If you are planning a trip from Fort Worth to Hearne, you can expect a manageable 145.5-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 33 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a straightforward trek that works perfectly as a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to cover the distance. Because the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations, giving you plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It is a practical, direct route that connects two distinct Texas locales without requiring a multi-day commitment.
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
72.8 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Freeway
82.3 mi
1h 25m
East State Highway 6
46.6 mi
46m
North State Highway 6
6.2 mi
6m
Marlin Highway
2.7 mi
3m
North Main Street
2.2 mi
3m
North Memorial Street
2.1 mi
2m
North Market Street
1.4 mi
1m
North Loop Drive
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
South Freeway
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Hearne, TX.
1
Start on South Freeway
174 ft·3 sec·South Freeway
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35W SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Merge onto I 35W
82 mi·1 hr 25 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 35; US 77
0.1 mi·8 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 337Toward US 77 Business: Elm AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
7
Turn left onto US 77 Bus
1.0 mi·1 min·North Loop Drive
8
Continue on Loop 484
2.7 mi·3 min·Marlin Highway
9
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi·9 min·East State Highway 6
10
Continue on TX 6
2.1 mi·2 min·North Memorial Street
11
Continue on TX 6
37 mi·37 min·East State Highway 6
12
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi·3 min·North Main Street
13
Continue on TX 6
6.2 mi·6 min·North State Highway 6
14
Continue on US 79; TX 6
1.4 mi·1 min·North Market Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 79; TX 6
Trip Plan
Since this 145.5-mile drive is easily completed in one sitting, aim to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the main thoroughfares. You only need to plan for one major stop to refuel or stretch your legs, making the logistics of your trip quite simple. Given the $22 fuel estimate, keep an eye on your gauge as you exit the busier sections of the route to ensure you reach Hearne without stress. Because the route is turn-heavy, prioritize using a reliable navigation system to stay on track during the more technical local segments. This flexibility allows you to focus on the road ahead rather than complex travel logistics.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.8 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 32 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.8 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hearne, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX
This is one driving day of about 145.5 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Fort Worth, 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 Freeway for about 82.3 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
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 82.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35W South
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|I 35W / South Freeway
Merge onto I 35W / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 337
Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.99 one way
$43.97 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$24.06
$48.13
premium
$4.54
$25.98
$51.96
diesel
$5.61
$32.12
$64.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.7
0
$15.28
$6.98
Efficient EV
36.4
0
$12.73
$5.82
EV Truck/SUV
58.2
0
$20.37
$9.31
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Late night
in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
S 15 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hearne, TX
Late night
in Hearne on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
18 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
2h 33m 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 80.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will transition through various road types, utilizing I-35W South, the South Freeway, and the North Jack Kultgen Expressway to navigate toward your destination. While the trip covers significant ground, it lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, requiring your full attention as you navigate local transitions. The road's personality is defined by its constant shifts rather than high-speed highway segments. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged from the moment you leave Fort Worth until you arrive in Hearne.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.3 mi on South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Freeway and East State Highway 6. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Worth, TX to Hearne, TX is easy. At 2h 33m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (I 35W / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 82.3 miles on South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (I 35W / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hearne, TX before heading back.
