Trip from Dallas, TX to Alton, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 4m

Distance

520.7 mi

838 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$71

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

8h 56m ★

6 AM

9h 4m

8 AM

9h 21m

10 AM

9h 10m

12 PM

9h 8m

3 PM

9h 11m

5 PM

9h 20m

8 PM

8h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Alton, TX

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

Dallas to Alton is 520.7 miles and takes about 9h 4m via South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll, with a fuel budget near $77 and likely requiring an overnight stop. This long-haul drive stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and continuing through similar terrain. With 2 recommended days for the trip, you'll have a chance to break up the nearly 10 hours of driving. Plan for a significant portion of your travel to be on toll roads, so be sure to check your payment methods.

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

260.4 miles from Dallas, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 21m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
TX 130 Toll	86.1 mi	1h 19m
South Nueces Street	66.2 mi	1h 10m
I 37	60.5 mi	1h 1m
Falfurrias Expressway	55.8 mi	58m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
I 10	32.5 mi	33m
I 35	26.5 mi	26m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,007 veh/hr typical · worst 4,783

Quietest

2 AM

~579 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.9×

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 Dallas, TX and Alton, TX.

Start on North Lamar Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · North Lamar Street

Turn right onto Elm Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Elm Street

Continue on Elm Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Elm Street

Take the ramp

327 ft · 7 sec

Toward I 30, I 35E

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward I 30 West, I 35E South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

330 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 35E South Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

86 mi · 1 hr 19 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; TX 130

11 mi · 11 min · I 10; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130

9.4 mi · 9 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

12 mi · 12 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 410

1.4 mi · 1 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 410; TX 130

6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 37

60 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South

Toward US 281 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

56 mi · 58 min · Falfurrias Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

7.2 mi · 7 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 23 sec

Exit 10 Toward US 281 Business South: Edinburg Use the slight right lane.

Continue on North Expressway 281

0.4 mi · 38 sec · North Expressway 281

Continue on US 281 Business

3.0 mi · 4 min · US 281 Business

Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107

377 ft · 13 sec · West McIntyre Street

Turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107

360 ft · 10 sec · North 10th Avenue

Use the left / right lanes.

Turn right onto TX 107

9.1 mi · 13 min · West University Drive

Turn left onto TX 107

2.0 mi · 3 min · Conway Street

Turn left onto FM 676

102 ft · 2 sec · Main Avenue

Arrive at destination

FM 676

Trip Plan

Given the 9-hour duration, it's best to split this drive into two days to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early on your first day, perhaps around 8 AM, to maximize daylight and cover a good portion of the route. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point, or slightly after, to get a solid rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when on the TX 130 Toll, as services can be spaced further apart. Having a toll transponder or checking cash payment options in advance is recommended for this route.

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 260.4 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 4h 21m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 115 miles or 2h in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 260.4 miles or 4h 21m 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 260.4 miles or 4h 21m

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 7h 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Dallas, 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 Dallas, TX

Aim for roughly 260 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Alton, TX

Aim for roughly 260 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 miles from Dallas, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Ellis County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Waxahachie, TX

172 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.

city in and county seat of Live Oak County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

George West, TX

344 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 George West, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

260 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 260 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 115 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 260.4 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.

Overnight split

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19724823055

Visit website

Zinnia Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

McAllen, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+19566811000

Visit website

Lions Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour

Mission, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19565808650

Visit website

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 290.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 West, I 35E South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 30 West, I 35E South

0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E South

162.6 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

249.4 mi into trip | ~4h 9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

290.6 mi into trip | ~4h 52m in

Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

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 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$71.32 one way

$142.64 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 182 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$79.66	$159.33
premium	$4.23	$86.61	$173.23
diesel	$4.80	$98.32	$196.64

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: 182.2 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	156.2	1	$54.67	$24.99
Efficient EV	130.2	1	$45.56	$20.83
EV Truck/SUV	208.3	2	$72.90	$33.32

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.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Dallas, TX

Morning in Dallas on Sunday

Local time

9:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 46% 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

Alton, TX

Morning in Alton on Sunday

Local time

9:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

98°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 17 mph 1% 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

8 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

9h 4m 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 ~11 min detour Free near mile 89.8

View on nps.gov

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 287.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend about 76% of your 520.7 miles on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. Expect to encounter dense exits and urban merging as you begin and navigate through the Dallas area. The route transitions to toll roads like TX 130 Toll before eventually moving onto surface streets like South Nueces Street as you approach your destination.

76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 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 26 significant decision points across 520.7 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 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

765 ft 84 ft

Total Climb

504 ft

Total Descent

768 ft

Highest Point

765 ft

~148.8 mi in

Elevation Range

680 ft

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 Dallas, TX to Alton, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.

Corpus Christi

290.6 mi in | ~4h 52m

About the Cities

Starting in Dallas, TX

Full guide →

“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

• Dallas Museum of Art — art museum in Dallas, Texas
• Texas School Book Depository — building in Dallas, Texas, United States
• George W. Bush Presidential Center — Presidential library and museum for U.S. President George W. Bush, located in Da...

Arriving in Alton, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1978

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton 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 51 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 Alton, 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 51 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alton, 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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