Origin
Grand Prairie, TX
Late night in Grand Prairie on Sunday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grand Prairie, TX to Bryan, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
50.5 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Prairie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Bryan, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Grand Prairie, TX to Bryan, TX is 50.5 miles and takes about 58 minutes via US 81 and I 820 TEXpress, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the Great Plains region for its entirety, making it a simple, direct trip. You'll primarily be on highways, so expect a consistent pace. With a duration under an hour, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a day trip extension without significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 81 | 17.9 mi | 19m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 6.2 mi | 6m |
| President George Bush Turnpike | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Airport Freeway | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| Illinois Street | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| SH 121/183 TEXpress | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| SH 183 TEXpress | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| I 35W TEXpress | 2.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 81
— 17.9 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Prairie, TX and Bryan, TX.
1
Start on this road
219 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street
189 ft
·
10 sec
·
Northeast 5th Street
3
Turn right onto TX 180
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Continue on TX 180
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Main Street
5
Turn slight right onto Dalworth Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Dalworth Street
6
Turn right onto TX 161
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
North State Highway 161
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward PGBT Toll North
8
Merge onto PGBT
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward TX 183 West: DFW Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto TX 183
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto Airport Freeway TEXpress
0.3 mi
·
16 sec
·
Airport Freeway TEXpress
Toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express West: Airport Freeway TEXpress West
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto TX 183 TEXpress
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
14
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
0.7 mi
·
42 sec
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
16
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 820 TEXpress
Toward I 820 Express West Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
20
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto US 81; US 287
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 81; US 287
16 mi
·
17 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward FM 407: Justin
24
Turn straight onto South US Highway 287
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South US Highway 287
25
Turn right onto FM 407
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Illinois Street
26
Turn left
94 ft
·
6 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Northeast 5th Street
Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street
Navigation decision point
6
7.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward TX 183 West: DFW Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward TX 183 West: DFW Airport
7
13.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Airport Freeway TEXpress
Take the exit onto Airport Freeway TEXpress toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express West: Airport Freeway TEXpress West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express Wes...
7
25.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W Express North: Denton
7
28.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
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 US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.35 | $16.70 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.02 | $18.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.15 | $22.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.46
President George Bush Turnpike
(5.8 mi)
$0.46
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Bryan, TX
Late night in Bryan on Sunday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
10 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
58m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 85% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.9 miles on US 81, offering a consistent cruising experience. The drive involves a mix of major expressways and well-maintained highways, designed for efficient travel. Expect a smooth ride as you navigate through Texas, with minimal deviations from high-speed roads.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.9 mi on US 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 81 and I 820 TEXpress. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Northeast 5th Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 50.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Northeast 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (Airport Freeway TEXpress): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Bryan, TX, road signs point toward Denton and Fm 407: Justin.
Denton
25.1 mi in
|
~29m
Fm 407: Justin
47 mi in
|
~53m
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.
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 58m. Total distance: 50.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.9 miles on US 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.46 in tolls one way, starting with President George Bush Turnpike. 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.
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 Bryan, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Northeast 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (Airport Freeway TEXpress): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bryan, TX before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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