This 144.7-mile drive from Fort Worth to Jacksonville, Texas, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 81% of the journey on major roads, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points in the Great Plains region. You can expect a fuel cost of around $22 for this trip, with one recommended stop along the way. It's a practical option for a day trip, allowing ample time for your destination activities without feeling rushed.
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
72.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
C F Hawn Freeway
58.8 mi
1h 3m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
21.4 mi
22m
US Highway 175 East
20.8 mi
22m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
19.6 mi
21m
US Highway 175
13.3 mi
14m
South Freeway
3.3 mi
3m
West Corsicana Street
2.5 mi
4m
West Pine Street
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
C F Hawn Freeway
— 58.8 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Jacksonville, 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
3.2 mi·3 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse 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 left at fork onto I 20
14 mi·14 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
21 mi·22 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 479BToward US 175 East: KaufmanUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 175
59 mi·1 hr 3 min·C F Hawn Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 175 Bus
151 ft·9 sec·US Highway 175 West
12
Turn left onto US 175 Bus; TX 31 Bus
2.5 mi·4 min·West Corsicana Street
13
Continue on US 175 Bus
21 mi·22 min·US Highway 175 East
14
Continue on US 175
2.0 mi·3 min·West Pine Street
15
Continue on US 175
13 mi·14 min·US Highway 175
16
Continue on US 175
0.6 mi·58 sec·Frankston Highway
17
Continue on US 175
0.2 mi·21 sec·Alexander Boulevard
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 69
0.7 mi·52 sec·North Jackson Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 69
Trip Plan
Given its manageable 2-hour, 41-minute duration, this 144.7-mile trip is ideal for a morning departure, allowing you to maximize your time in Jacksonville. With only one recommended stop and an estimated fuel cost of $22, planning your fuel and breaks is straightforward. Consider leaving Fort Worth early to enjoy a full day at your destination. A specific tip for this route: keep an eye on your fuel levels as you approach the longer 58.8-mile stretch on the C F Hawn Freeway to ensure uninterrupted travel.
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 72.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.8 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 32 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 19m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, 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 144.7 miles and 2h 41m.
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 C F Hawn Freeway for about 58.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 45.5 — 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
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
7
10.1 mi into trip|~12m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
7
45.5 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward US 175 East: Kaufman
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 479B
Toward US 175 East: Kaufman
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.86 one way
$43.73 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$23.93
$47.86
premium
$4.54
$25.84
$51.67
diesel
$5.61
$31.95
$63.90
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: 50.6 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
43.4
0
$15.19
$6.95
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
EV Truck/SUV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
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 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Late night
in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksonville, TX
Late night
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
17 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 41m 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?
The majority of this drive, 81%, is spent on highways, offering a consistent pace. You'll primarily travel via the C F Hawn Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, and US Highway 175 East. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 58.8 miles on the C F Hawn Freeway, providing a solid block of highway driving. This route offers a predominantly highway-focused profile, meaning you'll likely experience steady speeds and fewer interruptions than on more rural roads.
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: 58.8 mi on C F Hawn Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on C F Hawn Freeway and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 144.7 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: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; 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.
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 2h 41m. Total distance: 144.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m 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 58.8 miles on C F Hawn Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Jacksonville, 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: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, TX before heading back.
