Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Dallas, TX to Selma, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 30m
Distance
255.5 mi
411 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 17m
★
6 AM
4h 31m
8 AM
4h 57m
10 AM
4h 40m
12 PM
4h 37m
3 PM
4h 41m
5 PM
4h 56m
8 PM
4h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Selma, TX
Heber Vazquez
Trip Overview
Dallas to Selma is 255.5 miles and takes about 4h 30m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region. With over half the route on highways, it's a fairly straightforward trip, best suited for a single day of travel. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.7 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 98.7 mi | 1h 45m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Interstate 35 North | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 98.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,090 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~671 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Selma, 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
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
14
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 174A
Toward FM 1518: Selma
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Interstate 35 North
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 35 North
18
Turn left onto North Evans Road
29 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Evans Road
19
Arrive at destination
North Evans Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 30-minute drive time, leaving Dallas in the morning allows you to reach Selma with plenty of daylight remaining. The fuel cost is estimated at $38, so ensure your tank is full before departing. While there's only one recommended stop, you can be flexible with your timing since this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially when leaving the Dallas metropolitan area, as congestion can add unexpected delays to your 255.5-mile journey.
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 127.7 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.7 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 56 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.7 miles or 2h 13m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Selma, 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 255.5 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 98.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127.7 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
City Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteVillage of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteTube Chute
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
+18302214000
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~11 min detour
Final third
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteBarton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~12 min detour
Final third
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteThe Sophienburg Museum & Archives
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+18306291572
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 254.5 — 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
6
136.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
191.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
254.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward FM 1518: Selma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 174A
Toward FM 1518: Selma
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.00 one way
$69.99 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $39.09 | $78.18 |
| premium | $4.23 | $42.50 | $85.00 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $48.24 | $96.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.7 | 0 | $26.83 | $12.26 |
| Efficient EV | 63.9 | 0 | $22.36 | $10.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.2 | 1 | $35.77 | $16.35 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Dallas, TX
Night in Dallas on Monday
Local time
9:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
101°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 1:00PM CDT until July 21 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 12:46PM CDT until July 21 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Selma, TX
Night in Selma on Monday
Local time
9:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
S 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 1:00PM CDT until July 21 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 12:46PM CDT until July 21 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
96°F
Troy, TX
128 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
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
4h 30m 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
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 88.1
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 255.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 61% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 98.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail before transitioning to other routes. Expect to see a high number of exits and merges as you navigate the urban areas around Dallas and continue south. The highway portion offers consistent cruising, while the remaining miles will likely involve more local roads and traffic.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and South R L Thornton Freeway. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 255.5 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 136.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
819 ft
428 ft
Total Climb
948 ft
Total Descent
621 ft
Highest Point
819 ft
~54.7 mi in
Elevation Range
390 ft
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...
Arriving in Selma, TX
Full guide →Founded 1964
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 4h 30m. Total distance: 255.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Selma, 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. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 136.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Selma, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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