Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Grand Prairie, TX to Baytown, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 56m
Distance
272.9 mi
439 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 43m
★
6 AM
4h 56m
8 AM
5h 23m
10 AM
5h 6m
12 PM
5h 3m
3 PM
5h 7m
5 PM
5h 22m
8 PM
4h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Prairie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Baytown, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Grand Prairie, TX to Baytown, TX is 272.9 miles and takes about 4h 56m via Julius Schepps Freeway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the same region. It's a trip that's almost entirely on major highways, making it a straightforward transit rather than a scenic excursion. Plan for a simple, functional drive if you need to get from point A to point B 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
136.5 miles from Grand Prairie, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 203.2 mi | 3h 28m |
| HTR | 21.9 mi | 25m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.2 mi | 16m |
| East Freeway | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| North Loop East | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Decker Drive | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| South Belt Line Road | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 203.2 mi, about 3h 28m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,496 veh/hr typical · worst 2,185
Quietest
1 AM
~238 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 45 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 Grand Prairie, TX and Baytown, TX.
1
Start on this road
219 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street
189 ft
·
14 sec
·
Northeast 5th Street
3
Turn left onto TX 180
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Turn right onto FM 1382
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
South Belt Line Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 20 East
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 20
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 473C
Toward I 45 South: Houston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 45
203 mi
·
3 hr 28 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto HTR
22 mi
·
25 min
·
HTR
Exit 72B
Toward Hardy Toll Road South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 610 East
11
Merge onto I 610
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
North Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 26A
Toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 10
13 mi
·
15 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 330
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Decker Drive
Toward Spur 330: Baytown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward Spur 330
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on Decker Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Decker Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Decker Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 56m estimated drive time, this is easily a one-day trip. Consider leaving Grand Prairie in the morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic, especially around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; however, planning a fuel stop around the 150-mile mark would be prudent, as the longest stretch without a significant road change is over 200 miles. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices and your vehicle's MPG. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, particularly as you enter the Houston metropolitan area.
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 136.5 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 203.2 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 60 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.5 miles or 2h 26m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baytown, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grand Prairie, 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 Grand Prairie, TX
This is one driving day of about 272.9 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Grand Prairie, 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 203.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.5 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 203.2 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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.7 mi from route
TA
0.9 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.6 mi from route
Buc-ee's
2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Bicentennial Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.2 mi from route
Baytown, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+12814206597
Visit websiteRipley's Believe It or Not!
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteLouis Tussaud's Palace of Wax
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteARs Entertainment Hub Baytown
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Baytown, Texas
Hours: 4–10 pm
+18889999440
Visit websiteAllenbrook Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Baytown, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+12814206597
Visit websiteCarl Barton Jr Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm
+19365223000
Visit websiteW.L. Jenkins Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
Baytown, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+12814206597
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~11 min detour
Final third
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 21.2 and 266.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 45 South: Houston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 473C
Toward I 45 South: Houston
7
224.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
|
HTR
Take the exit onto HTR toward Hardy Toll Road South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward Hardy Toll Road South
8
253.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown
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 26A
Toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown
7
253.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Beaumont
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
7
266.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 48m in
|
Spur 330 / Decker Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 330 / Decker Drive toward Spur 330: Baytown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Spur 330: Baytown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.38 one way
$74.76 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $41.75 | $83.50 |
| premium | $4.23 | $45.39 | $90.79 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $51.53 | $103.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.9 | 1 | $28.65 | $13.10 |
| Efficient EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.88 | $10.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.2 | 1 | $38.21 | $17.47 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Grand Prairie, TX
Late night in Grand Prairie on Sunday
Local time
5:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Baytown, TX
Late night in Baytown on Sunday
Local time
5:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
2 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 56m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 85% of the 272.9 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a single main road, Julius Schepps Freeway, covers 203.2 miles. Expect a primarily highway experience with a high density of exits and merging traffic typical of urban and exurban interstates. The final portion of the drive will transition from highway to potentially more local roads as you approach Baytown.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 203.2 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and HTR. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 15 significant decision points across 272.9 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 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 224.7 miles (HTR): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 253.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
519 ft
23 ft
Total Climb
143 ft
Total Descent
640 ft
Highest Point
519 ft
Elevation Range
497 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 Grand Prairie, TX and Baytown, TX, road signs point toward Hardy Toll Road South and Downtown.
Hardy Toll Road South
224.7 mi in
|
~3h 56m
|
via HTR
Downtown
253.3 mi in
|
~4h 31m
About the Cities
Starting in Grand Prairie, TX
Full guide →Founded 1863
Grand Prairie is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas.
Arriving in Baytown, TX
Full guide →Baytown is a city in Texas. When you are in Baytown, you can rest assured you are in one of the most industrialized places of the world. With Exxon's Baytown Refinery on the west, Chevron's Cedar Bayou Plant on the northeast, the Covestro Baytown Industrial Plant on the east, and a smattering of other industries in between, you're likely to see flare stacks and storage tanks or tanker cars wherever you go, and might think you need a gas mask. But, in spite of this, there are still natural and cultural attractions to behold. And Garey Busey and Renee Zellweger used to call this place home.
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 56m. Total distance: 272.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 203.2 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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 Baytown, 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 224.7 miles (HTR): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 253.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Baytown, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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