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Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Laguna Heights, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 35m

Distance

523.4 mi

842 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$79

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
9h 27m ★
6 AM
9h 36m
8 AM
9h 53m
10 AM
9h 42m
12 PM
9h 40m
3 PM
9h 43m
5 PM
9h 52m
8 PM
9h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city and county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Fort Worth, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Laguna Heights, TX, TX

Laguna Heights, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

This 523.4-mile journey from Fort Worth, TX, to Laguna Heights, TX, is a substantial drive, estimated to take around 9 hours and 35 minutes of pure travel time. Given its length, attempting this in a single day is not recommended; a two-day trip is the practical approach. You'll be navigating primarily on I 35W South, South Freeway, and North Jack Kultgen Expressway, with no significant highway share, suggesting a more local road feel. The estimated fuel cost for this long-distance drive is about $80. You'll have two planned stops to break up the journey. Both your origin and destination are situated within the Great Plains region of Texas, so expect consistent, wide-open landscapes throughout.

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

261.7 miles from Fort Worth, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Highway 77 102.6 mi 1h 53m
South Freeway 82.3 mi 1h 25m
TX 130 Toll 58.5 mi 54m
TX 80 51.2 mi 56m
South US Highway 181 40.2 mi 45m
Purple Heart Trail 37.9 mi 39m
I 69E 31.3 mi 33m
I 35 26.5 mi 26m
Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 102.6 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Laguna Heights, 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

59 mi · 54 min · TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183
11

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street
12

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
13

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue
14

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80
15

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792
16

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
17

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
18

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181
19

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street
20

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South
21

Take the exit onto US 181

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 181
22

Keep slight right at fork onto US 181

213 ft · 5 sec · US Route 181
23

Turn straight onto US 181

0.7 mi · 1 min · US Highway 181
24

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
25

Merge onto US 77

12 mi · 13 min · US 77
26

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
27

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
28

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
29

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77

31 mi · 33 min · I 69E; US 77
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Keep slight left at fork onto US 77

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77
31

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77

41 mi · 44 min · U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 14 Toward TX 100, FM 1421: South Padre Island Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Turn left onto TX 100

1.3 mi · 1 min · State Highway 100
34

Continue on TX 100

4.2 mi · 5 min · Texas State Highway 100
35

Continue on TX 100

16 mi · 22 min · West Ocean Boulevard
36

Turn right onto Washington Street

32 ft · 1 sec · Washington Street
37

Arrive at destination

Washington Street

Trip Plan

For this 9-hour and 35-minute drive, splitting the trip over two days is highly advisable to avoid fatigue. Plan your first day to cover roughly half the distance, perhaps aiming for a stop around the halfway point where you can find accommodations and services. With an estimated fuel cost of $80, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before departing Fort Worth and monitor your gauge, as services can be spread out. The two recommended stops are opportunities to rest, refuel, and grab a meal. Given the extensive mileage, consider departing early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight driving.

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 261.7 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 4h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 115 miles or 2h in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 261.7 miles or 4h 35m 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 261.7 miles or 4h 35m

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 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna Heights, 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 262 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Laguna Heights, TX

Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 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 U.S. Highway 77 for about 102.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Austin, TX

173 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.

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to San Antonio, TX

79.2 mi · 1h 30m

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

345 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 Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

New Braunfels, TX

262 mi · about 4.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near New Braunfels, TX after about 262 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Killeen, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 115 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Braunfels, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 261.7 miles from Fort Worth, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.6 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 262 miles or 4.8 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Forest 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 website

Pirate's Landing Fishing Pier

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 523.4

Port Isabel, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19569437437

Visit website

Port Isabel Historical Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 523.4

Port Isabel, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19569437602

Visit website

Treasures of the Gulf Museum

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 523.4

Port Isabel, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19569437602

Visit website

Fort Worth Herd

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Fort Worth, Texas

Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm

+18173364373

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 501.7 — 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
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
212.8 mi into trip | ~3h 35m in

Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
7
367.8 mi into trip | ~6h 38m in | I 69E; US 77

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

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. Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
8
501.7 mi into trip | ~9h 5m in

Take the exit toward TX 100, FM 1421: South Padre Island

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 14 Toward TX 100, FM 1421: South Padre Island

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$79.09 one way

$158.17 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 183 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $86.57 $173.13
premium $4.54 $93.45 $186.90
diesel $5.61 $115.56 $231.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$79

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$209–$319

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 183.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 157 1 $54.96 $25.12
Efficient EV 130.9 1 $45.80 $20.94
EV Truck/SUV 209.4 2 $73.28 $33.50

Gas CO2

183 kg

EV CO2

61 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fort Worth, TX

Night in Fort Worth on Saturday

Local time

11:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Laguna Heights, TX

Night in Laguna Heights on Saturday

Local time

11:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°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.

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

12 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 35m 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.

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

National Historical Park

On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...

5 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 505.4
View on nps.gov
Waco Mammoth National Monument

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 ~21 min detour Free near mile 90.2
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore

National Seashore

Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour $25 near mile 433.2
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 characterized by its long-distance profile, covering 523.4 miles predominantly on major arteries like I 35W South. While the highway share is 0%, meaning you won't be on high-speed interstates for extended periods, the main roads listed are substantial. There isn't a "longest stretch" noted, suggesting a relatively consistent driving experience without exceptionally long, uninterrupted segments. The drive will likely feel like a steady progression through Texas, gradually moving south towards the Gulf Coast region. Be prepared for a consistent pace rather than dramatic shifts in road type.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.6 mi on U.S. Highway 77.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 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 19 significant decision points across 523.4 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 212.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

On the drive from Fort Worth, TX to Laguna Heights, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Brownsville along the way.

Brownsville

367.8 mi in | ~6h 38m | via I 69E; US 77

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 102.6 miles on U.S. Highway 77. 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 262 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 Laguna Heights, 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 212.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Waco Mammoth National Monument and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.6 hours each way, a round trip means 19.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laguna Heights, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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