Traveling from Gilmer to Dallas covers 128.3 miles across the Great Plains, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes about two hours. Since this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day, leaving plenty of time for activities upon your arrival in Dallas. Budgeting approximately $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. You will navigate through South Wood Street and West Broadway Street before transitioning onto I-20 to complete the trek. Whether you are heading into the city for business or a quick getaway, this route provides a direct and manageable connection between the two Texas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.8 miles from Gilmer, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
68.3 mi
1h 8m
TX 155
23.8 mi
27m
US 80
18.9 mi
20m
East R L Thornton Freeway
6 mi
7m
Spur 557
4.4 mi
4m
South Wood Street
1.1 mi
1m
West Broadway Street
0.9 mi
1m
Elm Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 68.3 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilmer, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on TX 154
101 ft·9 sec·East Marshall Street
2
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.1 mi·1 min·South Wood Street
3
Turn straight onto TX 155
13 mi·15 min·TX 155
4
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto TX 155
10 mi·12 min·TX 155
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward West I 20
7
Merge onto I 20
68 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557
4.4 mi·4 min·Spur 557
Exit 499AToward DallasUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on US 80
19 mi·20 min·US 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 30; US 67
6.0 mi·7 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 47BToward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinneyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinneyUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Main Street West, Elm StreetUse the slight left lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward Elm StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto Elm Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Elm Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto North Lamar Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Lamar Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, two-hour trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Since the route is entirely local and turn-heavy, stay alert through the initial segments in Gilmer before hitting the interstate. You do not need to worry about planning for major rest stops given the short duration, but having your $19 fuel budget prepared before you leave is a smart move. If you are sensitive to heavy traffic, try to avoid peak commuting hours when entering the Dallas area. Focus on navigating the turns early in your drive to ensure a smooth transition onto I-20.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.8 miles from Gilmer, TX, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.3 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.8 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallas, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gilmer, 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 Gilmer, TX
This is one driving day of about 125.7 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Gilmer, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 68.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 94.5 and 124.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
94.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Spur 557
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557 toward Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 499A
Toward Dallas
8
123.8 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinney
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.
Exit 47B
Toward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinn...
7
124 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
124.3 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Main Street West, Elm Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Main Street West, Elm Street
8
124.5 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Elm Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Elm Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.99 one way
$37.99 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$20.79
$41.58
premium
$4.54
$22.44
$44.89
diesel
$5.61
$27.75
$55.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.03
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$11.00
$5.03
EV Truck/SUV
50.3
0
$17.60
$8.04
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Gilmer, TX
Late night
in Gilmer on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph39% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Watch
High Wind Watch issued April 12 at 11:58PM MDT until April 14 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 12:38AM CDT until April 13 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Dallas, TX
Late night
in Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 to 15 mph11% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Watch
High Wind Watch issued April 12 at 11:58PM MDT until April 14 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 12:38AM CDT until April 13 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
79°F
Canton, TX
63 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
6 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
2h 15m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate out of Gilmer, which shifts the experience away from a monotonous interstate grind. You will spend your time on local roads like South Wood Street and West Broadway Street rather than relying on long stretches of highway. In fact, there is no significant highway-dominated portion of this trip, and there is no singular longest uninterrupted stretch on South Wood Street. This route requires your full attention behind the wheel as you maneuver through local transitions. The character of the drive is defined by these constant adjustments rather than high-speed cruising.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.3 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and TX 155. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 94.5 miles in near Spur 557.
Driving Effort9/10
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 13 significant decision points across 125.7 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 94.5 miles (Spur 557): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Dallas, with a population of more than 1.3 million residents, is the ninth largest city in the United States and the third largest in the state of Texas. It is an impressive melting pot of culture and character. Boasting high-end luxury hotels, innumerable fine dining spots, and one of the busiest airports in the world, Dallas maintains an upscale ethos reflected by an affluent population, world-class museums, and a shimmering modern skyline. Its history was marred by the infamous assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, but there is more historic and contemporary heritage to be discovered in the city.
As a center of the oil and cotton industries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dallas was a classic American boom town and remains one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.
Top landmarks
•Dallas Museum of Art — art museum in Dallas, Texas
•Texas School Book Depository — building in Dallas, Texas, United States
•George W. Bush Presidential Center — Presidential library and museum for U.S. President George W. Bush, located in Da...
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 125.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.3 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Dallas, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 94.5 miles (Spur 557): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dallas, TX before heading back.
