If you are planning a trip from Dallas to Stephenville, expect a straightforward journey covering approximately 105.9 miles. This drive typically takes about 2 hours and 2 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion rather than an overnight stay. You will traverse the Great Plains throughout the entire trip, keeping the landscape consistent as you move across Texas. Budgeting around $16 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trek. Since this route involves no mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to power through or take your time depending on your schedule. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that connects these two Texas locations without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North J Elmer Weaver Freeway
61.7 mi
1h 10m
Southwest Big Bend Trail
28.8 mi
32m
Marvin D Love Freeway
5.3 mi
5m
South R L Thornton Freeway
4.3 mi
4m
East S G Alexander Freeway
2.1 mi
2m
South Stemmons Freeway
0.8 mi
1m
West S G Alexander Freeway
0.6 mi
<1m
Glen Rose Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North J Elmer Weaver Freeway
— 61.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Stephenville, 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 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
330 ft·8 sec
Toward I 35E SouthUse 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
3.7 mi·4 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426Toward Dallas ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 423Toward US 67 South: Cleburne, Kiest Boulevard
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 67
5.3 mi·5 min·Marvin D Love Freeway
Toward US 67 South: CleburneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 67
2.1 mi·2 min·East S G Alexander Freeway
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on US 67
0.6 mi·36 sec·West S G Alexander Freeway
14
Continue on US 67
62 mi·1 hr 10 min·North J Elmer Weaver Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 67
29 mi·32 min·Southwest Big Bend Trail
16
Continue on US 67
0.4 mi·31 sec·Glen Rose Road
17
Turn left onto US 67; US 377
0.2 mi·19 sec·East South Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto TX 108
0.4 mi·41 sec·South Graham Avenue
19
Continue on TX 108
0.3 mi·35 sec·South Graham Street
20
Arrive at destination
TX 108
Trip Plan
Because this is a 2-hour and 2-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns in Dallas. Since there are no designated long stretches, you can easily pull over whenever you need a break without worrying about missing a highway exit. Keep a close eye on your navigation when moving through the city center, as the reliance on local streets like Elm Street requires frequent turns. Budgeting your $16 in fuel before you leave will save you from having to hunt for stations in unfamiliar areas. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to account for extra time if you are departing during peak local commute hours, as the reliance on city roads can make the duration fluctuate more than it would on an open highway.
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 53 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.7 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53 miles or 1h 1m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stephenville, 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 105.9 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North J Elmer Weaver Freeway for about 61.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 6.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 30, I 35E
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30, I 35E
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
6 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward US 67 South: Cleburne, Kiest Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 423
Toward US 67 South: Cleburne, Kiest Boulevard
7
6.1 mi into trip|~8m in|US 67 / Marvin D Love Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 67 / Marvin D Love Freeway toward US 67 South: Cleburne
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 67 South: Cleburne
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.00 one way
$32.00 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$17.52
$35.03
premium
$4.54
$18.91
$37.82
diesel
$5.61
$23.38
$46.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.8
0
$11.12
$5.08
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.27
$4.24
EV Truck/SUV
42.4
0
$14.83
$6.78
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Night
in Dallas on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 10 to 15 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 12:44AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Stephenville, TX
Night
in Stephenville on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
15 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 2m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route relies on city streets like Ross Avenue, North Houston Street, and Elm Street. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention on local navigation. Because the path is entirely local, there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches to zone out on. The character of this drive is defined by its urban and local road transitions, which demand a more active steering effort than a standard freeway commute. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns remain consistent with the local nature of the route from start to finish.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.7 mi on North J Elmer Weaver Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North J Elmer Weaver Freeway and Southwest Big Bend Trail. 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 Effort7/10
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 105.9 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
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...
Stephenville is a city in the Cross Timbers region of Texas. Acclaimed "Cowboy Capital of the World" (okay, maybe there's more than one), it's the home to Tarleton State University, part of the Texas A&M system, and even has an equine therapy program.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 105.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.7 miles on North J Elmer Weaver 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 Stephenville, 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Stephenville, TX before heading back.
