Frisco, TX to Livingston, TX is 240.5 miles and takes about 4h 19m via Julius Scheibel Freeway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, primarily within Texas. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. The route is relatively short, offering flexibility for departure times and stopovers if you choose to break it up. It's a practical choice for getting between these two points efficiently.
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
120.3 miles from Frisco, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
168.4 mi
2h 50m
Phelps Drive
42.5 mi
49m
Dallas North Tollway
22.9 mi
25m
11th Street
1.9 mi
3m
US 190
1 mi
1m
Parkwood Boulevard
1 mi
1m
North Pearl Street
0.4 mi
1m
Harry Hines Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 168.4 mi, about 2h 50m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,928 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,609
Quietest
2 AM
~290 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 88 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 Livingston, 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 SouthUse 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 left at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward Harry Hines Boulevard, Downtown
9
Continue on Harry Hines Boulevard
0.4 mi·53 sec·Harry Hines Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn slight left
370 ft·11 sec
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn straight onto Moody Street
327 ft·8 sec·Moody Street
12
Continue on North Pearl Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Pearl Street
13
Turn left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway
288 ft·5 sec·Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Use the left lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 45 SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi·3 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45
165 mi·2 hr 47 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 190
1.0 mi·1 min·US 190
Toward Texas 30, US 190 East: 11th Street
18
Turn left onto US 190; TX 30
1.9 mi·3 min·11th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on US 190; TX 30
42 mi·49 min·Phelps Drive
20
Turn left onto US 59 Business
11 ft·0 sec·North Washington Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
US 59 Business
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 4h 19m driving time, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Aim to leave Frisco in the morning to make the most of daylight and arrive in Livingston with ample time. With a fuel cost estimated at $35, it's wise to fill up before you leave Frisco, as there's only one recommended stop indicated on this route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 168.4-mile stretch on Julius Schepps Freeway, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a convenient refueling point.
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 120.3 miles from Frisco, TX, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.4 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 53 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.3 miles or 2h 9m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livingston, 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 240.5 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 Julius Schepps Freeway for about 168.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|Stonebrook Parkway
Turn right onto Stonebrook Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|Dallas Parkway
Turn left onto Dallas Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward DNT Toll South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward DNT Toll South
6
24.8 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Harry Hines Boulevard, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Harry Hines Boulevard, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.82 one way
$73.65 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.29
$40.64
$81.28
premium
$4.64
$43.91
$87.83
diesel
$6.18
$58.51
$117.01
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: 84.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.2
0
$25.25
$11.54
Efficient EV
60.1
0
$21.04
$9.62
EV Truck/SUV
96.2
1
$33.67
$15.39
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Frisco, TX
Morning
in Frisco on Monday
Local time
7:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Livingston, TX
Morning
in Livingston on Monday
Local time
7:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
85°F
Italy, TX
120 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 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 19m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 71% of this 240.5-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 168.4 miles, primarily on Julius Schepps Freeway. This means you'll experience extended periods of highway cruising before transitioning to surface streets. Be prepared for the increased exit frequency and potential for merging traffic as you approach and depart urban areas.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 168.4 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Phelps Drive. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 240.5 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 (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (Stonebrook Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (Dallas Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
696 ft169 ft
Total Climb
293 ft
Total Descent
820 ft
Highest Point
696 ft
Elevation Range
527 ft
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 Livingston, TX, road signs point toward Downtown and Texas 30.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 240.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 168.4 miles on Julius Schepps 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Livingston, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (Stonebrook Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (Dallas Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Livingston, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
