If you are looking to head northeast from Dallas toward Pittsburg, you are in for a manageable trek of 128.5 miles. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 18 minutes behind the wheel, making this a straightforward candidate for a one-day trip. You will navigate via Commerce Street, I-45 South, and I-30 to reach your destination within the Great Plains region. Budget roughly $19 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, giving you plenty of flexibility to explore Pittsburg at your own pace once you arrive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64.3 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway
113.1 mi
1h 57m
Bill Ratliff Freeway
5.5 mi
6m
South US Highway 271
4.2 mi
4m
US 271
2.6 mi
2m
Commerce Street
0.9 mi
1m
West Ferguson Road
0.4 mi
<1m
North Lamar Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Daingerfield Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 113.1 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Pittsburg, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
0.3 mi·53 sec·North Lamar Street
2
Turn left onto Commerce Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Commerce Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 45 SouthUse the straight / left lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 30Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 30 East
6
Merge onto I 30; US 67
5.9 mi·7 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
107 mi·1 hr 50 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 271 to US 67, SH 49, FM 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg
9
Turn right onto US 271
0.4 mi·47 sec·West Ferguson Road
10
Turn straight onto US 271
5.5 mi·6 min·Bill Ratliff Freeway
11
Continue on South US Highway 271
4.2 mi·4 min·South US Highway 271
12
Continue on US 271
2.6 mi·2 min·US 271
13
Turn right onto TX 11
0.3 mi·29 sec·Daingerfield Street
14
Continue on TX 11
0.1 mi·15 sec·Jefferson Street
15
Turn right onto North Avenue
170 ft·12 sec·North Avenue
16
Turn left onto Church Street
74 ft·3 sec·Church Street
17
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Trip Plan
Because this 2-hour and 18-minute route is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best to depart during daylight hours to ensure you have clear visibility for navigation. You can easily complete the trip in a single day, so there is no pressure to force rest stops unless you simply want to stretch your legs. Keep your fuel budget of $19 in mind when filling up before you leave Dallas, as local roads may offer fewer convenient service stations than a major interstate. Given the lack of a highway-heavy stretch, use your GPS consistently to track your turns through the various segments of the trip. The biggest advantage here is the flexibility of the route, allowing you to tailor your departure time to fit your own personal schedule.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 64.3 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.1 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.3 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburg, 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 128.5 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East R L Thornton Freeway for about 113.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 7.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 45 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 45 South
8
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 30
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 30 East
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Merge onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.8 mi into trip|~11m in|I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.42 one way
$38.83 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$21.25
$42.51
premium
$4.54
$22.94
$45.89
diesel
$5.61
$28.37
$56.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.6
0
$13.49
$6.17
Efficient EV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
EV Truck/SUV
51.4
0
$17.99
$8.22
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Night
in Dallas on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 10:11PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 8:59PM CDT until April 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Pittsburg, TX
Night
in Pittsburg on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Greenville, TX
64 mi in
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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 18m 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?
Prepare for a drive that favors local roads over high-speed highway cruising, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will begin by navigating Commerce Street, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey before transitioning onto I-45 South and I-30. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should stay alert rather than settling into a monotonous interstate rhythm. The character of the road shifts as you exit the urban sprawl of Dallas, requiring you to stay focused on the various turns that define the path to Pittsburg. It is an engaging, hands-on driving experience that demands your attention from start to finish.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.1 mi on East R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and Bill Ratliff Freeway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
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 128.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Pittsburg, TX, road signs point toward Sh 49, Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant and Paris.
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 2h 18m. Total distance: 128.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.1 miles on East 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 Pittsburg, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pittsburg, TX before heading back.
