Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Eagle Lake, TX to Fort Worth, 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 41m
Distance
251.8 mi
405 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 28m
★
6 AM
4h 41m
8 AM
5h 8m
10 AM
4h 51m
12 PM
4h 48m
3 PM
4h 52m
5 PM
5h 7m
8 PM
4h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagle Lake, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Eagle Lake, TX to Fort Worth, TX is 251.8 miles and takes about 4h 41m via I 35W, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, making it a straightforward trip across Texas. With a recommended one-day travel time, you'll find it's a manageable journey. The route is largely a highway drive, but includes some time on local roads as you approach your destination. Consider this a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
125.9 miles from Eagle Lake, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 49.2 mi | 51m |
| North Travis Avenue | 48.6 mi | 55m |
| South Main Street | 48 mi | 57m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 33 mi | 33m |
| TX 71 | 25.9 mi | 26m |
| North US Highway 77 | 17.3 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 71 | 9.8 mi | 10m |
| US Highway 90A | 7.4 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 49.2 mi, about 51m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,798 veh/hr typical · worst 3,547
Quietest
2 AM
~420 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Eagle Lake, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on North McCarty Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North McCarty Avenue
2
Continue on US 90 Alt
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
US Highway 90A
3
Turn right onto TX 71
9.8 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 71
4
Turn left onto TX 71
446 ft
·
8 sec
·
I-10 Service Road
5
Take the ramp onto TX 71
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
TX 71
6
Merge onto I 10; TX 71
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10; TX 71
7
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
8
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
25 mi
·
25 min
·
TX 71
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
10
Turn straight onto East State Highway 71 Bypass
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
East State Highway 71 Bypass
11
Turn right onto US 77
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
12
Continue on US 77
17 mi
·
19 min
·
North US Highway 77
13
Continue on US 77
48 mi
·
57 min
·
South Main Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 77; US 190; TX 36
15
Turn right onto US 77
49 mi
·
55 min
·
North Travis Avenue
Use the right lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto Circle Road
215 ft
·
11 sec
·
Circle Road
17
Continue on Circle Road
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Circle Road
18
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
19
Take the ramp
444 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
20
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 77
21
Merge onto I 35; US 77
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi
·
51 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Freeway
26
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
27
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Freeway
28
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 41m drive time, leaving in the morning from Eagle Lake will easily get you to Fort Worth before evening. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 49.2-mile stretch on I 35W, as services might be less frequent. The transition from highway to city driving as you enter Fort Worth means paying attention to local traffic patterns and road signs on North Travis Avenue and South Main Street.
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 125.9 miles from Eagle Lake, TX, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 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 55 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.9 miles or 2h 24m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eagle Lake, 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 Eagle Lake, TX
This is one driving day of about 251.8 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Eagle Lake, 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 I 35W for about 49.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.9 miles from Eagle Lake, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
1 mi from route
290 Travel Plaza
1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.1 mi from route
Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Colorado County Westbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Forest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteFort Worth Herd
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 251.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
TX 71
Take the exit onto TX 71 toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
5
45.6 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
6
115.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Turn right onto US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
202.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 48m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
251.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.49 one way
$68.98 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $38.52 | $77.05 |
| premium | $4.23 | $41.88 | $83.77 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $47.54 | $95.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.5 | 0 | $26.44 | $12.09 |
| Efficient EV | 63 | 0 | $22.03 | $10.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.7 | 1 | $35.25 | $16.12 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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
Eagle Lake, TX
Late night in Eagle Lake on Monday
Local time
2:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:39AM CDT until July 19 at 6:12AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:38AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Late night in Fort Worth on Monday
Local time
2:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 10 mph
4% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:39AM CDT until July 19 at 6:12AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:38AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
96°F
Troy, TX
126 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
21 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 41m 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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 173.6
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 offers a mixed drive, with 47% of it on highways. Expect to spend a good portion of your time on I 35W, where you'll encounter the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving at 49.2 miles. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift from more open highway to navigating local streets like North Travis Avenue and South Main Street as you enter the Fort Worth area. It's not an entirely monotonous highway experience, but it's also not a winding country road adventure.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.2 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 20 miles in near TX 71.
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 17 significant decision points across 251.8 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 20 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.8 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
822 ft
175 ft
Total Climb
680 ft
Total Descent
202 ft
Highest Point
822 ft
~233.8 mi in
Elevation Range
647 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 Eagle Lake, TX and Fort Worth, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Schulenburg.
Austin
20 mi in
|
~22m
|
via TX 71
Schulenburg
45.6 mi in
|
~49m
About the Cities
Starting in Eagle Lake, TX
Full guide →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 4h 41m. Total distance: 251.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.2 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Fort Worth, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 20 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.8 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): 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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Worth, 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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