Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Llano Grande, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 6m
Distance
523.8 mi
843 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Llano Grande, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Fort Worth to Llano Grande is 523.8 miles and takes about 9h 6m via TX 130 Toll and South Freeway, with a fuel budget near $76 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive, recommended for two days, taking you across the Great Plains region of Texas. While it's possible to cover the distance in one go, splitting it allows for a more relaxed pace. Plan for a significant portion of your drive to be on toll roads and major freeways.
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
261.9 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 21m 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 69C | 27.9 mi | 30m |
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,839 veh/hr typical · worst 3,735
Quietest
2 AM
~452 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Llano Grande, TX.
Start on South Freeway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35W
Continue on I 35; US 77
Continue on I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Take the exit
Continue on TX 130 Toll
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 37
Take the exit onto US 281 South
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
Merge onto I 2 East; US 83 East
Continue on I 2; US 83
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Expressway 83
Turn right onto 3½W
Turn right
Turn left onto Erasmo Drive
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 9-hour duration, breaking this drive into two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially if you decide to tackle it in one go. With two recommended stops, plan to cover roughly half the distance on day one. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on TX 130 Toll is over 86 miles, and ensure you're fueled up before entering longer highway segments.
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.
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 261.9 miles or 4h 21m 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 261.9 miles or 4h 21m
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 7h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Llano Grande, 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 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Llano Grande, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
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.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
346 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 George West, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
262 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 262 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 115 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 261.9 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 262 miles or 4.6 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
Pilot Travel Center
Road Ranger
TA
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
Pilot Travel Center
Rest Area
Rest Area
Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area
Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area
Picnic Area
Picnic Area
Flying J Travel Center
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
Flying J Travel Center
Flying J Travel Center
Pilot Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Buc-ee's
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
Circle K
Petro Stopping Centers
Ascent Travel Center
TA
Love's Travel Stop
Flying J Travel Plaza
Pilot Travel Center
Jud's Travel Center
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
QuikTrip
Road Ranger
Pilot Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Buc-ee's
TA
Service Plaza
QuikTrip
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
Service Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
Estero Llano Grande State Park
Near the end, right off the route
Weslaco, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+19565653919
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
Near the start, short detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteGibson Park
Near the end, short detour
Weslaco, Texas
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+19564473407
Visit websiteFort Worth Herd
Near the start, ~12 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
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 153.6 and 520.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward FM 1015: International Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.20 one way
$160.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.29 | $88.51 | $177.02 |
| premium | $4.64 | $95.65 | $191.29 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $127.42 | $254.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 183.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 157.1 | 1 | $55.00 | $25.14 |
| Efficient EV | 131 | 1 | $45.83 | $20.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 209.5 | 2 | $73.33 | $33.52 |
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.
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Afternoon in Fort Worth on Saturday
Local time
12:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Llano Grande, TX
Afternoon in Llano Grande on Saturday
Local time
12:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
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 6m 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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 78% of this trip on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 86.1 miles on the TX 130 Toll. Expect to transition from high-speed highway cruising to surface streets as you approach your destination. The extensive highway share means you'll encounter frequent exits and merges typical of long-distance travel on major Texas routes.
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 around 153.6 miles in.
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 523.8 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 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; at 281.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
497 ft
Total Descent
1,077 ft
Highest Point
875 ft
~149.7 mi in
Elevation Range
803 ft
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 Llano Grande, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
Corpus Christi
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
- • Kimbell Art Museum — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
- • Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
- • Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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