Traveling from Dallas to Richmond covers 270.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 50 minutes of driving time. Because both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will stay within a consistent landscape for the duration of your trip. This route is perfectly manageable as a single-day journey, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budget approximately $40 for fuel to complete the trek comfortably. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel compared to a standard interstate cruise.
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
135.5 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
213.8 mi
3h 40m
North Grand Parkway West
47.4 mi
52m
Mason Road
2.5 mi
3m
FM 359
2.2 mi
3m
TX 99
0.9 mi
1m
East US Highway 90A
0.7 mi
<1m
Jackson Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 213.8 mi, about 3h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Richmond, 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 left at fork onto I 45
211 mi·3 hr 37 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 71AToward 99 Toll West: Grand ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
10
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
47 mi·52 min·North Grand Parkway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto TX 99
0.9 mi·1 min·TX 99
Toward West Bellfort Street, Mason RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Mason Road
2.5 mi·3 min·Mason Road
13
Continue on FM 359
2.2 mi·3 min·FM 359
14
At end of road, turn right
0.3 mi·55 sec
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto US 90 Alt
0.7 mi·58 sec·East US Highway 90A
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 90 Alt
0.5 mi·46 sec·Jackson Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Arrive at destination
US 90 Alt
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 270.9-mile journey, try to depart early in the day to avoid peak congestion on local streets. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, as the constant maneuvering can be more mentally taxing than cruising on a highway. Keep your navigation apps handy, as the reliance on local roads like McKinney Avenue means you will need to watch for frequent turns. Since you are staying within the Great Plains, fuel availability is generally reliable, but sticking to your $40 budget is easiest if you fill up before leaving the more dense urban areas. Flexibility is your biggest asset here, so don't hesitate to pull over for a break if the local traffic flow becomes tiring.
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 135.5 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.8 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 60 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.5 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 270.9 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 Julius Schepps Freeway for about 213.8 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 0.9 and 269.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
6
4.5 mi into trip|~6m in|I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
215.2 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward 99 Toll West: Grand Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71A
Toward 99 Toll West: Grand Parkway
7
263.9 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|TX 99
Take the exit onto TX 99 toward West Bellfort Street, Mason Road
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 West Bellfort Street, Mason Road
6
269.5 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
At end of road, turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.93 one way
$81.87 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$44.81
$89.61
premium
$4.54
$48.37
$96.73
diesel
$5.61
$59.81
$119.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.3
1
$28.44
$13.00
Efficient EV
67.7
0
$23.70
$10.84
EV Truck/SUV
108.4
1
$37.93
$17.34
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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 20, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Morning
in Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
8:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, TX
Morning
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
8:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°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
2 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
4h 50m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than your typical high-speed highway commute, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will navigate via McKinney Avenue, US 75 North, and the Woodall Rodgers Freeway, keeping your focus on local traffic patterns rather than open lanes. With the longest uninterrupted stretch being zero miles on McKinney Avenue, you will find yourself frequently managing turns and intersections. This is a technical, local-focused drive that requires constant attention to your surroundings. It is a practical path that prioritizes navigation through the local grid over long, monotonous stretches of pavement.
98% 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: 213.8 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and North Grand Parkway West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
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 270.9 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 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 215.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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...
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 270.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 213.8 miles on Julius Schepps 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 Richmond, 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 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 215.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Richmond, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
