Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
30.1 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Waxahachie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to head south from Dallas to Waxahachie, you are in for a quick 30.1-mile journey that typically takes about 35 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will find a consistent landscape throughout the entire trip. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you do not need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an incredibly cost-effective excursion for a morning or afternoon escape. Because this route involves zero highway driving, it serves as a straightforward local transit rather than a long-haul haul. It is an ideal choice if you prefer a short, manageable trip over a high-speed interstate commute.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 26.3 mi | 28m |
| West Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Brookside Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West US 287 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Interstate 35E | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Waxahachie, TX.
Start on North Lamar Street
Turn right onto Elm Street
Continue on Elm Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 35E
Continue on I 35E
Continue on I 35E
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35E
Turn left onto Brookside Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 287 Bus
Continue on US 287 Bus
Turn left onto US 77
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 28 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 30, I 35E
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Brookside Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.55 one way
$9.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.98 | $9.96 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.37 | $10.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.65 | $13.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Waxahachie on Sunday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed cruise, as this route relies entirely on city streets like Ross Avenue, North Houston Street, and Elm Street. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a slower pace that requires your full attention at intersections and turns. Because the roads are local, there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch to settle into, making the drive feel active and engaging. The character of the road remains consistent from start to finish, keeping you within the urban and suburban grid of the Great Plains. You will navigate city infrastructure for the duration of the 35-minute trip, so keep your hands on the wheel and be ready for frequent navigating.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and West Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 30.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dallas, TX to Waxahachie, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas Zoo along the way.
Dallas Zoo
“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
Founded 1850
Waxahachie is a city in Blackland Prairie region of Texas.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 30.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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