Trip from Grand Prairie, TX to Donna, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 14m

Distance

530.2 mi

853 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$80

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

9h 6m ★

6 AM

9h 15m

8 AM

9h 31m

10 AM

9h 21m

12 PM

9h 19m

3 PM

9h 21m

5 PM

9h 31m

8 PM

9h 10m

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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city in Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis counties in Texas, United States

Grand Prairie, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Donna, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

Grand Prairie, TX to Donna, TX is 530.2 miles and takes about 9h 14m via TX 130 Toll and other main roads, with a fuel budget near $77 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive primarily stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region on both ends. Given the distance and duration, it's best split over two days to avoid excessive fatigue. Plan for an efficient trip with toll roads and a straightforward route.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

265.1 miles from Grand Prairie, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
TX 130 Toll	86.1 mi	1h 19m
South R L Thornton Freeway	80.5 mi	1h 22m
South Nueces Street	66.2 mi	1h 10m
I 37	60.5 mi	1h 1m
Falfurrias Expressway	55.8 mi	58m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
I 10	32.5 mi	33m
I 69C	27.9 mi	30m

Longest stretch: TX 130 Toll — 86.1 mi, about 1h 19m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,975 veh/hr typical · worst 3,836

Quietest

2 AM

~487 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.1×

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 Grand Prairie, TX and Donna, TX.

Start on this road

219 ft · 21 sec · this road

Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street

189 ft · 14 sec · Northeast 5th Street

Turn left onto TX 180

0.2 mi · 27 sec · East Main Street

Turn right onto FM 1382

5.4 mi · 9 min · South Belt Line Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 20 East Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 20

9.3 mi · 9 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec

Exit 467B Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

81 mi · 1 hr 22 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

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

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

86 mi · 1 hr 19 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; TX 130

11 mi · 11 min · I 10; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130

9.4 mi · 9 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

12 mi · 12 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 410

1.4 mi · 1 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 410; TX 130

6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 37

60 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South

Toward US 281 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

56 mi · 58 min · Falfurrias Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

18 mi · 20 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 2 East; US 83 East

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I 2 East; US 83 East

Continue on I 2; US 83

6.5 mi · 7 min · I 2; US 83

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 154 Toward Spur 433: Main Street Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto East Expressway 83

0.5 mi · 58 sec · East Expressway 83

Turn right onto Spur 433

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Turn left onto US 83 Bus

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Hooks Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto South 11th Street

22 ft · 0 sec · South 11th Street

Arrive at destination

South 11th Street

Trip Plan

For this 9-plus hour drive, breaking it into two days is highly recommended. Aim to leave Grand Prairie in the morning, covering about half the distance to allow for a relaxed evening. You'll have two planned stops, so use them to stretch and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel costs, estimated at $77 for the trip. A good midway point would be somewhere around the San Antonio area to split the drive evenly. Watch for the transition from high-speed toll roads to more populated areas with varying speed limits as you get closer to Donna.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 265.1 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, or about 4h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 117 miles or 2h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 265.1 miles or 4h 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 265.1 miles or 4h 29m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Donna, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Grand Prairie, TX

Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Donna, TX

Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Grand Prairie, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Burleson, TX

175 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Burleson, TX to San Antonio, TX

252.3 mi · 4h 32m

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

350 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

265 mi · about 4.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 265 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Burleson, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 265.1 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before TX 130 Toll if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.1 miles.

Overnight split

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 website

Louis 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 website

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

Gibson Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Weslaco, Texas

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+19564473407

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 27

5 decision points cluster between mile 15.3 and 295.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

15.3 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward I 35E South: Waco

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 467B Toward I 35E South: Waco

167.2 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

254 mi into trip | ~4h 18m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

295.2 mi into trip | ~5h 1m in

Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

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 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...

295.4 mi into trip | ~5h 1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$79.59 one way

$159.19 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 186 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$88.07	$176.13
premium	$4.57	$95.29	$190.58
diesel	$6.18	$128.98	$257.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$80

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$210–$320

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 185.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	159.1	1	$55.67	$25.45
Efficient EV	132.6	1	$46.39	$21.21
EV Truck/SUV	212.1	2	$74.23	$33.93

Gas CO2

186 kg

EV CO2

62 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

Grand Prairie, TX

Late night in Grand Prairie on Wednesday

Local time

1:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Donna, TX

Late night in Donna on Wednesday

Local time

1:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Partly Sunny

N 6 to 9 mph 8% chance Live forecast

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

9 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

9h 14m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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.

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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 292.5

View on nps.gov

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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 91.4

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

With 77% of this drive on highways, you'll experience extended periods of cruising. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 86.1 miles on the TX 130 Toll. You'll transition from highway speeds to surface streets, like South Nueces Street, later in the trip. Expect a mix of efficient toll road travel and more urban or suburban driving as you approach your destination.

77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on TX 130 Toll.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.3 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 27 significant decision points across 530.2 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 15.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 254 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

713 ft 75 ft

Total Climb

460 ft

Total Descent

889 ft

Highest Point

713 ft

~151.5 mi in

Elevation Range

639 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 Grand Prairie, TX to Donna, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.

Corpus Christi

295.2 mi in | ~5h 1m

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 Donna, TX

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 265 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 52 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 Donna, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 52 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Donna, 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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