Fredericksburg to Irving is 269.9 miles and takes about 5h 9m via I 35, I 35E, and East US Highway 290, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Texas, transitioning from the Great Plains region near Fredericksburg to the same region as you approach Irving. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without extensive detours. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a solid choice for a single-day journey.
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
135 miles from Fredericksburg, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
97 mi
1h 39m
I 35E
47.3 mi
48m
East US Highway 290
27.2 mi
30m
North US Highway 281
15.8 mi
17m
RM 1869
12.8 mi
18m
East Ranch Road 1431
11.6 mi
16m
Ronald W Reagan Boulevard
8.1 mi
9m
Ronald Reagan Boulevard
7.6 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 97 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fredericksburg, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on North Adams Street
94 ft·10 sec·North Adams Street
2
Turn left onto US 87; US 290; TX 16
2.4 mi·4 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on US 290
27 mi·30 min·East US Highway 290
4
Continue on US 290
0.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
5
Turn left onto Spur 356
0.9 mi·1 min·North Nugent Avenue
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 281
16 mi·17 min·North US Highway 281
7
Continue on US 281
6.2 mi·9 min·South US Highway 281
8
Turn right onto RM 1431
0.6 mi·1 min·West Ranch Road 1431
9
Continue on RM 1431
12 mi·16 min·East Ranch Road 1431
10
Turn left onto RM 1174
7.0 mi·8 min·South Farm-to-Market Road 1174
11
Turn right onto RM 1869
13 mi·18 min·RM 1869
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 183
1.3 mi·1 min·North US Highway 183
13
Turn right onto FM 3405
1.7 mi·2 min·FM 3405
14
Turn left onto Ronald W Reagan Boulevard
8.1 mi·9 min·Ronald W Reagan Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Ronald Reagan Boulevard
7.6 mi·9 min·Ronald Reagan Boulevard
16
At end of road, turn left onto North Interstate 35
1.8 mi·2 min·North Interstate 35
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 35 North
18
Merge onto I 35
97 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
47 mi·48 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 418AToward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto I 20
6.6 mi·7 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 460Toward Spur 408Use the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto Spur 408
3.9 mi·4 min·Patriot Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto Loop 12
5.4 mi·5 min·South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
492 ft·12 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
26
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Loop 12
27
Turn left onto TX 356
0.4 mi·59 sec·East State Highway 356
Use the left / straight lanes.
28
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi·2 min·East Irving Boulevard
29
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi·26 sec·West Irving Boulevard
30
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft·2 sec·North Ohio Street
31
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
For this 269.9-mile drive, leaving Fredericksburg in the morning is advisable to take full advantage of daylight hours and avoid potential evening traffic as you near Irving. With a duration of just over 5 hours, it's comfortably a one-day trip, but consider a brief stop around the halfway point for a stretch and to break up the 97-mile longest stretch on I 35. Keep an eye on your fuel; while the estimated cost is $41, it's always wise to refuel before hitting extended highway segments, especially on I 35.
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 135 miles from Fredericksburg, TX, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97 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 59 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irving, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fredericksburg, 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 Fredericksburg, TX
This is one driving day of about 269.9 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Fredericksburg, 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 I 35 for about 97 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 88 and 267.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
88 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Ronald W Reagan Boulevard
Turn left onto Ronald W Reagan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
202.9 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
250.1 mi into trip|~4h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
257.7 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward Spur 408
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
6
267.8 mi into trip|~5h 4m in
Take the exit toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.78 one way
$81.57 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$44.64
$89.28
premium
$4.54
$48.19
$96.38
diesel
$5.61
$59.59
$119.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81
0
$28.34
$12.96
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.62
$10.80
EV Truck/SUV
108
1
$37.79
$17.27
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Fredericksburg, TX
Late night
in Fredericksburg on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Irving, TX
Late night
in Irving on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
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.
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
1 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
5h 9m 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.
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
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 167.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 82% of the journey on interstates. Expect long stretches of fast-paced travel, including a significant 97-mile segment on I 35 where you'll want to be sure your fuel tank is topped off. The character is largely that of a functional interstate commute, designed for covering distance. While not overly scenic, the consistent highway profile means you can maintain a steady pace for much of the 5-hour trip.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 88 miles in near Ronald W Reagan Boulevard.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 269.9 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 88 miles (Ronald W Reagan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 202.9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents.
Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
Top landmarks
•Ruth Paine Home — house in Irving, Texas, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 269.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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 Irving, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 88 miles (Ronald W Reagan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 202.9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Irving, TX before the return drive.
