Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Dallas, TX to Dripping Springs, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 54m
Distance
217.1 mi
349 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 42m
★
6 AM
3h 55m
8 AM
4h 20m
10 AM
4h 4m
12 PM
4h 1m
3 PM
4h 5m
5 PM
4h 19m
8 PM
3h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Dripping Springs, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Dallas, TX to Dripping Springs, TX is 217.1 miles and takes about 3h 54m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, primarily in Texas. Expect a straightforward trip with the majority of your travel on major highways. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a good option if you want to reach your destination without an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
108.5 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| I 35 | 42.1 mi | 43m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| West US Highway 290 | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| Express 1 Toll | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| North Mopac Expressway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| US 290 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,041 veh/hr typical · worst 4,779
Quietest
2 AM
~585 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 Dripping Springs, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Lamar Street
2
Turn right onto Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Elm Street
3
Continue on Elm Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Elm Street
4
Take the ramp
327 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 30, I 35E
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 30 West, I 35E South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
330 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 35E South
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 35E
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
9
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.
10
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
42 mi
·
43 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 250
Toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round Rock, Austin
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto TX 45 Toll
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Highway 45 North
16
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward Loop 1 Toll South
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on Loop 1 Toll
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Express 1 Toll
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto Loop 1
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
319 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
22
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
447 ft
·
6 sec
·
West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
24
Continue on West US 290 Frontage Rd
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West US 290 Frontage Rd
25
Turn straight onto West US 290 Bypass Lanes
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
West US 290 Bypass Lanes
26
Continue on US 290
378 ft
·
4 sec
·
West US Highway 290
27
Continue on US 290
12 mi
·
15 min
·
West US Highway 290
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto RM 12
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Ranch Road 12
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left
104 ft
·
13 sec
30
Turn left
332 ft
·
24 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3h 54m drive, consider leaving Dallas in the morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is around $32, and plan your refueling accordingly. The longest uninterrupted stretch is nearly 90 miles, so ensure you're comfortable before starting that segment.
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 108.5 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 48 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.5 miles or 1h 53m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dripping Springs, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dallas, TX
This is one driving day of about 217.1 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Dallas, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.5 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 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.
Hill County Northbound 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
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 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
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
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteBarton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
First break
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteToybrary Austin
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+15124343927
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 199.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
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
8
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
8
178.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll
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 250
Toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll
8
178.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round Rock, Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round...
7
199.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
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.
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, L...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.74 one way
$59.47 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $33.21 | $66.43 |
| premium | $4.23 | $36.11 | $72.22 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $40.99 | $81.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.1 | 0 | $22.80 | $10.42 |
| Efficient EV | 54.3 | 0 | $19.00 | $8.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.8 | 1 | $30.39 | $13.89 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Dallas, TX
Late night in Dallas on Monday
Local time
12:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:12PM CDT until July 18 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:09PM CDT until July 18 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Dripping Springs, TX
Late night in Dripping Springs on Monday
Local time
12:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:12PM CDT until July 18 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:09PM CDT until July 18 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
96°F
Troy, TX
109 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
6 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
3h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 76% of the driving on major roads like the South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. You'll experience a significant stretch of continuous highway cruising for 89.9 miles on the South R L Thornton Freeway. After the highway portion, expect more surface streets as you approach your destination.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 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 I 35. 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 19 significant decision points across 217.1 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 178.3 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
1,154 ft
406 ft
Total Climb
1,281 ft
Total Descent
556 ft
Highest Point
1,154 ft
~217.1 mi in
Elevation Range
747 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.
Between Dallas, TX and Dripping Springs, TX, road signs point toward Austin, Loop 1 Toll South and Llano.
Austin
178.7 mi in
|
~3h 6m
Loop 1 Toll South
179.9 mi in
|
~3h 8m
Llano
199.8 mi in
|
~3h 30m
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 Dripping Springs, TX
Full guide →Dripping Springs is in the Hill Country region of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Dr. Joseph M. and Sarah Pound Farmstead — building in Dripping Springs, Hays County, 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 3h 54m. Total distance: 217.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 — we found about 27 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 Dripping Springs, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 178.3 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Dripping Springs, 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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