Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Zapata, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 21m

Distance

468.5 mi

754 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$70

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

8h 14m ★

6 AM

8h 21m

8 AM

8h 36m

10 AM

8h 27m

12 PM

8h 25m

3 PM

8h 27m

5 PM

8h 36m

8 PM

8h 17m

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

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

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

Fort Worth, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Zapata, TX

Fernando Capetillo

Trip Overview

Fort Worth to Zapata is 468.5 miles and takes about 8h 21m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35, with a fuel budget near $68 and best split over two days. This route traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, moving from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex south towards the border. The drive offers a mix of highway cruising and surface street travel, making it a practical option for those looking to connect two points in Texas efficiently. With 2 recommended days, you can comfortably break up the 8-hour drive and avoid feeling rushed.

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

234.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	244 mi	4h 12m
South Freeway	82.3 mi	1h 25m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
United States Highway 83	25.7 mi	28m
North Pan Am Expressway	18.5 mi	22m
US Highway 83 South	14.2 mi	15m
South Pan Am Expressway	10.4 mi	12m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 244 mi, about 4h 12m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 156 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~2,792 veh/hr typical · worst 3,368

Quietest

2 AM

~479 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.8×

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 Zapata, 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

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290

50 mi · 54 min · Purple Heart Trail

Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street Use the slight left lane.

Continue on I 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

10.0 mi · 11 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo Use the slight left lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

10 mi · 12 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 35

144 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 83

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Santa Ursula Avenue

Turn left onto US 83

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Matamoros Street

Continue on US 83

1.0 mi · 2 min · Chihuahua Street

Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue

2.0 mi · 4 min · North Meadow Avenue

Turn right onto US 83

5.4 mi · 7 min · South Zapata Highway

Continue on US 83

14 mi · 15 min · US Highway 83 South

Continue on US 83

26 mi · 28 min · United States Highway 83

Arrive at destination

US 83

Trip Plan

Given the 8-hour drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to leave Fort Worth in the morning to reach your overnight stop after about 4 hours of driving. This allows for a relaxed pace and time for a meal. The longest stretch on the Purple Heart Trail is 244 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, as you might not see many services for an extended period. Keep an eye on the fuel cost estimate of $68 for budgeting. The transition from highway to surface roads can be gradual, so stay alert for speed limit changes and potential local traffic.

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 234.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 4h 7m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244 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 103 miles or 1h 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 234.3 miles or 4h 7m 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 234.3 miles or 4h 7m

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 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Zapata, 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 234 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Zapata, TX

Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 244 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

234 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 San Antonio, TX

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to Zapata, TX

205 mi · 3h 41m

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

234 mi · about 4.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 234 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Cleburne, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 234.3 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 Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244 miles.

Overnight split

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18306291572

Visit website

Roosevelt Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+12102077275

Visit website

Tube Chute

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

+18302214000

Visit website

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

Padre Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+12102077275

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

Hemisfair

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+12107094750

Visit website

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+12102274746

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 264.9 — 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

182.9 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in | I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street

256.4 mi into trip | ~4h 32m in | I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 South

262.8 mi into trip | ~4h 40m in | I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo

264.9 mi into trip | ~4h 43m in | I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Housto...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$70.33 one way

$140.66 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 164 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$77.82	$155.64
premium	$4.57	$84.20	$168.40
diesel	$6.28	$115.76	$231.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$70

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$200–$310

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 163.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	140.6	1	$49.19	$22.49
Efficient EV	117.1	1	$40.99	$18.74
EV Truck/SUV	187.4	2	$65.59	$29.98

Gas CO2

164 kg

EV CO2

55 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

Evening in Fort Worth on Thursday

Local time

5:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Partly Cloudy

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Zapata, TX

Evening in Zapata on Thursday

Local time

5:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Partly Cloudy

0 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

11 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

8h 21m 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.

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 ~11 min detour Free near mile 80.8

View on nps.gov

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...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour Free near mile 258.5

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is 46% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the time on major interstates like I-35, but also navigate surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway, the Purple Heart Trail, covers 244 miles. Expect to transition between faster-paced highway sections and slower, more stop-and-go driving on surface roads as you pass through towns. The profile is a mixed highway and surface road experience, so be prepared for varying speeds and traffic conditions.

46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

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

Longest single stretch: 244 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 468.5 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 182.9 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 256.4 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

752 ft 396 ft

Total Climb

379 ft

Total Descent

635 ft

Highest Point

752 ft

~200.8 mi in

Elevation Range

355 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 Zapata, TX, road signs point toward Laredo and Spur 536: Houston.

Laredo

262.8 mi in | ~4h 40m | via I 35

Spur 536: Houston

264.9 mi in | ~4h 43m | via I 10; US 87

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 Zapata, TX

Full guide →

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

Who Is This Route For?

Solo Traveler

8h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 244 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 234 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 49 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 Zapata, 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 49 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Zapata, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Fort Worth, TX or browse trips ending in Zapata, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.