Mitchell County Westbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Grand Prairie, TX to Midland, 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
5h 34m
Distance
319.1 mi
514 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 21m
★
6 AM
5h 35m
8 AM
6h 1m
10 AM
5h 44m
12 PM
5h 41m
3 PM
5h 45m
5 PM
6h 0m
8 PM
5h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Prairie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Midland, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Grand Prairie, TX to Midland, TX is 319.1 miles and takes about 5h 34m via I 20, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, crossing Texas from one side to the other. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly on the interstate, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. Given the relatively short duration and familiar landscape, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to West Texas.
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
159.5 miles from Grand Prairie, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 276.4 mi | 4h 39m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 17 mi | 21m |
| West Freeway | 15.5 mi | 17m |
| East Highway 80 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| East Front Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Dalworth Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Wall Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 276.4 mi, about 4h 39m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,369 veh/hr typical · worst 1,769
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Midland, 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
0.4 mi
·
23 sec
·
President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 30: Dallas, Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 30 West: Forth Worth
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 30
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 30; US 377
15 mi
·
17 min
·
West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 20
276 mi
·
4 hr 39 min
·
I 20
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 20 Business West: Midland
15
Continue on I 20 Bus
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
East Highway 80
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on I 20 Bus
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Front Street
17
Turn slight right onto Loop 269
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Wall Street
18
Arrive at destination
Loop 269
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 34-minute drive, leaving Grand Prairie in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since the longest stretch is 276.4 miles on I 20, plan for a mid-drive break around the halfway point. Given the 1-day recommendation, you can be flexible with your departure time. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you get further west, as services can become more spread out. The $50 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices before you leave.
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 159.5 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276.4 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 70 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.5 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Midland, 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 319.1 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 I 20 for about 276.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
160 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 159.5 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 I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 276.4 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.
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Westbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Howard County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Westbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.2 mi from route
Waterfall Overlook
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Hill Arbor
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
2.2 mi from route
Liberty City Rage Room
5.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.1 mi from route
Midland, Texas
Hours: Closed
+14324005911
Visit websiteCentennial Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.1 mi from route
Midland, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+14326878200
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, right off the route
First break
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteMidland County History Museum
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
Midland, Texas
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+14326888947
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 websiteDennis the Menace Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Midland, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+14326857356
Visit websiteMuseum of the Southwest
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Midland, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+14326832882
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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 3.1 — 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
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
PGBT / President George Bush Turnpike
Merge onto PGBT / President George Bush Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 30: Dallas, Fort Worth
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 I 30: Dallas, Fort Worth
7
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 West: Forth Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 30 West: Forth Worth
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge onto I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.71 one way
$87.41 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
112 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $48.82 | $97.64 |
| premium | $4.23 | $53.08 | $106.16 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $60.25 | $120.50 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.03
President George Bush Turnpike
(0.4 mi)
$0.03
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
$44
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.7 | 1 | $33.51 | $15.32 |
| Efficient EV | 79.8 | 0 | $27.92 | $12.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127.6 | 1 | $44.67 | $20.42 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Origin
Grand Prairie, TX
Morning in Grand Prairie on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Partly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:03AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Midland, TX
Morning in Midland on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 mph
45% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:03AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 34m 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 spend 98% of your time on highways, with the bulk of the miles, 276.4 to be exact, on I 20. This means you're on high-speed, limited-access roads for almost the entire 319.1 miles. The transition to surface roads will only happen near your destination in Midland, TX. Expect mostly rural interstate cruising with occasional bursts of urban merging as you pass through towns along the way.
98% 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: 276.4 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Tom Landry Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Northeast 5th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 319.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Northeast 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (PGBT / President George Bush Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,780 ft
519 ft
Total Climb
2,816 ft
Total Descent
556 ft
Highest Point
2,780 ft
~319.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,261 ft
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 Midland, TX
Full guide →Founded 1881
Midland is a city in the Permian Basin region of Texas. Its warm climate, friendly people, and central location are the primary reasons for the city's popularity. It is home to about 133,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) Twenty minutes to the west is Odessa, with a population of about 100,000. Nearly a quarter of a million people reside in the Midland/Odessa metropolitan area.
Top landmarks
- • George W. Bush Childhood Home — historic place in Midland, Midland County, Texas
- • Tower Petroleum Building — historic place in Midland, Midland County, Texas
- • Permian Basin Petroleum Museum — Midland museum
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 5h 34m. Total distance: 319.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 276.4 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.03 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.
Yes — we found about 41 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 Midland, 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Northeast 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (PGBT / President George Bush Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Midland, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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