Trip from Dallas, TX to Fredericksburg, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 11, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 55m

Distance

260.6 mi

419 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 42m ★

6 AM

4h 56m

8 AM

5h 23m

10 AM

5h 5m

12 PM

5h 3m

3 PM

5h 7m

5 PM

5h 21m

8 PM

4h 48m

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

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

Fredericksburg, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Dallas to Fredericksburg is 260.6 miles and takes about 4h 55m via South R L Thornton Freeway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region in Dallas to the Great Plains region as you approach Fredericksburg. With 82% of this trip on highways, expect a fairly straightforward path for most of the way. This is a manageable one-day trip, perfect if you want to get on the road and arrive with plenty of afternoon to spare.

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

130.3 miles from Dallas, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
South US Highway 281	33.5 mi	40m
West US Highway 290	27.2 mi	30m
FM 2843	14.6 mi	18m
East RM 243	12.1 mi	15m
West State Highway 29	9 mi	10m
I 35	8.9 mi	8m

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

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,452 veh/hr typical · worst 5,379

Quietest

2 AM

~630 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 79 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 Fredericksburg, 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

8.9 mi · 8 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 283 Toward FM 2268, FM 2843: Holland, Florence Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto South Robertson Road

0.1 mi · 11 sec · South Robertson Road

Continue on South I-35 Frontage Road

0.6 mi · 53 sec · South I-35 Frontage Road

Turn slight right onto FM 2843

15 mi · 18 min · FM 2843

At end of road, turn right onto FM 487

2.4 mi · 3 min · FM 487

Continue on FM 487

0.1 mi · 14 sec · East Main Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward TX 195 North

Merge onto TX 195

0.3 mi · 17 sec · TX 195

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward TX 138: Lampasas Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto TX 138

6.9 mi · 8 min · State Highway 138

At end of road, turn right onto US 183

0.2 mi · 17 sec · North US Highway 183

Turn left onto RM 243

0.6 mi · 41 sec · East Ranch Road 243

Continue on RM 243

1.0 mi · 1 min · East RM 243

Keep slight left at fork onto RM 243

11 mi · 14 min · East RM 243

Turn right onto TX 29; RM 243

9.0 mi · 10 min · West State Highway 29

Continue on TX 29

1.6 mi · 2 min · East Polk Street

Turn left onto US 281

2.0 mi · 3 min · South Water Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 281

34 mi · 40 min · South US Highway 281

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Toward Fredericksburg

Merge onto US 290

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Toward Fredericksburg

Continue on US 290

27 mi · 30 min · West US Highway 290

Continue on US 290

2.4 mi · 4 min · East Main Street

Turn right onto North Adams Street

94 ft · 2 sec · North Adams Street

Arrive at destination

North Adams Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 4-hour, 55-minute drive, consider leaving Dallas in the morning to avoid peak traffic. Since it's a single-day trip with a fuel cost estimated at $39, you can be flexible with your timing. There's one recommended stop, so plan for a break around the halfway point or when you feel ready. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway driving to more local roads as you near Fredericksburg. This route is straightforward enough that you won't need extensive planning for navigation, allowing you to focus on enjoying the drive.

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 130.3 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 2h 16m 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 57 miles or 1h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 130.3 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 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fredericksburg, 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 260.6 miles and 4h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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.

city in Williamson County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jarrell, TX

130 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

Italy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 130.3 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Fredericksburg, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18309908441

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.3 mi from route ~8 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 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 163.7 — 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

136.1 mi into trip | ~2h 22m in | I 35

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

145 mi into trip | ~2h 31m in

Take the exit toward FM 2268, FM 2843: Holland, Florence

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 283 Toward FM 2268, FM 2843: Holland, Florence

163.7 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in

Take the exit toward TX 138: Lampasas

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward TX 138: Lampasas

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.86 one way

$81.73 round trip

$3.98/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.38	$44.95	$89.90
premium	$4.72	$48.46	$96.91
diesel	$6.20	$63.60	$127.20

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: 91.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-05.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	78.2	0	$27.36	$12.51
Efficient EV	65.2	0	$22.80	$10.42
EV Truck/SUV	104.2	1	$36.48	$16.68

Gas CO2

91 kg

EV CO2

30 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.

Forecast as of Oct 11, 2026

Origin

Dallas, TX

Morning in Dallas on Sunday

Local time

6:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fredericksburg, TX

Morning in Fredericksburg on Sunday

Local time

6:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Mostly Clear

S 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

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

16 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 55m 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.

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 242.6

Park Closure: Texas White House Complex Closure

View on nps.gov

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?

You'll spend a significant portion of your time on highways, with 82% of the 260.6 miles on these faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 89.9 miles along South R L Thornton Freeway. Expect to transition from highway speeds to surface roads as you get closer to Fredericksburg. The initial part of the drive will feel very much like cruising on a major freeway with frequent exits.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

36 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?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. 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 9/10

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 21 significant decision points across 260.6 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 136.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,695 ft 406 ft

Total Climb

2,085 ft

Total Descent

817 ft

Highest Point

1,695 ft

~260.6 mi in

Elevation Range

1,290 ft

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 Fredericksburg, TX, road signs point toward Fm 2268, Fm 2843: Holland and Florence.

Fm 2268

145 mi in | ~2h 31m

Fm 2843: Holland

145 mi in | ~2h 31m

Florence

145 mi in | ~2h 31m

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 Fredericksburg, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1846

Fredericksburg is a city of 10,500 people (2010) in Texas, west of Austin and north of San Antonio.

Top landmarks

• Fort Martin Scott — historic fort in Texas, USA
• St. Mary's Catholic Church — historic place in Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas
• National Museum of the Pacific War — maritime museum in 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 55m. Total distance: 260.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). 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 25 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 Fredericksburg, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Fredericksburg, 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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Trip from Dallas, TX to Fredericksburg, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Gillespie County US 290 Rest Area

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Pilot Travel Center

Gillespie County Ranch Road 1 Rest Area

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Picnic Area

TA

Picnic Area

Love's Travel Stop

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

TXB Market

Pioneer Museum

Doris D Miller Park

City Park

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site

Garrison Brothers Distillery

Marble Falls Walkway of Lights

Cultural Activities Center

Village of Salado Visitors Center

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Dallas, TX

Fredericksburg, TX

Same local time

16 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 55m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Dallas, TX

Arriving in Fredericksburg, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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