Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Columbus, TX to Fort Worth, 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
4h 22m
Distance
232.2 mi
374 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 9m
★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking from Columbus, TX, to Fort Worth, TX, this 232.2-mile journey is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 22 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via I-35W, with portions on North Travis Avenue and South Main Street. With a projected fuel cost of $35, it's an economical option for exploring the vast Great Plains region of Texas. This route offers a mixed drive experience, making it a straightforward and practical option for getting between these two Texas cities. Planning for one stop should be sufficient for this length of drive.
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
116.1 miles from Columbus, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 49.2 mi | 51m |
| North Travis Avenue | 48.6 mi | 55m |
| South Main Street | 48 mi | 57m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 33 mi | 33m |
| State Highway 71 | 22.4 mi | 23m |
| North US Highway 77 | 17.3 mi | 19m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| US 77 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 49.2 mi, about 51m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,798 veh/hr typical · worst 3,547
Quietest
2 AM
~420 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
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 Columbus, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on US 90
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn right onto TX 71 Business
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Fannin Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
4
Merge onto TX 71
22 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 71
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
6
Turn straight onto East State Highway 71 Bypass
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
East State Highway 71 Bypass
7
Turn right onto US 77
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
8
Continue on US 77
17 mi
·
19 min
·
North US Highway 77
9
Continue on US 77
48 mi
·
57 min
·
South Main Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 77; US 190; TX 36
11
Turn right onto US 77
49 mi
·
55 min
·
North Travis Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto Circle Road
215 ft
·
11 sec
·
Circle Road
13
Continue on Circle Road
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Circle Road
14
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
15
Take the ramp
444 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
16
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 77
17
Merge onto I 35; US 77
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi
·
51 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Freeway
22
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
23
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Freeway
24
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
For this 232.2-mile drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic delays as you approach Fort Worth. Since the total duration is just over 4 hours, you can easily complete this in one day with a single planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 49.2-mile stretch on I-35W, as services might be less frequent there. A practical tip: consider fueling up before you leave Columbus to ensure you have a full tank for the initial part of your journey.
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 116.1 miles from Columbus, TX, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.1 miles or 2h 16m 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 37m
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 Columbus, 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 Columbus, TX
This is one driving day of about 232.2 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Columbus, 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 35W for about 49.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116.1 miles from Columbus, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
1 mi from route
290 Travel Plaza
1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.1 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
1.8 mi from route
~5 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 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 26.1 and 231.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
26.1 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
6
96.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Turn right onto US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
146.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
I 35; US 77 / South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Merge onto I 35; US 77 / South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
182.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m 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
231.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.80 one way
$63.61 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $35.52 | $71.05 |
| premium | $4.23 | $38.62 | $77.25 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $43.84 | $87.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.38 | $11.15 |
| Efficient EV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.32 | $9.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.9 | 1 | $32.51 | $14.86 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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
Columbus, TX
Late night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Late night in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
96°F
Troy, TX
116 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
4h 22m 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.
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 152.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a mixed profile, with 42% of the route utilizing highways. Expect to encounter stretches that feel like a typical interstate cruise, particularly the longest uninterrupted segment of 49.2 miles on I-35W. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift, incorporating more local road segments like North Travis Avenue and South Main Street, which will likely slow your pace slightly. The overall feel is one of steady forward momentum, transitioning from open highway to more town-centric driving.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.2 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 26.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 232.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.3 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 146.2 miles (I 35; US 77 / South Jack Kultgen Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
712 ft
203 ft
Total Climb
737 ft
Total Descent
288 ft
Highest Point
712 ft
~215.6 mi in
Elevation Range
509 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 Columbus, TX to Fort Worth, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Schulenburg along the way.
Schulenburg
26.1 mi in
|
~30m
About the Cities
Starting in Columbus, TX
Full guide →Founded 1821
Top landmarks
- • Colorado County Courthouse — historic place in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
- • Old Stafford Opera House — historic place in Columbus, Colorado 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 4h 22m. Total distance: 232.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.2 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.3 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 146.2 miles (I 35; US 77 / South Jack Kultgen Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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