Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Dripping Springs, TX to Irving, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 6m
Distance
225.6 mi
363 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 54m
★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dripping Springs, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Irving, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Dripping Springs to Irving is 225.6 miles and takes about 4 hours 6 minutes via Purple Heart Trail and I 35E, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to a more urbanized part of the same region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface street travel as you make your way northeast. Given the relatively short driving time, this trip is easily completed in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.8 miles from Dripping Springs, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 113 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 35E | 47.3 mi | 48m |
| East US Highway 290 | 12.2 mi | 16m |
| Express 1 Toll | 10.2 mi | 10m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Walton Walker Boulevard | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| South Mopac Expressway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 113 mi, about 1h 55m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,369 veh/hr typical · worst 4,061
Quietest
2 AM
~522 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dripping Springs, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on this road
332 ft
·
26 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right
104 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn right onto RM 12
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Ranch Road 12
4
Turn right onto US 290
12 mi
·
16 min
·
East US Highway 290
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on US 290
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
West US Highway 290
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
7
Continue on West US Highway 290
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West US Highway 290
8
Continue on US 290; TX 71
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward Loop 1 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto Loop 1
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
South Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Express 1 Toll
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Merge onto Loop 1
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 45 Toll East
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 35 North, Toll 45 East
15
Merge onto TX 45 Toll
0.6 mi
·
35 sec
·
State Highway 45 North
16
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 35
80 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
47 mi
·
48 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto I 20
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
Use the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto Spur 408
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Patriot Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto Loop 12
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
492 ft
·
12 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
27
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Loop 12
28
Turn left onto TX 356
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
East State Highway 356
Use the left / straight lanes.
29
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Irving Boulevard
30
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Irving Boulevard
31
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Ohio Street
32
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Irving. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete the trip without needing to break it up overnight. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 113-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be more spaced out. The fuel cost estimate of $34 should help you budget accordingly, but it's always wise to have a little extra just in case.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 112.8 miles from Dripping Springs, TX, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.8 miles or 2h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irving, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dripping Springs, 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 Dripping Springs, TX
This is one driving day of about 225.6 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Dripping Springs, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 113 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.8 miles from Dripping Springs, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.5 mi from route
Barton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~11 min detour
First break
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteRipley's Believe It or Not!
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteLouis Tussaud's Palace of Wax
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~12 min detour
First break
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 213.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
36.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward TX 45 Toll East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 45 Toll East
7
158.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
205.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
213.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward Spur 408
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.90 one way
$61.80 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $34.52 | $69.03 |
| premium | $4.23 | $37.53 | $75.05 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $42.60 | $85.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.7 | 0 | $23.69 | $10.83 |
| Efficient EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.74 | $9.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.2 | 1 | $31.58 | $14.44 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Dripping Springs, TX
Evening in Dripping Springs on Monday
Local time
6:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Irving, TX
Evening in Irving on Monday
Local time
6:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
6 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
4h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 124.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 40% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. You'll transition from these longer stretches to more developed areas with frequent exits as you approach your destination. Be prepared for urban merging as you get closer to Irving.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 225.6 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 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 158.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,154 ft
467 ft
Total Climb
689 ft
Total Descent
1,359 ft
Highest Point
1,154 ft
Elevation Range
686 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.
Between Dripping Springs, TX and Irving, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1 North, Toll 45 East and Spur 408.
Loop 1 North
16.6 mi in
|
~22m
Toll 45 East
36.9 mi in
|
~45m
Spur 408
213.4 mi in
|
~3h 50m
About the Cities
Starting in Dripping Springs, TX
Full guide →Dripping Springs is in the Hill Country region of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Dr. Joseph M. and Sarah Pound Farmstead — building in Dripping Springs, Hays County, Texas
Arriving in Irving, TX
Full guide →Founded 1903
Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents. Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
Top landmarks
- • Ruth Paine Home — house in Irving, Texas, United States
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 4h 6m. Total distance: 225.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Irving, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 158.6 miles (I 35E): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Irving, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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