Trip from Dallas, TX to Cienegas Terrace, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 27, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 57m

Distance

429.1 mi

691 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$67

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

7h 49m ★

6 AM

7h 58m

8 AM

8h 15m

10 AM

8h 4m

12 PM

8h 2m

3 PM

8h 5m

5 PM

8h 14m

8 PM

7h 53m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Cienegas Terrace, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Dallas, TX to Cienegas Terrace, TX is 429.1 miles and takes about 7h 57m via Purple Heart Trail and West US Highway 90, with a fuel budget near $67 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and concluding in the same area. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points without extensive planning.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

214.5 miles from Dallas, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 45m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	99.6 mi	1h 46m
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
West US Highway 90	62.8 mi	1h 11m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
US Highway 90 West	37.7 mi	43m
East Military Highway	24.6 mi	28m
Connally Loop	19.3 mi	22m
North Pan Am Expressway	6.9 mi	7m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~4,090 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~671 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.1×

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 Cienegas Terrace, 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

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290

50 mi · 54 min · Purple Heart Trail

Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street Use the slight left lane.

Continue on I 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.9 mi · 7 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Exit 166 Toward I 410 West, Loop 368 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 410 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 410

19 mi · 22 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 2 min

Exit 6A Toward US 90 West: Del Rio Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 90

3.2 mi · 3 min · Cleto Rodriguez Freeway

Continue on US 90

25 mi · 28 min · West US Highway 90

Continue on US 90

2.1 mi · 3 min · 19th Street

Continue on US 90

38 mi · 43 min · US Highway 90 West

Continue on US 90

4.9 mi · 5 min · East Main Street

Continue on US 90

37 mi · 42 min · West US Highway 90

Continue on US 90

25 mi · 28 min · East Military Highway

Continue on US 90

5.3 mi · 6 min · US Highway 90 East

Continue on US 90

1.7 mi · 2 min · East Gibbs Street

Turn left onto Avenue T

409 ft · 18 sec · Avenue T

Continue on Lionel Martinez Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · Lionel Martinez Boulevard

Continue on Cienegas Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · Cienegas Road

At end of road, turn right onto Park Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Park Drive

Turn right onto Mesa Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Mesa Drive

Arrive at destination

Mesa Drive

Trip Plan

Given the 7-hour drive time, an early morning departure from Dallas is recommended to maximize daylight. With two planned stops, you'll have opportunities to stretch and refuel. The longest continuous stretch is nearly 100 miles on Purple Heart Trail, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration of driving before starting it. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of the longer highway segments, as services might be spaced out. This is a manageable one-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your stop timing.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 214.5 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 3h 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 94 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 214.5 miles or 3h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cienegas Terrace, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Dallas, TX

This is one driving day of about 429.1 miles and 7h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Dallas, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 99.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Caldwell, Bastrop, and Travis Counties, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mustang Ridge, TX

215 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

Troy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mustang Ridge, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 214.5 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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

Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+18304024603

Visit website

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 262.7 — 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

191.9 mi into trip | ~3h 20m in | I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street

262.3 mi into trip | ~4h 38m in

Take the exit toward I 410 West, Loop 368 South

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 166 Toward I 410 West, Loop 368 South

262.7 mi into trip | ~4h 39m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 410 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 410 West

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$67.44 one way

$134.88 round trip

$3.99/gal 25.4 MPG avg 150 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.39	$74.11	$148.23
premium	$4.72	$79.72	$159.44
diesel	$5.60	$94.54	$189.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$67

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$92–$117

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 150.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-18.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	128.7	1	$45.06	$20.60
Efficient EV	107.3	1	$37.55	$17.16
EV Truck/SUV	171.6	2	$60.07	$27.46

Gas CO2

150 kg

EV CO2

50 kg (67% 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 May 27, 2026

Origin

Dallas, TX

Afternoon in Dallas on Wednesday

Local time

3:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 5 mph 85% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 4:35AM CDT until May 27 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 4:25AM CDT until May 27 at 5:30AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

Cienegas Terrace, TX

Afternoon in Cienegas Terrace on Wednesday

Local time

3:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Mostly Cloudy

ESE 5 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 4:35AM CDT until May 27 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 4:25AM CDT until May 27 at 5:30AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

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

7h 57m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 88.8

View on nps.gov

Amistad National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

An oasis in the desert, Amistad National Recreation Area consists of the US portion of the International Amistad Reservoir. Amistad, a Spanish word meaning "friendship," is known for excellent water-b...

14 mi from route ~35 min detour Free near mile 429.1

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...

14 mi from route ~35 min detour Free near mile 266.3

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 is largely highway, with 63% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a long stretch of 99.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail before transitioning to other roads. Expect a significant portion of your time to be spent on high-speed cruising, interspersed with periods on surface roads. The prevalence of highway travel suggests a generally consistent pace, though you'll notice the change in environment when you exit the main freeways.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and South R L Thornton Freeway. 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 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 429.1 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 191.9 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,130 ft 421 ft

Total Climb

1,171 ft

Total Descent

639 ft

Highest Point

1,130 ft

~398.4 mi in

Elevation Range

709 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 Cienegas Terrace, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 368 South along the way.

Loop 368 South

262.3 mi in | ~4h 38m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Corner Bakery

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Waco, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Flightpath Coffee House

Cafe

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Waco, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Epoch Coffee

Cafe

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: 24/7

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Dallas, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Burger King

Fast_food

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.2 mi from route

Sabinal, TX

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00

Visit website

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Frank H. Caven Memorial Garden

Attraction

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Museum of Illusions

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Dallas, TX

Hours: Su-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-21:00

Visit website

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Dallas, TX

Hours: We-Su 10:00-17:00

Visit website

Waples-Platter Buildings

Yes

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Sabinal Methodist Church

Memorial

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.1 mi from route

West End Historic District

District

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

First Baptist Church, Sabinal

Memorial

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Days Inn

Hotel

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Waco, TX

Visit website

WoodSpring Suites

Hotel

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Econo Lodge

Motel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Hotel San Jorge

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Hotel White River

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Hotel del Prado

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

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 Cienegas Terrace, TX

Full guide →

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 7h 57m. Total distance: 429.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 32 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 Cienegas Terrace, 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 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument, Amistad National Recreation Area 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 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cienegas Terrace, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Dallas, TX

Iraan, TX 411.2 mi · 7h 18m Somerset, TX 292.7 mi · 5h 15m Harper, TX 283.7 mi · 5h 23m Weimar, TX 240.5 mi · 4h 30m Springtown, TX 132.9 mi · 2h 45m

More trips to Cienegas Terrace, TX

El Paso, TX 428 mi

Escape planner: Dallas, TX Scenic drives in TX

Explore more options from Dallas, TX or browse trips ending in Cienegas Terrace, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.