Trip from Frisco, TX to Bulverde, TX

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

Drive Time

5h 24m

Distance

290.6 mi

468 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 11m ★

6 AM

5h 24m

8 AM

5h 51m

10 AM

5h 34m

12 PM

5h 31m

3 PM

5h 35m

5 PM

5h 50m

8 PM

5h 16m

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

Best Time

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Frisco, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Comal County, Texas, United States

Bulverde, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Frisco, TX to Bulverde, TX is 290.6 miles and takes about 5 hours 24 minutes via I 35, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface streets, making it a straightforward one-day excursion. It's a practical route for getting from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex south towards the San Antonio area without too much fuss.

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

145.3 miles from Frisco, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
Purple Heart Trail	87.7 mi	1h 33m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
Dallas North Tollway	22.9 mi	25m
Farm-to-Market Road 1863	17.1 mi	25m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
South Walnut Avenue	2.8 mi	5m
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 104 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~4,070 veh/hr typical · worst 4,856

Quietest

2 AM

~706 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.8×

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 Bulverde, TX.

Start on Main Street

87 ft · 9 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · 5th Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on Parkwood Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · Parkwood Boulevard

Turn right onto Stonebrook Parkway

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Stonebrook Parkway

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto Dallas Parkway

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Dallas Parkway

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 20 sec

Toward DNT Toll South Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto DNT

23 mi · 25 min · Dallas North Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35E South Use the right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

329 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 35E South Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway

0.1 mi · 12 sec · North Stemmons Freeway

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward I 35E South

Merge onto I 35E

1.8 mi · 2 min · North Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

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.

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

0.3 mi · 19 sec · Interstate Highway 35

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Exit 186 Toward Walnut Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 35 South

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Interstate 35 South

Turn right onto South Walnut Avenue

2.8 mi · 5 min · South Walnut Avenue

Continue on TX 46

1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 46 West

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto FM 1863

17 mi · 25 min · Farm-to-Market Road 1863

Continue on FM 1863

1.2 mi · 2 min · Bulverde Road

Use the straight lane.

Arrive at destination

Bulverde Road

Trip Plan

Given the 5 hour 24 minute estimated drive time, leaving Frisco in the morning should allow you to reach Bulverde with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. The fuel cost is estimated at $42, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. Watch for transitions between the interstate and surface roads, especially as you get closer to your destination. The longest stretch without a major road change is nearly 90 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway, so plan your last fuel stop accordingly.

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 145.3 miles from Frisco, TX, or about 2h 35m 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 64 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 145.3 miles or 2h 35m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bulverde, 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 290.6 miles and 5h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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

Troy, TX

145 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

Italy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 145.3 miles from Frisco, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Marcos, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+15123938400

Visit website

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 website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 267.7 — 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 | 5th Street

Turn left onto 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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

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

217.6 mi into trip | ~3h 51m 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

267.7 mi into trip | ~4h 46m in

Take the exit toward Walnut Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 186 Toward Walnut Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.62 one way

$87.25 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 102 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$48.27	$96.54
premium	$4.57	$52.23	$104.46
diesel	$6.28	$71.80	$143.61

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

$44

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	87.2	1	$30.51	$13.95
Efficient EV	72.7	0	$25.43	$11.62
EV Truck/SUV	116.2	1	$40.68	$18.60

Gas CO2

102 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (67% 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

Frisco, TX

Late night in Frisco on Thursday

Local time

5:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Bulverde, TX

Late night in Bulverde on Thursday

Local time

5:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Partly Cloudy

ENE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

76°F

Troy, TX

145 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

26 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 24m 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 120.2

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...

29 mi from route ~73 min detour Free near mile 280.6

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

About 54% of this 290.6-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter an 89.9-mile stretch on South R L Thornton Freeway, which is the longest continuous highway segment. The profile is mixed highway and surface, meaning you'll transition from faster-paced interstate driving to more local roads with potentially more frequent stops. Be prepared for more urban merging as you approach and depart major metro areas.

54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

26 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?

8/10

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 near 5th Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 290.6 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 (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,093 ft 549 ft

Total Climb

928 ft

Total Descent

531 ft

Highest Point

1,093 ft

~290.6 mi in

Elevation Range

544 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 Frisco, TX to Bulverde, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas Zoo along the way.

Dallas Zoo

28 mi in | ~34m | via I 35E

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 Bulverde, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1850

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 5h 24m. Total distance: 290.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

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 30 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 Bulverde, 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 30 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bulverde, 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.

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Explore more options from Frisco, TX or browse trips ending in Bulverde, TX.

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Trip from Frisco, TX to Bulverde, 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

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Buc-ee's

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Ascent Travel Center

TA

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Marlstone Retail Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Children's Park

Tube Chute

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

Calaboose African American History Museum

Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo

Visit Frisco

Pioneer Farms

Kids Colony

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Frisco, TX

Bulverde, TX

Same local time

26 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 24m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Frisco, TX

Arriving in Bulverde, 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

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