Embarking on the 397.3-mile journey from Dallas to Kermit is a straightforward trek across the Texas Great Plains that typically takes about 7 hours and 6 minutes. Because the route is highly efficient, you can easily complete it in a single day, though you should budget approximately $61 for fuel to cover the distance. You will primarily navigate via the Tom Landry Freeway and I-20 before transitioning onto State Highway 302 for the final leg. While this is a long haul, the drive is manageable if you prepare for a full day on the road. It is a practical route focused on highway speed rather than sightseeing, making it ideal for those who prioritize reaching their destination efficiently.
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
198.7 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
299.7 mi
5h 4m
State Highway 302
40.4 mi
51m
Tom Landry Freeway
29.9 mi
35m
West Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
East 42nd Street
5.6 mi
6m
Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
2m
South Poplar Street
0.8 mi
1m
Southeast Loop 338
0.7 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 299.7 mi, about 5h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Kermit, 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 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 30 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 30
30 mi·35 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 30; US 377
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 20
300 mi·5 hr 4 min·I 20
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward Loop 338: Odessa
11
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
235 ft·4 sec·East Interstate 20
12
Turn right onto Loop 338
0.7 mi·53 sec·Southeast Loop 338
13
Continue on Loop 338
1.6 mi·2 min·Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto State Highway 191 East
0.5 mi·43 sec·State Highway 191 East
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on TX 191
5.6 mi·6 min·East 42nd Street
Use the straight lane.
16
At end of road, turn right onto Spur 450
0.4 mi·34 sec·Kermit Highway
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on TX 302
40 mi·51 min·State Highway 302
18
Continue on TX 302
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Jim Sharp Boulevard
19
Turn right onto TX 18
0.8 mi·1 min·South Poplar Street
20
Turn right onto TX 115
167 ft·5 sec·East Austin Street
21
Turn right
111 ft·8 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 7-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic when exiting the Dallas area. Plan for at least two strategic stops to stretch your legs and refuel, as this helps break up the monotony of the long interstate segments. Since the vast majority of your time is spent on I-20, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 299.7-mile stretch to ensure you don't run low in more remote areas. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this one-day route; if you find yourself fatigued, don't hesitate to utilize those planned stops to reset. Being proactive about your pacing will turn this long transit into a much smoother and more comfortable experience.
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 198.7 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 299.7 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 87 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.7 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kermit, 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 397.3 miles and 7h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 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 I 20 for about 299.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 355.2 — 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
7
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 30 West
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge onto I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
355.2 mi into trip|~6h 11m in|Spur 450 / Kermit Highway
At end of road, turn right onto Spur 450 / Kermit Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.03 one way
$120.07 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$65.71
$131.42
premium
$4.54
$70.94
$141.87
diesel
$5.61
$87.72
$175.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 139 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.2
1
$41.72
$19.07
Efficient EV
99.3
1
$34.76
$15.89
EV Truck/SUV
158.9
1
$55.62
$25.43
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Late night
in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kermit, TX
Late night
in Kermit on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
5 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 6m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 97% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. The journey is dominated by a long, uninterrupted 299.7-mile stretch along I-20, which sets the pace for the majority of your time behind the wheel. As you transition from the urban sprawl of Dallas onto the open expanse of the Great Plains, the environment becomes increasingly sparse and consistent. You will find that the rhythm of the drive remains steady and predictable, requiring sustained attention on the interstate before you eventually merge onto State Highway 302. It is a straightforward experience that rewards drivers who appreciate a consistent, high-speed pace.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 299.7 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and State Highway 302. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 397.3 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: 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.
On the drive from Dallas, TX to Kermit, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 338: Odessa along the way.
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...
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 6m. Total distance: 397.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 299.7 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Kermit, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kermit, TX before the return drive.
