Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
22.7 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ennis, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Walnut Springs, TX
Ylanite Koppens
Ennis, TX to Walnut Springs, TX is 22.7 miles and takes about 35 minutes via I 45 and FM 780, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, highway-focused trip stays within Texas and the Great Plains region. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a long commitment. Given its brevity, it's an easy same-day journey, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll spend most of your time on main roads, making it a predictable and uncomplicated option.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 12.8 mi | 12m |
| FM 780 | 5 mi | 12m |
| East 8th Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Interstate 45 | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Ennis Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| James Road | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| North Interstate 45 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hall Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ennis, TX and Walnut Springs, TX.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto US 287 Bus
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 45
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Interstate 45
Turn right onto FM 660
Turn slight left onto FM 780
Turn right onto James Road
Turn left onto Hall Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto US 287 Bus / East Ennis Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 45 North
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward FM 660: 5th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.41 one way
$6.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $3.77 | $7.54 |
| premium | $4.57 | $4.08 | $8.16 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $5.61 | $11.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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 Ennis on Sunday
Local time
3:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 9:58PM MDT until October 25 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Destination
Late night in Walnut Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Clear
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 9:58PM MDT until October 25 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
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.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 84% of your journey on main roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 12.8 miles on I 45, offering a consistent pace. The drive transitions from I 45 onto FM 780, and finally East 8th Street as you approach your destination. Expect a smooth and primarily high-speed experience for the majority of the 35-minute trip. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing forward momentum with minimal variation.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and FM 780. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 287 Bus / East Ennis Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 35m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 287 Bus / East Ennis Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (North Interstate 45): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
161 ft
Total Descent
309 ft
Highest Point
538 ft
Elevation Range
148 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 22.7 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 (84%). Straightforward navigation.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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