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Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Rancho Viejo, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 11m
Distance
505.6 mi
814 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$69
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 4m
★
6 AM
9h 12m
8 AM
9h 28m
10 AM
9h 18m
12 PM
9h 16m
3 PM
9h 19m
5 PM
9h 28m
8 PM
9h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Rancho Viejo, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Fort Worth to Rancho Viejo is 505.6 miles and takes about 9h 11m via U.S. Highway 77, South Freeway, and TX 130 Toll, with a fuel budget near $73 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This long-haul drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Given the nearly 10-hour estimated drive time, it's best to plan for an overnight stop. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward trip if you're looking for efficiency.
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
252.8 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 25m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 105 mi | 1h 56m |
| 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
— 105 mi, about 1h 56m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,844 veh/hr typical · worst 3,686
Quietest
2 AM
~446 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Rancho Viejo, 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
44 mi
·
46 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Expressway
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 11
Toward FM 803: Rancho Viejo
Use the slight right lane.
34
Turn straight onto North Expressway
330 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Expressway
35
Turn right onto Carmen Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Carmen Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
Carmen Avenue
Trip Plan
With a 9-hour driving time, this route is best split over two days. Plan to leave Fort Worth early, aiming to reach a comfortable midpoint like Waco or Austin by late afternoon. This allows for a more relaxed second day of driving. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 105-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77, as services might be less frequent. The TX 130 Toll is a good option to bypass Austin traffic if needed. Budget around $73 for fuel, but it's always wise to have a little extra.
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 252.8 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 4h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 111 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 252.8 miles or 4h 25m 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 252.8 miles or 4h 25m
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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rancho Viejo, 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 253 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Rancho Viejo, TX
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 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 105 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
167 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.
Overnight Options
Night 1
253 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 253 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 252.8 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 U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 253 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.
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Kenedy County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
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
Ascent Travel Center
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
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
2.1 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 websiteDick Kleberg Park
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.6 mi from route
~7 min detour
Kingsville, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+13612218705
Visit websiteResaca De La Palma State Park & World Birding Center
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm
+19563502920
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Early stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteFort 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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 504.8 — 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
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
7
504.8 mi into trip
|
~9h 9m in
Take the exit toward FM 803: Rancho Viejo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward FM 803: Rancho Viejo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.25 one way
$138.50 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
177 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $77.35 | $154.71 |
| premium | $4.23 | $84.10 | $168.20 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $95.47 | $190.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$199–$309
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 176.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 151.7 | 1 | $53.09 | $24.27 |
| Efficient EV | 126.4 | 1 | $44.24 | $20.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 202.2 | 2 | $70.78 | $32.36 |
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 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
Morning in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph
45% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Rancho Viejo, TX
Morning in Rancho Viejo on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Partly Sunny
SE 20 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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
6 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 11m 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
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 505.6
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 87.2
View on nps.gov
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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$25
near mile 435.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend 88% of your drive on highways. The longest stretch without a significant break in highway travel is 105 miles, which occurs on U.S. Highway 77. While much of the route is on major roads, you will transition to surface streets as you approach your destination in Rancho Viejo. You'll notice a significant number of exits and potential slowdowns as you navigate through populated areas.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 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 18 significant decision points across 505.6 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
876 ft
34 ft
Total Climb
323 ft
Total Descent
938 ft
Highest Point
876 ft
~144.5 mi in
Elevation Range
842 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 Rancho Viejo, 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
Arriving in Rancho Viejo, TX
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105 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 253 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 33 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 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 Rancho Viejo, 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rancho Viejo, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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