Origin
Dallas, TX
Late night in Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Hillsboro, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
62.1 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Hillsboro, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel the 62.1 miles from Dallas to Hillsboro, expect a straightforward journey taking approximately 1 hour and 8 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a estimated fuel cost of just $9, it is an affordable excursion that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate through local roads like Ross Avenue, North Houston Street, and Elm Street rather than relying on high-speed interstates. Because this drive is short and manageable, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your own needs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 56.7 mi | 59m |
| Old Highway 77 North | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Waco Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 56.7 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Hillsboro, 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
56 mi
·
58 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 370A
Toward US 77 North, Spur 579: Hillsboro
11
Keep slight left at fork
276 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 77 North
12
Turn right onto Spur 579
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Old Highway 77 North
13
Arrive at destination
TX 81
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Dallas, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 58.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 30, I 35E
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30, I 35E
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
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Merge onto I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
58.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 77 North, Spur 579: Hillsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 370A
Toward US 77 North, Spur 579: Hillsboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.38 one way
$18.77 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $10.27 | $20.54 |
| premium | $4.54 | $11.09 | $22.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.71 | $27.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Hillsboro, TX
Late night in Hillsboro on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 8m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this 0% highway route keeps you engaged with frequent navigation and local traffic patterns. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment spans 0 miles on Ross Avenue. The character of the road is defined by its constant transitions through urban and local connectors. Expect a driving experience that feels more like a deliberate trek through the heart of the region rather than a high-speed transit.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.7 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and Old Highway 77 North. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
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 Dallas, TX to Hillsboro, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 579: Hillsboro along the way.
Spur 579: Hillsboro
58.4 mi in
|
~1h 2m
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 Hillsboro, TX
Full guide →The Blackland Prairie is part of Texas' Prairies and Lakes region.
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 1h 8m. Total distance: 62.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.7 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Hillsboro, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hillsboro, TX before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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