Fort Worth to Schulenburg is 223 miles and takes about 4 hours and 10 minutes via US 77, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Most of the route is highway driving, making for a relatively straightforward trip. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this is a solid choice for a single-day excursion, offering a direct path between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.7 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 77
103.1 mi
2h
South Freeway
82.3 mi
1h 25m
Robinson Drive
29.5 mi
33m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
4.3 mi
4m
East 1st Street
2.9 mi
3m
East 4th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Kemp Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Valley Mills Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 77
— 103.1 mi, about 2h
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,798 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,547
Quietest
2 AM
~420 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Schulenburg, TX.
1
Start on South Freeway
174 ft·3 sec·South Freeway
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35W SouthUse 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
4.3 mi·4 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 333AToward Loop 396
6
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.1 mi·24 sec·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
7
Turn left onto Loop 396
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Valley Mills Drive
8
Enter roundabout onto Robinson Drive
125 ft·5 sec·Robinson Drive
9
Continue on Robinson Drive
29 mi·33 min·Robinson Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Continue on US 77
19 mi·21 min·US 77
11
Turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
0.3 mi·19 sec·East 4th Street
12
Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36
0.2 mi·16 sec·Kemp Street
13
Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36
2.9 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
14
Take the exit onto US 77
84 mi·1 hr 38 min·US 77
15
Turn left onto US 90
105 ft·2 sec·Summit Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 90
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Fort Worth in the morning will allow you to reach Schulenburg with plenty of daylight remaining. While the drive is manageable in one go, consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The longest continuous stretch on US 77 is over 100 miles, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. Your estimated fuel cost is around $32, so factor that into your budget. With just one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself, but it's wise to be aware of the extended highway portions.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.7 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.7 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Schulenburg, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Worth, TX
This is one driving day of about 223.4 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Fort Worth, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 77 for about 103.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 87.3 — 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
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|I 35W / South Freeway
Merge onto I 35W / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward Loop 396
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 333A
Toward Loop 396
5
87.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|Loop 396 / South Valley Mills Drive
Turn left onto Loop 396 / South Valley Mills Drive
Navigation decision point
5
87.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|Robinson Drive
Enter roundabout onto Robinson Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.60 one way
$61.20 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$34.18
$68.36
premium
$4.23
$37.16
$74.32
diesel
$4.80
$42.18
$84.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67
0
$23.46
$10.72
Efficient EV
55.9
0
$19.55
$8.94
EV Truck/SUV
89.4
1
$31.28
$14.30
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Late night
in Fort Worth on Monday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 2:52PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:11PM CDT until July 20 at 7:21AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Schulenburg, TX
Late night
in Schulenburg on Monday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 2:52PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:11PM CDT until July 20 at 7:21AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
96°F
Troy, TX
112 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.
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
4h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 84.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Eighty-five percent of this 223-mile drive is on highways, so expect a good amount of high-speed cruising. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 103.1 miles on US 77, which is a significant portion of the trip. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, with Robinson Drive marking the final segment. The prevalence of highway driving means you'll likely experience consistent speeds and fewer interruptions for much of the route.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.1 mi on US 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 77 and South Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 10m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (I 35W / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
756 ft272 ft
Total Climb
409 ft
Total Descent
695 ft
Highest Point
756 ft
~16 mi in
Elevation Range
484 ft
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 Schulenburg, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 396 along the way.
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
Schulenburg is a city in Fayette County in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas. It bills itself as halfway to everywhere, since it's halfway between Houston and San Antonio on I-10 and halfway from Austin to Victoria north-south.
The longest stretch is about 103.1 miles on US 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (I 35W / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Schulenburg, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
