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Trip from Dallas, TX to Medina, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 52m

Distance

314.2 mi

506 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 39m ★
6 AM
5h 53m
8 AM
6h 19m
10 AM
6h 2m
12 PM
5h 59m
3 PM
6h 3m
5 PM
6h 17m
8 PM
5h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Dallas, TX, TX

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Medina, TX, TX

Medina, TX

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

Embarking from Dallas, Texas, your journey to Medina, Texas, covers 314.2 miles and is estimated to take 5 hours and 52 minutes. This drive is well within the scope of a single day, making it an ideal day trip, though you could split it if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The primary roadways you'll navigate include the South R L Thornton Freeway and I-35, contributing to a 68% highway share of the route. With an estimated fuel cost of $47, this trip offers a straightforward and budget-friendly way to travel. You'll remain within the Great Plains region throughout this Texas-bound adventure, experiencing a consistent landscape.

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

157.1 miles from Dallas, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m 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 30.3 mi 37m
West Ranch Road 473 20.7 mi 26m
South US Highway 281 15.3 mi 17m
Express 1 Toll 10.5 mi 11m
Ranch Road 2828 9 mi 9m
Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Medina, 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

30 mi · 36 min · West US Highway 290
Use the left lane.
28

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward US 281: San Antonio
29

Merge onto US 281; US 290

6.9 mi · 7 min · South US Highway 281
30

Continue on US 281

1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street
31

Continue on US 281

8.4 mi · 9 min · South US Highway 281
32

Turn right onto RM 473

21 mi · 26 min · West Ranch Road 473
33

Turn slight right onto RM 473

132 ft · 4 sec · RM 473
34

Turn right onto RM 1376

0.8 mi · 1 min · Sisterdale Road
35

Turn left onto RM 473

7.3 mi · 9 min · Ranch Road 473
36

Continue on RM 473

5.2 mi · 7 min · RM 473
37

Turn right onto TX 27

6.4 mi · 7 min · State Highway 27
38

Turn left onto FM 1350

1.5 mi · 2 min · Farm to Market Road 1350
39

Continue on FM 1350

0.5 mi · 1 min · China Street
40

At end of road, turn left onto RM 480

0.5 mi · 55 sec · San Antonio Street
41

Continue on RM 480

5.4 mi · 6 min · Ranch Road 480
42

At end of road, turn left onto TX 173

1.8 mi · 1 min · Bandera Highway
43

Continue on TX 173

0.9 mi · 57 sec · State Highway 173 North
44

Turn right onto RM 2828

9.0 mi · 9 min · Ranch Road 2828
45

Turn right onto TX 16

2.2 mi · 2 min · State Highway 16 North
46

Turn right onto Newcomer Lane

65 ft · 2 sec · Newcomer Lane
47

Arrive at destination

Newcomer Lane

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour and 52-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Dallas to maximize daylight and potentially avoid some traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 89.9-mile stretch, as services can be spaced out. The $47 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a buffer. A practical tip for this route is to ensure your navigation is set up before you leave Dallas, as mobile service can be spotty on certain stretches of I-35.

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 157.1 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 2h 43m 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 69 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 157.1 miles or 2h 43m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medina, 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 314.2 miles and 5h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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.

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Austin, TX

157 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.

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Medina, TX

130.5 mi · 2h 31m

Pacing Suggestions

West, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jarrell, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 157.1 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 27

5 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

$47.48 one way

$94.95 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 110 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $51.97 $103.93
premium $4.54 $56.10 $112.20
diesel $5.61 $69.37 $138.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 109.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 94.3 1 $32.99 $15.08
Efficient EV 78.6 0 $27.49 $12.57
EV Truck/SUV 125.7 1 $43.99 $20.11

Gas CO2

110 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (66% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Dallas, TX

Morning in Dallas on Sunday

Local time

8:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

83°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

S 15 mph 20% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 6:13PM CDT until April 14 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 6:11PM CDT until April 14 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Destination

Medina, TX

Morning in Medina on Sunday

Local time

8:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°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

24 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

5h 52m 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.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 86.7
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

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...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour Free near mile 238.4
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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 68% of it utilizing major interstates. You'll experience extended stretches of consistent speed, including one segment of 89.9 miles on the South R L Thornton Freeway. While the majority involves efficient highway travel, be prepared for potential traffic as you depart Dallas. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, offering a predictable and direct path to your destination. Expect a smooth, albeit sometimes monotonous, experience behind the wheel.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
47 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 27 significant decision points across 314.2 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.

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 Medina, 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...

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 5h 52m. Total distance: 314.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

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.

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 Medina, 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 0.6 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 and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Medina, TX before the return drive.

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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