This 137.7-mile drive from Iowa Park, TX to Frisco, TX will take you about 2 hours and 43 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip predominantly using Central East Freeway and West US Highway 380 before merging onto I-35E. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, this route is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region throughout your journey, so expect a consistent landscape. This drive is ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.8 miles from Iowa Park, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Central East Freeway
72.5 mi
1h 16m
West US Highway 380
21.8 mi
25m
I 35E
8.3 mi
8m
US 287
8.1 mi
8m
Main Street
4 mi
7m
West Eldorado Parkway
3.8 mi
6m
West University Drive
3.3 mi
4m
East Eldorado Parkway
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Central East Freeway
— 72.5 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Park, TX and Frisco, TX.
1
Start on West Cash Street
147 ft·11 sec·West Cash Street
2
Turn left onto North Yosemite Street
133 ft·9 sec·North Yosemite Street
3
Turn right onto US 287 Bus; FM 368
0.2 mi·37 sec·West Highway Street
4
Turn right onto FM 368
0.9 mi·1 min·North Pacific Avenue
5
Turn right onto Southwest Access Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·Southwest Access Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
7
Merge onto US 287
8.1 mi·8 min·US 287
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
0.6 mi·42 sec·Northwest Freeway
Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
9
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287
2.5 mi·3 min·Central Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
0.9 mi·1 min·Lloyd Ruby Overpass
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.9 mi·1 min·Central East Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
1.8 mi·1 min·Central East Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
70 mi·1 hr 13 min·Central East Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
15
Keep slight left at fork
147 ft·4 sec
16
Turn left onto US 380
22 mi·25 min·West US Highway 380
17
Continue on US 380
3.3 mi·4 min·West University Drive
18
Take the exit
288 ft·7 sec
19
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.1 mi·11 sec·North Interstate 35
20
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 35 SouthUse the straight / left lanes.
21
Merge onto I 35; US 77
1.0 mi·1 min·I 35; US 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35E; US 77
8.3 mi·8 min·I 35E; US 77
Toward I 35E South: DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 458Toward FM 2181: Swisher RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35E
1.0 mi·1 min·South Interstate 35E
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn left onto West Swisher Road
1.1 mi·1 min·West Swisher Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Continue on LLTB
2.1 mi·3 min·Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge
27
Continue on West Eldorado Parkway
3.8 mi·6 min·West Eldorado Parkway
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on FM 720
2.7 mi·4 min·East Eldorado Parkway
29
Turn right onto Witt Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Witt Road
30
Turn left onto King Road
0.5 mi·1 min·King Road
31
Continue on Main Street
3.9 mi·7 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
32
Turn left onto 5th Street
395 ft·20 sec·5th Street
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right onto Oak Street
356 ft·17 sec·Oak Street
34
Turn right onto 6th Street
355 ft·17 sec·6th Street
35
Turn right onto Main Street
268 ft·7 sec·Main Street
36
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 43 minute duration, starting your journey in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $21, this trip is very manageable for a single day, so you have flexibility on when to depart. Pay attention to traffic conditions as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, especially on I-35E. A specific tip for this route: consider filling up your fuel tank before leaving Iowa Park to ensure you have ample range before hitting the more urban stretches.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.8 miles from Iowa Park, TX, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.5 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 30 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frisco, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Iowa Park, 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 Iowa Park, TX
This is one driving day of about 137.7 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Iowa Park, 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 Central East Freeway for about 72.5 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 137.4 — 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|North Yosemite Street
Turn left onto North Yosemite Street
Navigation decision point
6
9.7 mi into trip|~11m in|US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, U...
6
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 35 South
7
121 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward FM 2181: Swisher Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 458
Toward FM 2181: Swisher Road
6
137.4 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.81 one way
$41.61 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$22.77
$45.55
premium
$4.54
$24.59
$49.17
diesel
$5.61
$30.40
$60.80
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge
(2.1 mi)$0.15
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
$21
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.46
$6.61
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.05
$5.51
EV Truck/SUV
55.1
0
$19.28
$8.81
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Iowa Park, TX
Evening
in Iowa Park on Sunday
Local time
5:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Frisco, TX
Evening
in Frisco on Sunday
Local time
5:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Aurora, TX
69 mi in
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
4 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
2h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly highway-focused experience, with 89% of this route utilizing major roadways. The drive features a significant uninterrupted stretch of 72.5 miles on Central East Freeway, offering a consistent pace. As you progress, the roads will transition, primarily following West US Highway 380 before you join the well-traveled I-35E corridor. This profile suggests a route where maintaining speed is generally possible, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous detours off the main path.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.5 mi on Central East Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and West US Highway 380. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Yosemite Street.
Driving Effort10/10
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 24 significant decision points across 137.7 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: near the start (North Yosemite Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 137.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.5 miles on Central East Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.15 in tolls one way, starting with Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge. 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 Frisco, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Yosemite Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Frisco, TX before heading back.
