Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Fort Worth, TX to La Grulla, 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
9h 28m
Distance
542 mi
872 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$82
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
21 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 20m
★
6 AM
9h 28m
8 AM
9h 45m
10 AM
9h 34m
12 PM
9h 32m
3 PM
9h 35m
5 PM
9h 44m
8 PM
9h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
La Grulla, TX
A. G. Rosales
Trip Overview
Fort Worth to La Grulla is 542 miles and takes about 9h 28m via TX 130 Toll, South Freeway, and South Nueces Street, with a fuel budget near $82 and an overnight stay recommended. This is a long-haul drive that takes you across Texas, starting in the Great Plains region and ending in the same region. Given the 9.5-hour estimated drive time, planning for two days makes this trip much more manageable. You'll want to break it up to avoid fatigue and make the most of your time on the road. Consider this a straightforward transit between two points in Texas.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
271 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 130 Toll | 86.1 mi | 1h 19m |
| South Freeway | 82.3 mi | 1h 25m |
| South Nueces Street | 66.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 37 | 60.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| Falfurrias Expressway | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| I 10 | 32.5 mi | 33m |
| I 2 | 30.9 mi | 35m |
Longest stretch:
TX 130 Toll
— 86.1 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and La Grulla, 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
82 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi
·
26 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 37
60 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi
·
19 min
·
US 281 South
Toward US 281 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
South Nueces Street
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 69C; US 281
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi
·
58 min
·
Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 281 South, TX 495: Pharr
24
Merge onto I 2; US 83
31 mi
·
35 min
·
I 2; US 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward FM 2360: La Grulla
26
Turn straight onto US 83 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 83 Frontage Road
27
Turn left onto FM 2360
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 2360
28
Continue on FM 2360
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Grulla Main Street
29
Turn left onto East Las Palmas Street
58 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Las Palmas Street
30
Arrive at destination
East Las Palmas Street
Trip Plan
Given the 9 hour and 28 minute duration, this is best split over two days. Aim to leave Fort Worth early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight for driving. A good stopping point would be around the halfway mark, though you'll want to find a town with ample lodging options. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is over 86 miles, so be sure to take breaks every couple of hours. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially on the toll sections where services might be less frequent. Planning your overnight stop around the 4.5-hour mark will make for a balanced two-day drive.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 271 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 4h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 119 miles or 2h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 271 miles or 4h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 271 miles or 4h 31m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Grulla, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Worth, TX
Aim for roughly 271 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into La Grulla, TX
Aim for roughly 271 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Fort Worth, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
179 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
358 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in San Diego, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
271 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near New Braunfels, TX after about 271 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 271 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 TX 130 Toll if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 271 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Brooks County Rest Area
0 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Circle K
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Jud's Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
San Juan, Texas
+19567870033
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteEdinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Edinburg, Texas
Hours: 8 am–6 pm
+19563819922
Visit websiteMuseum of South Texas History
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
Edinburg, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19563836911
Visit websiteKids Wonderland
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.4 mi from route
~9 min detour
McAllen, Texas
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+19569293106
Visit websiteBill Schupp Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
McAllen, Texas
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+19566813333
Visit websiteHelium Trampoline Park
3.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
McAllen, Texas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+19566824832
Visit websiteSouth Texas Motorcycle Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
Edinburg, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19562920770
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 281.8 — 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
153.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
7
240.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
281.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
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 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
7
281.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.90 one way
$163.79 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
190 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $89.64 | $179.29 |
| premium | $4.54 | $96.77 | $193.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $119.67 | $239.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$82
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$212–$322
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 189.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
21 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Hillsboro, TX
Tesla
24 DCFC
Collin Street Bakery - Tesla Supercharger
Bellmead, TX
Tesla
22 DCFC
The Foundry District - Tesla Supercharger
Fort Worth, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
University Park Village - Tesla Supercharger
Fort Worth, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Fuel City Haltom City - Tesla Supercharger
Haltom City, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Lone Star Ranch Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger
Edgecliff Village, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Rudy's Country Store & BBQ - Tesla Supercharger
Burleson, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
TA, State Highway 77, Hillsboro, TX
Hillsboro, TX
BP_PULSE
12 DCFC
Tesla: 9
eVgo Network: 5
Electrify America: 2
WALMART: 1
IN_CHARGE: 1
ChargePoint Network: 1
BP_PULSE: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 162.6 | 2 | $56.91 | $26.02 |
| Efficient EV | 135.5 | 1 | $47.43 | $21.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 216.8 | 2 | $75.88 | $34.69 |
Gas CO2
190 kg
EV CO2
63 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Morning in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
9:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Grulla, TX
Morning in La Grulla on Tuesday
Local time
9:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
94°F
San Diego, TX
358 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
35 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
9h 28m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 280.3
View on nps.gov
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 74.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely highway, with 78% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience an 86.1-mile stretch on the TX 130 Toll, offering extended periods of consistent speed. After the highway portion, you will transition to surface streets for the remainder of the trip. Expect to encounter more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on TX 130 Toll.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and South 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 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 22 significant decision points across 542 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 153.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 240.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fort Worth, TX to La Grulla, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
Corpus Christi
281.6 mi in
|
~4h 43m
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 271 miles on day one.
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 La Grulla, 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: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 153.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 240.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 18.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at La Grulla, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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