Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Morning in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Highlands, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 5m
Distance
280.2 mi
451 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 52m
★
6 AM
5h 5m
8 AM
5h 32m
10 AM
5h 15m
12 PM
5h 12m
3 PM
5h 16m
5 PM
5h 31m
8 PM
4h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Highlands, TX
Matthew Chirinos
Trip Overview
Fort Worth to Highlands is 280.2 miles and takes about 5h 5m via I 45 and US 287, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in a similar landscape. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a single day of driving, as the duration is manageable.
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
140.1 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 174.8 mi | 2h 59m |
| US 287 | 50.7 mi | 56m |
| HTR | 21.9 mi | 25m |
| East Freeway | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| North Loop East | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| South Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 174.8 mi, about 2h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Highlands, TX.
1
Start on South Freeway
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Freeway
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 35W South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Merge onto I 35W
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
51 mi
·
56 min
·
US 287
Exit 444
Toward US 287 South: Little Road, Waxahachie
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 45 South: Corsicana
9
Merge onto I 45; US 287
175 mi
·
2 hr 59 min
·
I 45; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto HTR
22 mi
·
25 min
·
HTR
Exit 72B
Toward Hardy Toll Road South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 610 East
12
Merge onto I 610
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
North Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 26A
Toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 10
12 mi
·
14 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 787
Toward Crosby-Lynchburg Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Crosby Lynchburg Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Crosby Lynchburg Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on South Main Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
19
Turn right onto East Wallisville Road
411 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Wallisville Road
20
Arrive at destination
East Wallisville Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Fort Worth in the morning to avoid heavier traffic. With a single day recommended, you can afford to be flexible with your timing. The longest stretch without exits is over 170 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel before departing or at your last major refueling point. A single stop should be sufficient for this distance. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Highlands, as services can become more spread out.
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 140.1 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.8 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 62 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.1 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highlands, 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 280.2 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 I 45 for about 174.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
140 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.1 miles from Fort Worth, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 174.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 264.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
7
3.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
9
10.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 toward US 287 South: Little Road, Waxahachie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 444
Toward US 287 South: Little Road, Waxahachie
7
236.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m in
|
HTR
Take the exit onto HTR toward Hardy Toll Road South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward Hardy Toll Road South
8
264.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown
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 26A
Toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.34 one way
$84.68 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $46.34 | $92.69 |
| premium | $4.54 | $50.03 | $100.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.86 | $123.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.1 | 1 | $29.42 | $13.45 |
| Efficient EV | 70.1 | 0 | $24.52 | $11.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.1 | 1 | $39.23 | $17.93 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
Highlands, TX
Morning in Highlands on Tuesday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°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
20 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
5h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 86% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 174.8 miles on I 45 without needing to exit. Expect a steady pace with frequent exits along the highway sections. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive as you approach your destination.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 174.8 mi on I 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and US 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 280.2 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 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Fort Worth, TX and Highlands, TX, road signs point toward Hardy Toll Road South and Downtown.
Hardy Toll Road South
236.2 mi in
|
~4h 9m
|
via HTR
Downtown
264.8 mi in
|
~4h 44m
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Highlands, TX
Full guide →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 5h 5m. Total distance: 280.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 174.8 miles on I 45. 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 Highlands, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Highlands, TX before the return drive.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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