Traveling from Dallas to Lufkin covers approximately 169.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 17 minutes of drive time. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget around $25 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Great Plains locations. Your route begins by navigating local thoroughfares like McKinney Avenue, Woodall Rodgers Freeway, and US 75 North before heading toward your destination. It is a straightforward transit that works well for those looking to reach East Texas efficiently.
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
84.9 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
C F Hawn Freeway
68.7 mi
1h 14m
US Highway 175 East
20.8 mi
22m
US Highway 69 South
20.8 mi
23m
Rusk Street
15.1 mi
19m
US Highway 175
13.3 mi
14m
US Highway 69 North
9.5 mi
10m
North Dickinson Drive
3.4 mi
3m
North Jackson Street
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
C F Hawn Freeway
— 68.7 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Lufkin, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
433 ft·14 sec·North Lamar Street
2
Turn right onto McKinney Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·McKinney Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 75 North
4
Merge onto Spur 366
0.4 mi·37 sec·Woodall Rodgers Freeway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 45 South: HoustonUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi·3 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·C F Hawn Freeway
Toward US 175 South: KaufmanUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 175 Bus
151 ft·9 sec·US Highway 175 West
9
Turn left onto US 175 Bus; TX 31 Bus
2.5 mi·4 min·West Corsicana Street
10
Continue on US 175 Bus
21 mi·22 min·US Highway 175 East
11
Continue on US 175
2.0 mi·3 min·West Pine Street
12
Continue on US 175
13 mi·14 min·US Highway 175
13
Continue on US 175
0.6 mi·58 sec·Frankston Highway
14
Continue on US 175
0.2 mi·21 sec·Alexander Boulevard
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 69
3.3 mi·4 min·North Jackson Street
16
Continue on US 69
9.5 mi·10 min·US Highway 69 North
17
Continue on US 69
3.4 mi·3 min·North Dickinson Drive
18
Continue on US 69
9.3 mi·10 min·US Highway 69 South
19
Continue on US 69
1.5 mi·1 min·North Marcus Street
20
Continue on US 69
11 mi·13 min·US Highway 69 South
21
Continue on US 69
15 mi·19 min·Rusk Street
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
23
Continue on Loop 287 Frontage Road
0.5 mi·49 sec·Loop 287 Frontage Road
24
Continue on Loop 287
0.1 mi·17 sec·Loop 287 Frontage Road
25
Turn right onto US 69 Bus
1.6 mi·2 min·Kurth Drive
26
Turn slight right
240 ft·8 sec
27
Turn straight onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
28
Turn left onto Abney Avenue
474 ft·13 sec·Abney Avenue
29
Turn right onto Loop 266
0.6 mi·1 min·North First Street
30
Arrive at destination
Loop 266
Trip Plan
Since the drive is just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid the heaviest local traffic in Dallas. You only need to plan for one stop along the way to stretch your legs or grab a quick snack, keeping the trip pace manageable. Keep an eye on your navigation closely, as the lack of highway miles means you will be making several turns to stay on track. Because your fuel budget is estimated at $25, consider filling up before you leave the city to avoid needing to hunt for stations in more rural areas. Staying alert for local traffic patterns will make your transition out of the metro area much smoother.
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 84.9 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.7 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 37 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.9 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lufkin, 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 169.8 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 C F Hawn Freeway for about 68.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 112.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|McKinney Avenue
Turn right onto McKinney Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 45 South: Houston
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
4.5 mi into trip|~6m in|US 175 / C F Hawn Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175 / C F Hawn Freeway toward US 175 South: Kaufman
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 175 South: Kaufman
5
112.5 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 69 / North Jackson Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 69 / North Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.66 one way
$51.31 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$28.08
$56.17
premium
$4.54
$30.32
$60.63
diesel
$5.61
$37.49
$74.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.9
0
$17.83
$8.15
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.86
$6.79
EV Truck/SUV
67.9
0
$23.77
$10.87
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Late night
in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lufkin, TX
Late night
in Lufkin on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
31 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 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be spending your time cruising on long, uninterrupted stretches of pavement. In fact, the longest stretch you will experience on McKinney Avenue is 0 miles, meaning you will be navigating frequent turns and transitions throughout the duration of the trip. The road personality is defined by local navigation rather than monotonous highway miles. Expect a more hands-on experience behind the wheel as you maneuver through these local road segments.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.7 mi on C F Hawn Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on C F Hawn Freeway and US Highway 175 East. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near McKinney Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 169.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (McKinney Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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...
Lufkin is a city in Angelina County, in the Piney Woods region of north-east Texas. It has its origins in railroad lines, as it became a stop along the Houston, East and West Texas Railway in 1882 and a depot where cotton could be stored. Not long after, commerce gave way to the timber industry with several sawmills and the Angelina County Lumber Company operating, which in turn saw the addition of foundries and paper mills.
Even though much of this industry has subsided, Lufkin still holds on with chicken plants, retirement homes, churches, etc, plus a handful of tourist attractions.
One distinction about the area is that it witnessed the demise of the Space Ship Columbia during reentry in 2003, which can be appreciated at the Naranjo Museum.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 17m. Total distance: 169.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.7 miles on C F Hawn Freeway. 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 Lufkin, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (McKinney Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Lufkin, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
