This 307.2-mile drive from Holiday Lakes, TX to Fort Worth, TX is designed for a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 41 minutes. Primarily a highway-focused journey, it will see you spending 99% of your time on major roads like the North Freeway and US 287. With an estimated fuel cost of $46, this route is a straightforward trek across the Great Plains region of Texas. The drive is best suited as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. It’s a practical option for covering a significant distance 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
153.6 miles from Holiday Lakes, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Freeway
198.4 mi
3h 27m
US 287
57.6 mi
1h 5m
Nolan Ryan Expressway
20.7 mi
23m
Brazoria County Expressway
16.1 mi
19m
South Freeway
3.5 mi
3m
FM 521
3.1 mi
5m
Gulf Freeway
2.4 mi
3m
CR 30
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 198.4 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Holiday Lakes, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on 4th Street
251 ft·12 sec·4th Street
2
Turn right onto Lake Drive
0.3 mi·39 sec·Lake Drive
3
Continue on North Texas Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·North Texas Avenue
4
Continue on Creekside Drive
0.3 mi·46 sec·Creekside Drive
5
At end of road, turn left onto Sims Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Sims Road
6
Continue on CR 30
2.0 mi·4 min·CR 30
7
At end of road, turn left onto FM 521
3.1 mi·5 min·FM 521
8
Turn right onto CR 45
0.5 mi·1 min·County Road 45
9
Turn right onto TX 288
0.7 mi·55 sec·Nolan Ryan Expressway
10
Take the exit
209 ft·5 sec
11
Merge onto TX 288
20 mi·22 min·Nolan Ryan Expressway
12
Continue on TX 288
0.1 mi·7 sec·South Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll
16 mi·19 min·Brazoria County Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 45 North: DallasUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 45
2.4 mi·3 min·Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 45
198 mi·3 hr 27 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 287
58 mi·1 hr 5 min·US 287
Exit 247Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 437Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 35W North: DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35W North: Fort Worth
21
Merge onto I 35W
3.2 mi·3 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 49AToward Allen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Freeway
24
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft·12 sec·East Allen Avenue
25
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft·5 sec·South Freeway
26
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 41-minute duration, starting your drive from Holiday Lakes early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for a comfortable arrival in Fort Worth. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically. The longest stretch of 198.4 miles on the North Freeway means you’ll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. This efficient, highway-focused route offers flexibility, so you can adjust your pace as needed, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge will be key for this predominantly highway journey.
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 153.6 miles from Holiday Lakes, TX, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.4 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 68 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.6 miles or 2h 54m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Holiday Lakes, 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 Holiday Lakes, TX
This is one driving day of about 307.2 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Holiday Lakes, 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 North Freeway for about 198.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.9 and 306.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
43.9 mi into trip|~58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
8
245.1 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, 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.
Exit 247
Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth
8
302.7 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
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 437
Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
7
302.9 mi into trip|~5h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W North: Denton
7
306.7 mi into trip|~5h 40m in
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.42 one way
$92.84 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$50.81
$101.62
premium
$4.54
$54.85
$109.70
diesel
$5.61
$67.83
$135.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.2
1
$32.26
$14.75
Efficient EV
76.8
0
$26.88
$12.29
EV Truck/SUV
122.9
1
$43.01
$19.66
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Holiday Lakes, TX
Late night
in Holiday Lakes on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Late night
in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 10 mph14% chanceLive 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.
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
3 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
5h 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 99% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll encounter the North Freeway and US 287, forming the backbone of this journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 198.4 miles, meaning extended periods of consistent driving. This highway-focused profile suggests a consistent pace, allowing you to cover ground steadily. The drive progresses through the expansive Great Plains landscape, offering a sense of open road for much of the trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 198.4 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and US 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.9 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 307.2 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 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.1 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 302.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.
Top landmarks
•Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
•Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
•St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth — church located in Fort Worth, Texas
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 307.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 198.4 miles on North Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Fort Worth, 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.1 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 302.7 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 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Worth, TX before the return drive.
