Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Cinco Ranch, TX to Irving, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 50m
Distance
269.8 mi
434 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 37m
★
6 AM
4h 51m
8 AM
5h 18m
10 AM
5h 0m
12 PM
4h 57m
3 PM
5h 1m
5 PM
5h 16m
8 PM
4h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cinco Ranch, TX
Iván Hernández-Cuevas
Irving, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cinco Ranch to Irving is 269.8 miles and takes about 4h 50m via I 45, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, beginning and ending in the Great Plains region. It's a predominantly highway trip, so expect straightforward travel for most of the distance. Given its relatively short duration and high highway percentage, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
134.9 miles from Cinco Ranch, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 212.4 mi | 3h 39m |
| West Grand Parkway South | 41.1 mi | 45m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| North Walton Walker Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| East Irving Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Cinco Ranch Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East State Highway 356 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 212.4 mi, about 3h 39m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,985 veh/hr typical · worst 2,601
Quietest
2 AM
~289 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 88 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 Cinco Ranch, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on Crystal Bay Drive
174 ft
·
13 sec
·
Crystal Bay Drive
2
Turn left onto Cinco Lakes Drive
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cinco Lakes Drive
3
Turn left onto Cinco Ranch Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Cinco Ranch Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward TX 99 North
5
Merge onto TX 99
41 mi
·
45 min
·
West Grand Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 45
212 mi
·
3 hr 39 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 284A
Toward I 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 30 West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 30
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 38
Toward LOOP 12
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Loop 12 North
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto North Walton Walker Service Road West
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Walton Walker Service Road West
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Loop 12 North
17
Merge onto Loop 12
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
492 ft
·
12 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Loop 12
20
Turn left onto TX 356
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
East State Highway 356
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Irving Boulevard
22
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Irving Boulevard
23
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Ohio Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 50-minute drive, leaving in the morning should give you ample time to reach Irving before dark. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop when needed, but the longest stretch without a break is over 200 miles on I 45, so plan for a stretch or a quick stop around that mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $38. The route is primarily highway, so be prepared for consistent speeds and consider an audiobook or podcast to pass the time.
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 134.9 miles from Cinco Ranch, TX, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.4 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 59 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.9 miles or 2h 25m 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 54m
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 Cinco Ranch, 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 Cinco Ranch, TX
This is one driving day of about 269.8 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Cinco Ranch, 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 I 45 for about 212.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
135 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134.9 miles from Cinco Ranch, 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 212.4 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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
QuikTrip
1.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Candy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
Visit websiteGeronimo Adventure Park
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 12–6 pm
+18303655867
Visit websiteZube Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Hockley, Texas
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+12813538100
Visit websiteCarl Barton Jr Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm
+19365223000
Visit websitePlay Street Museum - Katy
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Katy, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–6 pm
+12816664217
Visit websiteHouston Area Live Steamers
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
First break
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Hockley, Texas
Visit websiteAndretti Indoor Karting & Games Katy
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~9 min detour
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
Katy, Texas
Hours: 11 am–11 pm
+18329742201
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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 42.5 and 264.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
42.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 45 North: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
7
256.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 30
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 284A
Toward I 30
7
256.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 30 West
7
264.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward LOOP 12
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 38
Toward LOOP 12
7
264.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Loop 12 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Loop 12 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.50 one way
$81.00 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $44.81 | $89.63 |
| premium | $4.57 | $48.49 | $96.98 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $66.66 | $133.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.9 | 0 | $28.33 | $12.95 |
| Efficient EV | 67.5 | 0 | $23.61 | $10.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.9 | 1 | $37.77 | $17.27 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 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
Cinco Ranch, TX
Late night in Cinco Ranch on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
NE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Irving, TX
Late night in Irving on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
ESE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
60°F
Italy, TX
135 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 50m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with a 97% highway share. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 45, covering a continuous stretch of 212.4 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience for most of the trip, with minimal deviations onto surface roads. The density of exits on the main highway is something to be aware of, especially as you approach urban areas.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.4 mi on I 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and West Grand Parkway South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.5 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 269.8 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 42.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 256.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 256.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
484 ft
107 ft
Total Climb
678 ft
Total Descent
301 ft
Highest Point
484 ft
~269.9 mi in
Elevation Range
377 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Cinco Ranch, TX
Full guide →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 4h 50m. Total distance: 269.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 212.4 miles on I 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 42.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 256.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 256.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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