | $20.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 207.8 | 2 | $72.74 | $33.25 |
Gas CO2
182 kg
EV CO2
61 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Canadian, TX
Late night in Canadian on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 15 mph
4% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:05PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Late night in Montopolis on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 mph
42% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:05PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
1 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
9h 39m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 412.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a long-haul drive where 89% of the travel will be on highways. You'll encounter a stretch of 99.2 miles on the Central East Freeway, indicating a significant portion of your time will be spent on this high-speed road. The longest segment on surface roads will be shorter than the highway stretches, suggesting a predominantly freeway experience. Expect fewer exits and more sustained cruising once you transition from the highway segments.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on Central East Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and US 83. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 212.1 miles in near US 287 / Northwest Freeway.
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 17 significant decision points across 519.6 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 212.1 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 218.6 miles (US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 510.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,569 ft
463 ft
Total Climb
514 ft
Total Descent
2,474 ft
Highest Point
2,569 ft
~37.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,106 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Canadian, TX
Full guide →See The Canadian for the passenger train service between Vancouver and Toronto Canadian is a city on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.2 miles on Central East Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 260 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 38 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 Montopolis, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 212.1 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 218.6 miles (US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 510.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.7 hours each way, a round trip means 19.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Montopolis, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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