Origin
Denton, TX
Late night in Denton on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denton, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
39 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Denton and Fort Worth, expect a straightforward 39.1-mile journey that typically takes about 43 minutes. This trip sits entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a perfect day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an economical route for commuters or weekend explorers. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you should plan for a more active driving experience. It serves as a practical connection between these two North Texas cities, offering full flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W TEXpress | 16.7 mi | 16m |
| I 35W | 16.6 mi | 17m |
| North South Freeway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| I 35E | 1 mi | 1m |
| Fort Worth Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Elm Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| US 287 Bus | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W TEXpress
— 16.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denton, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on West Hickory Street
379 ft
·
20 sec
·
West Hickory Street
2
Turn right onto South Austin Street
203 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Austin Street
3
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Walnut Street
4
Turn left onto South Elm Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Elm Street
5
Continue on Spur 377
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Fort Worth Drive
6
Turn left onto Spur 377
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Worth Drive
7
Turn right onto North Interstate 35E
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Interstate 35E
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
480 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 35E North
9
Merge onto I 35E; US 77
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35E; US 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35W South: Fort Worth
11
Merge onto I 35W
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W Express
17 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Merge onto I 35W
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North South Freeway
14
Take the exit onto US 287 Bus
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 287 Bus
Exit 49B
Toward US 287 Business: Rosedale Street, Allen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on South Freeway
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
South Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 38.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Austin Street
Turn right onto South Austin Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Walnut Street
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
North Interstate 35E
Turn right onto North Interstate 35E
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
20.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 35W Express / I 35W TEXpress
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W Express / I 35W TEXpress
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
38.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 287 Bus
Take the exit onto US 287 Bus toward US 287 Business: Rosedale Street, Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49B
Toward US 287 Business: Rosedale Street, Allen...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.89 one way
$11.79 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $6.45 | $12.90 |
| premium | $4.54 | $6.96 | $13.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.61 | $17.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.41 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Late night in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
S 15 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 2:58PM CDT until April 14 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 1:54PM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo 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
10 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
44m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of a long-haul interstate grind; this route is defined by its local character. You will navigate via South Austin Street, East Walnut Street, and South Elm Street, which keeps you off the major highways entirely. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for constant maneuvering rather than cruise control. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch to settle into, as the longest segment on South Austin Street is 0 miles, keeping you engaged with frequent turns. Expect a hands-on drive that requires your full attention as you transition between these urban hubs.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on I 35W TEXpress.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W TEXpress and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Austin Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
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 39 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Austin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (North Interstate 35E): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Denton, TX
Full guide →Founded 1866
Denton is a city in Texas. It is a college town which forms the northern tip of what is known as the Golden Triangle, the other two points being Dallas and Fort Worth, approximately equidistant to the southeast and southwest.
Top landmarks
- • Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square — historic place in Denton, Denton County, Texas
- • Pioneer Woman — monument in Denton, Denton County, Texas
Arriving in Fort Worth, TX
Full guide →“Panther city” · Founded 1849
Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.
Top landmarks
- • Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
- • Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
- • St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth — church located in Fort Worth, Texas
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 44m. Total distance: 39 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 miles on I 35W TEXpress. 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 Fort Worth, 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 0.1 miles (South Austin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (North Interstate 35E): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Worth, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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