Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Frisco, TX to Bastrop, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 23m
Distance
247.5 mi
398 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 10m
★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 50m
10 AM
4h 33m
12 PM
4h 30m
3 PM
4h 34m
5 PM
4h 49m
8 PM
4h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frisco, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Bastrop, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Frisco to Bastrop is 247.5 miles and takes about 4h 23m via South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region near Dallas-Fort Worth to the Great Plains region south of Austin. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making it a straightforward connection. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to get between these two points without extensive planning.
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
123.7 miles from Frisco, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| TX 130 Toll | 37 mi | 35m |
| I 35 | 26.5 mi | 26m |
| Dallas North Tollway | 22.9 mi | 25m |
| Texas State Highway 71 | 17.6 mi | 20m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| North Stemmons Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~4,039 veh/hr typical · worst 5,025
Quietest
2 AM
~681 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 Frisco, TX and Bastrop, TX.
1
Start on Main Street
87 ft
·
9 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
5th Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Parkwood Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Parkwood Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Stonebrook Parkway
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Stonebrook Parkway
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto Dallas Parkway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Dallas Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward DNT Toll South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto DNT
23 mi
·
25 min
·
Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35E South
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
329 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 35E South
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Stemmons Freeway
11
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 35E South
12
Merge onto I 35E
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
14
Continue on I 35E
89 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi
·
26 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on TX 130 Toll
37 mi
·
35 min
·
TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 449
Toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto State Highway 130
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 130
22
Turn left onto TX 71
412 ft
·
7 sec
·
East State Highway 71
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Take the ramp onto TX 71
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
East State Highway 71
Toward TX 71 East: Houston
24
Continue on TX 71
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Loop 150 East: Hasler Boulevard, Childers Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn straight onto State Highway 71 West
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
State Highway 71 West
27
Continue on State Highway 71 West
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 71 West
28
Turn left onto Loop 150
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Chestnut Street
29
Arrive at destination
Loop 150
Trip Plan
For this 4h 23m drive, leaving Frisco in the morning will allow you to arrive in Bastrop with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $36, the trip is easily manageable in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the TX 130 Toll, as services can be spaced out on toll roads. Since this is a relatively short highway drive, you have flexibility to adjust your departure time or make an unplanned stop if needed.
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 123.7 miles from Frisco, TX, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 54 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.7 miles or 2h 13m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bastrop, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Frisco, 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 Frisco, TX
This is one driving day of about 247.5 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Frisco, 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 R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.7 miles from Frisco, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 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.
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Circle K
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.6 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.7 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
NTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websiteVisit Frisco
4.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Frisco, Texas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+19722925250
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Halfway reset
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteKids Colony
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
The Colony, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
+19726251106
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 24.8 and 245.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
24.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 35E South
7
25.3 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E South
7
188.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
8
226 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport
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 449
Toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan T...
7
245.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 19m in
Take the exit toward Loop 150 East: Hasler Boulevard, Childers Street
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 Loop 150 East: Hasler Boulevard, Childer...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.15 one way
$74.31 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $41.11 | $82.22 |
| premium | $4.57 | $44.48 | $88.96 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $61.15 | $122.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.83
Dallas North Tollway
(22.9 mi)
$1.83
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
$37
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.3 | 0 | $25.99 | $11.88 |
| Efficient EV | 61.9 | 0 | $21.66 | $9.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99 | 1 | $34.65 | $15.84 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Origin
Frisco, TX
Night in Frisco on Thursday
Local time
9:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Bastrop, TX
Night in Bastrop on Thursday
Local time
9:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny
ENE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
58°F
Italy, TX
124 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
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 23m 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 119.5
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 primarily highway, with 74% of the 247.5 miles on major roads like South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll. The longest continuous stretch of highway cruising is 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads after the main highway segments, likely noticing more frequent exits and slower speeds as you approach your destination.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.8 miles in.
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 17 significant decision points across 247.5 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: at 24.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 188.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
829 ft
365 ft
Total Climb
574 ft
Total Descent
906 ft
Highest Point
829 ft
~176.8 mi in
Elevation Range
465 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.
Between Frisco, TX and Bastrop, TX, road signs point toward Dallas Zoo, Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal and Austin–Bergstrom International Airport.
Dallas Zoo
28 mi in
|
~34m
|
via I 35E
Houston
226 mi in
|
~3h 56m
Barbara Jordan Terminal
226 mi in
|
~3h 56m
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport
226 mi in
|
~3h 56m
About the Cities
Starting in Frisco, TX
Full guide →Founded 1904
Frisco is a suburb of Dallas and part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Top landmarks
- • Universal Kids Resort — resort in Frisco, Texas
- • Videogame History Museum — computer museum in Texas, USA
Arriving in Bastrop, TX
Full guide →Bastrop is the county seat of Bastrop County, Texas, and is located about 30 mi (48 km) east of Austin. Bastrop was settled by Europeans in 1804 and incorporated on December 18, 1837, with a 2020 population of 9688. It is known for its isolated belt of loblolly pines (the "Lost Pines") that exist miles to the west of the Piney Woods of East Texas and Louisiana; see Bastrop State Park below.
Top landmarks
- • Bastrop County Courthouse and Jail Complex — historic place in Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas
- • Crocheron-McDowall House — historic place in Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas
- • H. P. Luckett House — historic place in Bastrop, Bastrop County, 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 23m. Total distance: 247.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.83 in tolls one way, starting with Dallas North 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 29 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 Bastrop, 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 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 188.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bastrop, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bastrop, TX
More trips to Bastrop, TX
Explore more options from Frisco, TX or browse trips ending in Bastrop, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.