Fort Davis to Montopolis is 432.1 miles and takes about 7h 31m via TX 17 and US Highway 290, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward, highway-focused journey across Texas. It's a solid option if you're looking for a single-day trip with minimal fuss. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for covering distance efficiently. Consider this route when you need to get from point A to point B without many detours or complicated navigation.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
216 miles from Fort Davis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TX 17
305.6 mi
4h 59m
East US Highway 290
58.1 mi
1h 8m
US Highway 290
39 mi
42m
US 290
11.3 mi
12m
South US Highway 281
5.4 mi
6m
West Main Street
4.6 mi
9m
West US Highway 290
2.3 mi
2m
State Street
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
TX 17
— 305.6 mi, about 4h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Davis, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on TX 17; TX 118
1.3 mi·1 min·State Street
2
Turn right onto TX 17
31 mi·37 min·TX 17
3
At end of road, turn right onto TX 17
7.4 mi·11 min·TX 17
4
Take the ramp onto TX 17
267 mi·4 hr 10 min·TX 17
Toward I 10 East: Fort Stockton
5
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 477Toward US 290 East: Fredericksburg
6
Continue on US 290
39 mi·42 min·US Highway 290
7
Continue on US 290; US 87
3.5 mi·7 min·West Main Street
8
Continue on US 290
27 mi·30 min·East US Highway 290
9
Continue on US 290
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
10
Take the exit onto US 290
0.1 mi·18 sec·US 290
11
Merge onto US 281; US 290
5.4 mi·6 min·South US Highway 281
12
Turn slight left onto US 290
31 mi·37 min·East US Highway 290
Toward US 290: AustinUse the left lane.
13
Continue on US 290
0.3 mi·18 sec·West US Highway 290
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
15
Continue on West US Highway 290
2.0 mi·2 min·West US Highway 290
16
Continue on US 290; TX 71
11 mi·12 min·US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·53 sec
Toward US 183 NorthUse the right lane.
18
Merge onto US 183
0.9 mi·59 sec·US 183
19
Continue on 183 Toll
0.7 mi·40 sec·Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport BoulevardUse the right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto Loop 111
0.2 mi·33 sec·Airport Boulevard
22
Continue on Loop 111
0.5 mi·42 sec·Airport Boulevard
23
Continue on US 183
0.1 mi·8 sec·Ed Bluestein Boulevard
24
Take the ramp
486 ft·11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
25
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour drive time, starting early from Fort Davis is recommended to maximize daylight and ensure a comfortable arrival in Montopolis. With only 2 recommended stops and a highway-focused profile, you can afford to be flexible with your pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 305.6 miles on TX 17, as services might be spaced out. The $65 fuel budget is a good estimate, but always have a little extra buffer. This is a route where you can cover a lot of ground in one day, so plan your stops strategically for breaks and fuel.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 216 miles from Fort Davis, TX, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 305.6 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 95 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 216 miles or 3h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 18m
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 Fort Davis, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Davis, TX
This is one driving day of about 432.1 miles and 7h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Fort Davis, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on TX 17 for about 305.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 32.2 and 430.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
32.2 mi into trip|~39m in|TX 17
At end of road, turn right onto TX 17
Navigation decision point
5
306.9 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 290 East: Fredericksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 477
Toward US 290 East: Fredericksburg
4
384.3 mi into trip|~6h 33m in|US 290 / East US Highway 290
Turn slight left onto US 290 / East US Highway 290 toward US 290: Austin
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 290: Austin
6
428.8 mi into trip|~7h 26m in
Take the exit toward US 183 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 183 North
7
430.6 mi into trip|~7h 29m in
Take the exit toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, Airport Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Loop 111: Cesar Chavez Street, 5th Stree...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.29 one way
$130.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg151 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$71.47
$142.93
premium
$4.54
$77.15
$154.30
diesel
$5.61
$95.40
$190.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 151.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
129.6
1
$45.37
$20.74
Efficient EV
108
1
$37.81
$17.28
EV Truck/SUV
172.8
2
$60.49
$27.65
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Davis, TX
Night
in Fort Davis on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Night
in Montopolis on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
7h 31m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 372.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 98% of the route utilizing major roads like TX 17 and US Highway 290. The journey includes a significant uninterrupted stretch of 305.6 miles on TX 17, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This road character means you'll likely experience relatively fast and smooth travel for the majority of the trip. While the profile suggests a highway focus, keep in mind that transitioning between roads might involve some local road sections, though they are minimal on this particular route.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 305.6 mi on TX 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 17 and East US Highway 290. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 32.2 miles in near TX 17.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 432.1 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.2 miles (TX 17): Navigation decision point; at 306.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 384.3 miles (US 290 / East US Highway 290): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 31m. Total distance: 432.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 305.6 miles on TX 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.2 miles (TX 17): Navigation decision point; at 306.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 384.3 miles (US 290 / East US Highway 290): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Montopolis, TX before the return drive.
