Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Dallas, TX to Valley Mills, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
99.7 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Valley Mills, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from Dallas to Valley Mills, you can expect a manageable 99.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Your travel budget remains light, with estimated fuel costs hovering around $15. You will remain within the Great Plains region throughout the entire drive, keeping the landscape consistent as you head south. Navigating this path involves transitioning from the South R L Thornton Freeway to FM 56 and West Elm Street. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that provides a simple connection between these two Texas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.8 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 56.7 mi | 59m |
| FM 56 | 17.7 mi | 31m |
| West Elm Street | 11 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 22 | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| Old Highway 77 North | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| North Bosque Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Avenue | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 56.7 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Valley Mills, 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
56 mi
·
58 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 370A
Toward US 77 North, Spur 579: Hillsboro
11
Keep slight left at fork
276 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 77 North
12
Turn right onto Spur 579
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Old Highway 77 North
13
Turn right onto TX 22; TX 171
11 mi
·
12 min
·
West Elm Street
14
Continue on TX 22
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Jefferson Avenue
15
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 22
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bosque Street
16
Continue on TX 22
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 22
17
Turn left onto FM 56
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 56
18
At end of road, turn right onto FM 56
16 mi
·
27 min
·
FM 56
19
Arrive at destination
FM 56
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on the South R L Thornton Freeway is always a smart move. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 99.7-mile stretch, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing a formal break. Keep your fuel gauge in mind before leaving the Dallas area to ensure you stay within your $15 estimate for the trip. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert as you transition off the freeway onto FM 56, as the road conditions may change once you move away from the primary highway system.
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 49.8 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.7 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 22 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.8 miles or 53m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valley Mills, 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 99.7 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South R L Thornton Freeway for about 56.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.8 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
2.1 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 websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 28.5
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 58.4 — 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
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Merge onto I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
58.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 77 North, Spur 579: Hillsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 370A
Toward US 77 North, Spur 579: Hillsboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.06 one way
$30.13 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $16.49 | $32.98 |
| premium | $4.54 | $17.80 | $35.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.01 | $44.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.47 | $4.79 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Dallas, TX
Late night in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
2:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 15 mph
42% chance
Live forecast
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 12 at 9:20PM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 12 at 9:11PM CDT until April 12 at 10:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Valley Mills, TX
Late night in Valley Mills on Sunday
Local time
2:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 mph
66% chance
Live forecast
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 12 at 9:20PM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 12 at 9:11PM CDT until April 12 at 10:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
59°F
Italy, TX
50 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 4m 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.
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 99.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip that is primarily defined by its highway-focused nature, with 86% of the journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a long, uninterrupted rhythm early on, covering 56.7 miles along the South R L Thornton Freeway. As you progress, the character of the drive shifts from major thoroughfares to the more localized feel of FM 56 and West Elm Street. This transition provides a steady pace that keeps the commute feeling efficient rather than tedious. Because the route is dominated by highway stretches, you can maintain a consistent speed for the vast majority of your time behind the wheel.
86% 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: 56.7 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and FM 56. 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 12 significant decision points across 99.7 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
710 ft
428 ft
Total Climb
342 ft
Total Descent
175 ft
Highest Point
710 ft
~92.6 mi in
Elevation Range
282 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dallas, TX to Valley Mills, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 579: Hillsboro along the way.
Spur 579: Hillsboro
58.4 mi in
|
~1h 2m
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 2h 4m. Total distance: 99.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.7 miles on South 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 Valley Mills, 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 — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Valley Mills, TX before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Valley Mills, TX
More trips to Valley Mills, TX
Explore more options from Dallas, TX or browse trips ending in Valley Mills, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.