Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Marfa, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 59m

Distance

510.7 mi

822 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$77

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 52m ★

6 AM

9h 0m

8 AM

9h 16m

10 AM

9h 5m

12 PM

9h 4m

3 PM

9h 6m

5 PM

9h 15m

8 PM

8h 55m

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

Best Time

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city and county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Fort Worth, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Marfa, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Fort Worth to Marfa is 510.7 miles and takes about 8h 59m via I 20 and TX 349, with a fuel budget near $80 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive spans across Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and continuing into a similar landscape. Given the nearly 9-hour estimated drive time, planning for two days is sensible to avoid an overly long single day behind the wheel. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward, albeit lengthy, trip.

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

255.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	284.4 mi	4h 47m
East 3rd Street	57 mi	1h
TX 349	42.1 mi	43m
South US Higway 67	25.7 mi	29m
West US Highway 90	24.9 mi	26m
South US Highway 67	21.6 mi	24m
Trooper Sammy Long Memorial HIghway	17.7 mi	20m
West Freeway	12.9 mi	14m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 284.4 mi, about 4h 47m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,333 veh/hr typical · worst 1,751

Quietest

2 AM

~187 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 105 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 Marfa, TX.

Start on South Freeway

54 ft · 2 sec · South Freeway

Turn right onto Elmwood Avenue

475 ft · 23 sec · Elmwood Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Epps Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Epps Street

Continue on East Maddox Avenue

412 ft · 20 sec · East Maddox Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto South Freeway

321 ft · 13 sec · South Freeway

Turn left onto East Allen Avenue

210 ft · 13 sec · East Allen Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto South Freeway

0.4 mi · 46 sec · South Freeway

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn left onto East Rosedale Street

1.9 mi · 3 min · East Rosedale Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward I 30 West Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 30; US 377

13 mi · 14 min · West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 20

284 mi · 4 hr 47 min · I 20

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec

Toward SH 349 Business, SH 349: Lamesa, Rankin

Turn left onto East Interstate 20

349 ft · 9 sec · East Interstate 20

Turn left onto TX 349 Bus

0.5 mi · 44 sec · Rankin Highway

Continue on TX 349

10 mi · 10 min · South State Highway 349

Continue on TX 349

42 mi · 43 min · TX 349

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto US 67; TX 349

18 mi · 20 min · Trooper Sammy Long Memorial HIghway

Continue on US 67

57 mi · 1 hr · East 3rd Street

Take the exit onto La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

0.2 mi · 27 sec · La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

Exit 246 Toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross State University

Continue on US 67

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Interstate 10 West

Turn left onto US 67

26 mi · 29 min · South US Higway 67

Continue on US 67

22 mi · 24 min · South US Highway 67

Continue on US 67; US 90

7.6 mi · 8 min · East US Highway 90

Continue on US 67; US 90

1.6 mi · 1 min · East Avenue E

Continue on US 67; US 90

25 mi · 26 min · West US Highway 90

Continue on US 67; US 90

0.4 mi · 1 min · East San Antonio Street

Turn right onto TX 17

183 ft · 10 sec · South Highland Street

Turn left

190 ft · 14 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

With an 8h 59m estimated duration, this trip is best split over two days. Aim to depart Fort Worth early in the morning to maximize daylight for your first leg. Consider stopping for the night after completing the longest stretch on I 20, around the 284.4-mile mark, to break up the drive evenly. Keep an eye on fuel, as there are only two recommended stops, and the total fuel cost is estimated at $80. Ensure you have enough gas before entering longer, more remote sections.

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 255.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 4h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 284.4 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 112 miles or 1h 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 255.3 miles or 4h 24m 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 255.3 miles or 4h 24m

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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marfa, 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 255 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Marfa, TX

Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 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 I 20 for about 284.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Titus County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Mount Pleasant, TX

169 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

Midland, TX

337 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 Midland, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Roscoe, TX

255 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Roscoe, TX after about 255 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Brownwood, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Spring, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 255.3 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 I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 284.4 miles.

Overnight split

1.5 mi from 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

Events Midland

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Midland, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+14325565867

Visit website

Paramount Theatre

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Abilene, Texas

+13256769620

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+13256735050

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 428.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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

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.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Freeway

Turn left onto South Freeway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

428.6 mi into trip | ~7h 26m in | La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

Take the exit onto La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross State University

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 246 Toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross S...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$76.67 one way

$153.33 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 179 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$84.83	$169.66
premium	$4.57	$91.79	$183.57
diesel	$6.28	$126.19	$252.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$77

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$207–$317

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 178.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	153.2	1	$53.62	$24.51
Efficient EV	127.7	1	$44.69	$20.43
EV Truck/SUV	204.3	2	$71.50	$32.68

Gas CO2

179 kg

EV CO2

60 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026

Origin

Fort Worth, TX

Afternoon in Fort Worth on Friday

Local time

2:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Partly Cloudy

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Marfa, TX

Afternoon in Marfa on Friday

Local time

2:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Mostly Clear

NE 0 to 5 mph 1% chance 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

2 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

8h 59m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly highway driving, with 79% of the 510.7 miles covered on major roads like I 20. You'll encounter a stretch of 284.4 miles on I 20, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads, specifically TX 349, will occur later in the drive. Expect a significant portion of the mileage to involve the predictable pace of interstate travel before reaching more rural conditions.

79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 284.4 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and East 3rd Street. You will hit about 16 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 Effort 5/10

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 510.7 miles you will encounter 16 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.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,693 ft 652 ft

Total Climb

4,338 ft

Total Descent

298 ft

Highest Point

4,693 ft

~510.7 mi in

Elevation Range

4,041 ft

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 Marfa, TX, road signs point toward Sh 349 Business, Sh 349: Lamesa, Rankin, Fm 1776: Alpine and Sul Ross State University.

Sh 349 Business

300.9 mi in | ~5h 10m

Sh 349: Lamesa

300.9 mi in | ~5h 10m

Rankin

300.9 mi in | ~5h 10m

Fm 1776: Alpine

428.6 mi in | ~7h 26m | via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

Sul Ross State University

428.6 mi in | ~7h 26m | via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

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

Arriving in Marfa, TX

Full guide →

Marfa is a town of 1,600 people (2019) in the Big Bend Country region of Texas. It's known for two things: innovative art and mysterious lights.

Top landmarks

• Chinati Foundation — contemporary art museum in Marfa, Texas
• Presidio County Courthouse — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas
• El Paisano Hotel — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

8h 59m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 284.4 miles on I 20. 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 255 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 38 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Marfa, 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. There are 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.0 hours each way, a round trip means 18.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marfa, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Marfa, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-20

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Rest Area

Mitchell County Westbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Pilot Travel Center

I-20 Westbound Picnic Area

I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Howard County Eastbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area

Eastland County Westbound Rest Area

Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Petro Stopping Centers

Flying J Travel Center

Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area

Callahan County Westbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Picnic Area

TA

Flying J Travel Center

Service Plaza

Forest Park Miniature Railroad

Events Midland

Paramount Theatre

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

Fort Worth Herd

12th Armored Division Memorial

The Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Fort Worth, TX

Marfa, TX

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

8h 59m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Fort Worth, TX

Arriving in Marfa, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?