If you are planning a quick getaway from Dallas to West, TX, expect a straightforward journey spanning 76.9 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will navigate through the heart of the Great Plains, keeping your transit costs low with an estimated fuel budget of $11. Because the entire route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you can easily complete the trip without any formal stops. It is a manageable distance that allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule, whether you are heading out for a morning visit or a relaxed afternoon trip.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway
73.6 mi
1h 16m
South Stemmons Freeway
0.8 mi
1m
North Interstate 35
0.6 mi
1m
West Oak Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Elm Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Lamar Street
0.2 mi
<1m
T M West Parkway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 73.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and West, 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
73 mi·1 hr 15 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426Toward Dallas ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 353Toward FM 2114: TM West ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.6 mi·1 min·North Interstate 35
12
Turn left onto FM 2114
309 ft·8 sec·T M West Parkway
13
Continue on FM 2114
0.5 mi·55 sec·West Oak Street
14
Turn right
29 ft·2 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 38.5 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 75.3 — 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.
7
75.3 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward FM 2114: TM West Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 353
Toward FM 2114: TM West Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.62 one way
$23.24 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$12.72
$25.44
premium
$4.54
$13.73
$27.46
diesel
$5.61
$16.98
$33.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.07
$3.69
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.73
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.77
$4.92
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Late night
in Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 20 at 5:57PM CDT until April 20 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 5:25PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
West, TX
Late night
in West on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SSE 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued April 20 at 5:57PM CDT until April 20 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 5:25PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
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
4 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
1h 22m 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 highly technical driving experience as this route relies entirely on local roads like Ross Avenue, North Houston Street, and Elm Street. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for constant maneuvering rather than long, uninterrupted stretches behind the wheel. The longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Ross Avenue, highlighting the turn-heavy nature of this path. Navigating these city-focused roads requires your full attention, as the character of the drive is defined by frequent intersections and surface-level travel. This is not a cruise-control interstate haul, but rather a focused drive that demands active engagement from start to finish.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.6 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and South Stemmons Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.9 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 1h 22m. Total distance: 76.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.6 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 West, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 West, TX before heading back.
