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Trip from Franklin, TX to Montopolis, 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
3h 59m
Distance
203.8 mi
328 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
29 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 47m
★
6 AM
4h 0m
8 AM
4h 26m
10 AM
4h 9m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 10m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Montopolis, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Franklin, TX to Montopolis, TX is 203.8 miles and takes about 3h 59m via US 290, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, this route is a straightforward option for a single-day trip. You'll encounter minimal complexity, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
101.9 miles from Franklin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 290 | 74.8 mi | 1h 25m |
| North Grand Parkway East | 36.8 mi | 39m |
| Northwest Freeway | 23 mi | 26m |
| US Highway 290 | 19 mi | 21m |
| US 59 | 14.3 mi | 15m |
| TX 105 | 12.6 mi | 18m |
| East Houston Street | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| Manor Expressway | 5.6 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
US 290
— 74.8 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on TX 105
13 mi
·
18 min
·
TX 105
Use the left / right lanes.
2
At end of road, turn right onto TX 105; TX 321
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
East Houston Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto TX 105 Business; Loop 573
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Washington Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Turn right onto TX 105 Business
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Southline Street
5
Turn left
446 ft
·
7 sec
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 59 South
7
Merge onto US 59
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Toward TX 99 Toll
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Eastex Freeway Frontage Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastex Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight / uturn lanes.
10
Turn right onto North Grand Parkway East
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Grand Parkway East
11
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
this road
Toward TX 99 Toll West
12
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
36 mi
·
38 min
·
North Grand Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 290: Austin, Houston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 290 West, TX 6 North: Austin
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto US 290; TX 6
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Northwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 290
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US Highway 290
17
Take the exit onto US 290
53 mi
·
59 min
·
US 290
Toward US 290 West: Austin
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 290
21 mi
·
25 min
·
US 290
19
Continue on 290 Toll
5.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Manor Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward US 183 South, US 183 North: Lockhart, Lampasas
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto US 183
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 183
23
Continue on 183 Toll
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto US 183
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
26
Take the ramp
486 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
27
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
For this 1-day, 203.8-mile drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With a duration under 4 hours, you won't need to plan for extensive rest stops, but a quick break during the 74.8-mile stretch on US 290 might be welcome. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $30, and gas stations can become less frequent on some highway segments. The flexibility of a shorter drive means you can depart at your leisure, but aiming for an earlier start ensures a relaxed arrival.
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 101.9 miles from Franklin, TX, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.8 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 45 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.9 miles or 2h 3m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Franklin, 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 Franklin, TX
This is one driving day of about 203.8 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Franklin, 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 290 for about 74.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 101.9 miles from Franklin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 290 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.8 miles.
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.
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
290 Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.6 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.8 mi from route
Geronimo Adventure Park
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 12–6 pm
+18303655867
Visit websiteZube Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Hockley, Texas
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+12813538100
Visit websiteHouston Area Live Steamers
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Hockley, Texas
Visit websiteAustin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteKleb Woods Nature Preserve and Center
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Early stretch
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
Tomball, Texas
Hours: 7 am–6 pm
+12813575324
Visit websiteDennis Johnston Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~12 min detour
Early stretch
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17132740930
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 12.6 and 197.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
12.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street
At end of road, turn right onto TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
73.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward US 290: Austin, Houston
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 US 290: Austin, Houston
8
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 290 West, TX 6 North: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 290 West, TX 6 North: Austin
7
196.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward US 183 South, US 183 North: Lockhart, Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 183 South, US 183 North: Lockhart, La...
7
197.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.91 one way
$55.83 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $31.18 | $62.36 |
| premium | $4.23 | $33.90 | $67.80 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $38.48 | $76.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
29 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Waller, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Waller, TX
Tesla
28 DCFC
New Caney, TX - Tesla Supercharger
New Caney, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Spring, TX - Spring Stuebner Road - Tesla Supercharger
Spring, TX
Tesla
15 DCFC
Houston, TX - Louetta Road - Tesla Supercharger
Houston, TX
Tesla
14 DCFC
Brenham, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Brenham, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Bucees Waller MB.HPC
Waller, TX
MERCEDES_BENZ
10 DCFC
Spring, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Spring, TX
Tesla
8 DCFC
Giddings, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Giddings, TX
Tesla
8 DCFC
Tesla: 7
eVgo Network: 4
SHELL_RECHARGE: 4
ChargePoint Network: 3
FORD_CHARGE: 3
Blink Network: 2
Electrify America: 2
GRAVITI_ENERGY: 1
CHAEVI: 1
MERCEDES_BENZ: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.1 | 0 | $21.40 | $9.78 |
| Efficient EV | 51 | 0 | $17.83 | $8.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.5 | 1 | $28.53 | $13.04 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Franklin, TX
Late night in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
S 0 to 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 9:18PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:06PM CDT until July 18 at 11:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Late night in Montopolis on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 9:18PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:06PM CDT until July 18 at 11:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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
2 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
3h 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 primarily highway driving, with 95% of the trip on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 74.8 miles on US 290, which is representative of the continuous highway travel you can expect. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, occurring only for the final 5% of the journey. Expect a consistent cruising experience with potentially dense exits as you approach your destination.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.8 mi on US 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 290 and North Grand Parkway East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in near TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 203.8 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: at 12.6 miles (TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
541 ft
60 ft
Total Climb
533 ft
Total Descent
130 ft
Highest Point
541 ft
~160.1 mi in
Elevation Range
480 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 Franklin, TX to Montopolis, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Houston along the way.
Houston
73.2 mi in
|
~1h 29m
About the Cities
Starting in Franklin, TX
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Franklin Carnegie Library — historic place in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas
- • Robertson County Courthouse — courthouse at Deckerd St. at Alley St. Franklin, 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 3h 59m. Total distance: 203.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.8 miles on US 290. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Montopolis, 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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles (TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Montopolis, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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