Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Farmers Branch, TX to Montopolis, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
210 mi
338 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 32m
★
6 AM
3h 44m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 8m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Farmers Branch, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Montopolis, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Embark on a 214.2-mile journey from Farmers Branch, TX, to Montopolis, TX, a drive that will take approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes. This trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, making it perfect for a quick getaway. You'll primarily navigate via Valley View Lane, North Stemmons Freeway, and I 35E South, with no significant highway stretches. Budget around $33 for fuel for this excursion. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, offering a direct and unhurried path through the Great Plains region of Texas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
105 miles from Farmers Branch, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| I 35 | 52.6 mi | 54m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| North Stemmons Freeway | 13.2 mi | 16m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Bergstrom Expressway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| US 183 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Ed Bluestein Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,150 veh/hr typical · worst 4,876
Quietest
2 AM
~684 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Farmers Branch, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on Bee Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Bee Street
2
Turn right onto Valley View Lane
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Valley View Lane
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 635 West
5
Merge onto I 35E
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
10 mi
·
12 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
8
Continue on I 35E
89 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
53 mi
·
54 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 240B
Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto US 183
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on 183 Toll
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto US 183
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
18
Take the ramp
486 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
19
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 21-minute duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aiming to leave in the morning will allow you to complete the 214.2 miles with ample daylight. With only one suggested stop and a modest fuel cost of $33, you can easily manage your time and budget. Pay close attention to the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route; having your GPS or navigation system ready will be crucial to smoothly transition through the numerous turns and local roads connecting Farmers Branch to Montopolis.
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 105 miles from Farmers Branch, TX, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 46 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105 miles or 1h 52m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Farmers Branch, 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 Farmers Branch, TX
This is one driving day of about 210 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Farmers Branch, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105 miles from Farmers Branch, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 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.
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
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
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.8 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteHistoric Downtown Carrollton
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Carrollton, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+19728809855
Visit websiteAustin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Final third
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteJim Hogg Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Georgetown, Texas
+15129305253
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 209.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Valley View Lane
Turn right onto Valley View Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Stemmons Freeway
Turn left onto North Stemmons Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
201.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240B
Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
7
201.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
7
209.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward Montopolis Drive, Patton 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.
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.76 one way
$57.53 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $32.13 | $64.26 |
| premium | $4.23 | $34.93 | $69.86 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $39.65 | $79.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63 | 0 | $22.05 | $10.08 |
| Efficient EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.38 | $8.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84 | 1 | $29.40 | $13.44 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Farmers Branch, TX
Late night in Farmers Branch on Sunday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:09PM CDT until July 18 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:07PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Late night in Montopolis on Sunday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:09PM CDT until July 18 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:07PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
100°F
Italy, TX
105 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
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
3h 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.
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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 101.4
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 is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter frequent turns and intersections rather than long, uninterrupted highway segments. With a 0% highway share, expect a more engaged driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation. While there's no specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the profile suggests a consistent pattern of local road navigation. The journey doesn't feature a significant transition between different road types; instead, it maintains its local road feel throughout the 214.2 miles.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Valley View Lane.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 210 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 0.2 miles (Valley View Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North Stemmons Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 201.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
870 ft
409 ft
Total Climb
797 ft
Total Descent
798 ft
Highest Point
870 ft
~165 mi in
Elevation Range
461 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.
On the drive from Farmers Branch, TX to Montopolis, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas Zoo along the way.
Dallas Zoo
14.6 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 35E
About the Cities
Starting in Farmers Branch, TX
Full guide →Founded 1850
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 3h 44m. Total distance: 210 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Montopolis, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Valley View Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North Stemmons Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 201.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Montopolis, 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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