Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Southside Place, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 27, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 49m

Distance

262.6 mi

423 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 36m ★

6 AM

4h 50m

8 AM

5h 17m

10 AM

4h 59m

12 PM

4h 56m

3 PM

5h 0m

5 PM

5h 15m

8 PM

4h 42m

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

Southside Place, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Fort Worth, TX to Southside Place, TX is 262.6 miles and takes about 4h 49m via South Freeway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a predominantly highway drive, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. The relatively short duration and moderate fuel cost make this an accessible option for many travelers looking for an efficient connection between these two Texas locations.

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

131.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South Freeway	82.3 mi	1h 25m
East State Highway 6	46.6 mi	46m
North Earl Rudder Freeway	30.1 mi	31m
Aggie Expressway	24.7 mi	27m
South State Highway 6	13.7 mi	14m
Tomball Parkway	10 mi	11m
Tomball Tollway	7 mi	8m
North State Highway 6	6.2 mi	6m

Longest stretch: South Freeway — 82.3 mi, about 1h 25m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 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

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 Southside Place, TX.

Start on South Freeway

174 ft · 3 sec · South Freeway

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 35W South Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 35W

82 mi · 1 hr 25 min · South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

0.1 mi · 8 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Exit 337 Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

0.1 mi · 16 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Turn left onto US 77 Bus

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Loop Drive

Continue on Loop 484

2.7 mi · 3 min · Marlin Highway

Continue on TX 6

9.1 mi · 9 min · East State Highway 6

Continue on TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Memorial Street

Continue on TX 6

37 mi · 37 min · East State Highway 6

Continue on TX 6

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

Continue on TX 6

6.2 mi · 6 min · North State Highway 6

Continue on US 79; TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Market Street

Continue on US 190; TX 6

14 mi · 14 min · South State Highway 6

Continue on US 190; TX 6

30 mi · 31 min · North Earl Rudder Freeway

Continue on TX 6

3.4 mi · 3 min · State Highway 6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe

Turn straight onto TX 105

0.2 mi · 24 sec · State Highway 6

Turn left onto TX 105

5.9 mi · 6 min · State Highway 105

Turn straight onto TX 249

25 mi · 27 min · Aggie Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 249 Toll

3.6 mi · 4 min · MCTRA 249 Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TBT

7.0 mi · 8 min · Tomball Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 249

10 mi · 11 min · Tomball Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto North Houston Rosslyn Road

3.9 mi · 6 min · North Houston Rosslyn Road

Use the right lane.

Continue on Bingle Road

2.0 mi · 3 min · Bingle Road

Use the straight / sharp right lanes.

Turn left onto Northwest Freeway Frontage Road

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Northwest Freeway Frontage Road

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward US 290 East

Merge onto US 290

3.5 mi · 4 min · Northwest Freeway

Use the straight lane.

Merge onto I 610

5.9 mi · 7 min · West Loop North

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 6 Toward Bellaire Boulevard, Evergreen Street Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto West Loop South Frontage Road

0.1 mi · 14 sec · West Loop South Frontage Road

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn left onto Bellaire Boulevard

1.5 mi · 3 min · Bellaire Boulevard

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on Bellaire Boulevard

465 ft · 17 sec · Bellaire Boulevard

Arrive at destination

Bellaire Boulevard

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 49m estimated drive time, leaving Fort Worth in the morning is advisable to make the most of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace the drive, but consider breaking it up roughly halfway if you prefer shorter segments. The estimated fuel cost of $42 suggests checking gas prices before you depart to ensure you're getting the best value. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 82.3-mile stretch on South Freeway, as services might be less frequent in certain highway sections.

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 131.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 2h 17m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 58 miles or 1h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 131.3 miles or 2h 17m 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 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southside Place, 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 262.6 miles and 4h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 South Freeway for about 82.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Brazos County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

College Station, TX

131 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Little Elm, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rosebud, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 131.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

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

The Escape Game Houston (Galleria)

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+17136365541

Visit website

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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 260.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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.

82.7 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in

Take the exit toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 337 Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue

193.5 mi into trip | ~3h 24m in

Take the exit toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe

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

Toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe

260.7 mi into trip | ~4h 45m in

Take the exit toward Bellaire Boulevard, Evergreen Street

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 6 Toward Bellaire Boulevard, Evergreen Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.27 one way

$82.54 round trip

$3.99/gal 25.4 MPG avg 92 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.39	$45.36	$90.71
premium	$4.72	$48.79	$97.58
diesel	$5.60	$57.85	$115.71

Estimated Tolls: $0.74

Tomball Tollway (7 mi) $0.49

MCTRA 249 Tollway (3.6 mi) $0.25

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 91.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-18.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	78.8	0	$27.57	$12.60
Efficient EV	65.7	0	$22.98	$10.50
EV Truck/SUV	105	1	$36.76	$16.81

Gas CO2

92 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (66% 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 May 27, 2026

Origin

Fort Worth, TX

Afternoon in Fort Worth on Wednesday

Local time

1:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

NE 0 to 10 mph 89% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 26 at 10:40PM CDT until May 26 at 11:30PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued May 26 at 10:39PM CDT until May 26 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Southside Place, TX

Afternoon in Southside Place on Wednesday

Local time

1:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 10 mph 81% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 26 at 10:40PM CDT until May 26 at 11:30PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued May 26 at 10:39PM CDT until May 26 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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

5 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

4h 49m 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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 81.5

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend about 86% of your time on highways, with the longest continuous stretch of highway driving being 82.3 miles on South Freeway. After the highway portions conclude, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining miles. The frequent exits and merging traffic typical of a highway profile will be a noticeable aspect of the driving experience for a significant portion of this trip.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 82.3 mi on South Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Freeway and East State Highway 6. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 262.6 miles you will encounter 14 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: 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 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

817 ft 48 ft

Total Climb

391 ft

Total Descent

996 ft

Highest Point

817 ft

~18.8 mi in

Elevation Range

770 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 Southside Place, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 515: Conroe along the way.

Spur 515: Conroe

193.5 mi in | ~3h 24m

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 262.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 82.3 miles on South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Tomball Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 11 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 Southside Place, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Southside Place, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Southside Place, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Love's Travel Stop

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Forest Park Miniature Railroad

The Escape Game Houston (Galleria)

ExitusVR

Houston Zoo

Children's Museum Houston

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Midtown Park

Fort Worth Herd

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Fort Worth, TX

Southside Place, TX

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 49m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

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

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

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?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

More from Fort Worth, TX