Driving from Fort Worth to Hughes Springs covers 173.3 miles, making for a manageable 3-hour and 16-minute journey. This route is perfectly suited for a single day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the East R L Thornton Freeway, the Tom Landry Freeway, and State Highway 49. Budgeting approximately $26 for fuel should cover the trip comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, the transition between them feels consistent as you move across the state's landscape.
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
86.7 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway
114.7 mi
1h 59m
Tom Landry Freeway
30 mi
35m
State Highway 49
16.1 mi
18m
West William Marvin Watson Boulevard
6.2 mi
9m
West Ferguson Road
3.6 mi
6m
South Freeway
1.1 mi
1m
US 287 Bus
0.2 mi
<1m
Epps Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 114.7 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Hughes Springs, TX.
1
Start on South Freeway
54 ft·2 sec·South Freeway
2
Turn right onto Elmwood Avenue
475 ft·23 sec·Elmwood Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto Epps Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Epps Street
4
Continue on East Maddox Avenue
412 ft·20 sec·East Maddox Avenue
5
At end of road, turn right onto South Freeway
321 ft·13 sec·South Freeway
6
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft·13 sec·East Allen Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn left onto South Freeway
0.5 mi·56 sec·South Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the ramp onto US 287 Bus
0.2 mi·29 sec·US 287 Bus
Toward I 35W North
9
Merge onto I 35W; US 287 Bus
0.4 mi·28 sec·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 51CToward I 30 East: DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 30
30 mi·35 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
107 mi·1 hr 50 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 271 to US 67, SH 49, FM 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg
15
Turn right onto US 271
0.4 mi·50 sec·West Ferguson Road
16
Continue on TX 49
3.2 mi·5 min·West Ferguson Road
17
Continue on TX 49
16 mi·18 min·State Highway 49
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 259; TX 11; TX 49
6.2 mi·9 min·West William Marvin Watson Boulevard
19
Turn left onto Ward
104 ft·4 sec·Ward
20
Arrive at destination
Ward
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 16-minute drive, plan for at least one stop to break up the monotony of the long highway stretches. Leaving early in the day is your best bet to avoid traffic congestion, especially when navigating the initial freeway sections out of Fort Worth. Since your fuel costs are estimated at $26, filling up before you leave the metro area can save you time later on the rural segments of State Highway 49. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the short duration gives you plenty of room to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule.
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 86.7 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.7 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.7 miles or 1h 38m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hughes Springs, 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 173.3 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 East R L Thornton Freeway for about 114.7 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 0.1 and 39.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Epps Street
At end of road, turn right onto Epps Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|South Freeway
At end of road, turn right onto South Freeway
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|East Allen Avenue
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51C
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
7
39.8 mi into trip|~49m in|I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.19 one way
$52.37 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$28.66
$57.33
premium
$4.54
$30.94
$61.88
diesel
$5.61
$38.26
$76.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.20
$8.32
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Morning
in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hughes Springs, TX
Morning
in Hughes Springs on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
3h 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive, as 94% of your journey stays on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the East R L Thornton Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 114.7 miles. The experience is defined by high-speed transit rather than winding local roads, prioritizing efficiency as you head toward Hughes Springs. Once you exit the major freeway systems, the character of the drive shifts slightly as you transition onto State Highway 49 for the final leg of your trip.
94% 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: 114.7 mi on East R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Epps Street.
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 173.3 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 0.1 miles (Epps Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (South Freeway): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (East Allen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Hughes Springs, TX, road signs point toward Sh 49, Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris and Pittsburg.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 173.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 114.7 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway. 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 Hughes Springs, 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 0.1 miles (Epps Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (South Freeway): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (East Allen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Hughes Springs, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
