If you are planning to head from Irving to Aransas Pass, prepare for a straightforward journey covering 387.9 miles. You should budget approximately 7 hours and 2 minutes of driving time, making this a long but manageable single-day trip if you get an early start. With fuel costs estimated at $59, this route is an efficient way to transition from the Dallas area down toward the Gulf Coast. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent geographic backdrop throughout the trek. While it is certainly possible to complete this in one day, consider your personal endurance before committing to the full seven-hour haul without a break.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
193.9 miles from Irving, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway
80.5 mi
1h 22m
TX 130 Toll
58.5 mi
54m
North United States Highway 183
43.5 mi
47m
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
South US Highway 183/ US 87
26.7 mi
28m
I 35
26.5 mi
26m
South US Highway 183
24.6 mi
27m
US 183
10.1 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 80.5 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irving, TX and Aransas Pass, TX.
1
Start on North Ohio Street
436 ft·24 sec·North Ohio Street
2
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
3
Turn straight onto TX 356
0.9 mi·1 min·East Irving Boulevard
4
Turn slight right
393 ft·17 sec
5
Turn slight right onto South Loop 12
187 ft·3 sec·South Loop 12
6
Take the ramp
410 ft·10 sec
Toward Loop 12 South
7
Merge onto Loop 12
5.3 mi·5 min·South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12
1.4 mi·1 min·South Walton Walker Boulevard
Toward Loop 12 SouthUse the slight left lane.
9
Turn slight right onto Duncanville Road
3.2 mi·6 min·Duncanville Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto West Interstate 20
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Interstate 20
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 20 East
12
Merge onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 467BToward I 35E South: WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 35E
81 mi·1 hr 22 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi·26 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
Exit 265Toward TX 130 Toll South: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 470Toward US 183 South: LockhartUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 183
0.5 mi·35 sec·United States Highway 183
22
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·North Colorado Street
23
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
24
Continue on US 183
1.2 mi·2 min·North Magnolia Avenue
25
Turn left onto US 90; US 183
5.0 mi·6 min·East Pierce Street
26
Continue on US 183
43 mi·47 min·North United States Highway 183
27
Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183
2.8 mi·3 min·North Esplanade Street
28
Continue on US 77 Alt; US 87; US 183
2.0 mi·2 min·South US Highway 183
29
Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183
27 mi·28 min·South US Highway 183/ US 87
30
Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183
3.7 mi·5 min·North Jefferson Street
31
Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183
23 mi·24 min·South US Highway 183
32
Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183
0.7 mi·1 min·North Alamo Street
33
Continue on US 77
1.4 mi·2 min·North Alamo Street
34
Turn left onto FM 774
1.5 mi·2 min·East Empresario Street
35
Turn right onto FM 2678
9.6 mi·9 min·FM 2678
Use the right lane.
36
Continue on FM 136
10.0 mi·11 min·Farm to Market Road 136
37
Turn left onto TX 188
7.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 188
38
Turn right onto FM 1069
4.3 mi·5 min·FM 1069 North
39
Turn left onto TX 35 Bus
1.9 mi·3 min·West Wheeler Avenue
40
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35 Bus
240 ft·11 sec·West Cleveland Boulevard
41
Turn left onto Loop 90
16 ft·0 sec·Harrison Boulevard
42
Arrive at destination
Loop 90
Trip Plan
To keep your energy high, plan for at least two intentional stops during your 7-hour drive. Leaving Irving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid traffic and ensure you arrive in Aransas Pass before sunset. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $59 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and current regional pricing. Since this is a highway-heavy route, utilize the TX 130 Toll sections to bypass more congested areas if you want to maintain your schedule. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so don't hesitate to extend your rest periods if the long stretches of highway begin to feel monotonous.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 193.9 miles from Irving, TX, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.5 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 85 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.9 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aransas Pass, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Irving, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Irving, TX
This is one driving day of about 387.9 miles and 7h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Irving, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on South R L Thornton Freeway for about 80.5 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 228 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.2 mi into trip|~9m in|Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard toward Loop 12 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Loop 12 South
7
16.8 mi into trip|~23m 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
6
142.3 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
168.8 mi into trip|~3h 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
7
228 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 470
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.61 one way
$117.23 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg136 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$64.16
$128.31
premium
$4.54
$69.26
$138.51
diesel
$5.61
$85.64
$171.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.4
1
$40.73
$18.62
Efficient EV
97
1
$33.94
$15.52
EV Truck/SUV
155.2
1
$54.31
$24.83
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
45 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Irving, TX
Night
in Irving on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aransas Pass, TX
Night
in Aransas Pass on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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.
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
18 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
7h 2m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 93.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 78% of your journey spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of major routes, including the South R L Thornton Freeway, TX 130 Toll, and North United States Highway 183. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 80.5-mile run on the South R L Thornton Freeway, which allows for steady cruising. As you move away from the Irving area, the infrastructure shifts to support a consistent pace, though you should expect the typical demands of sustained highway travel. Overall, the route prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.5 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 miles in near Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard.
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 21 significant decision points across 387.9 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 7.2 miles (Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.3 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents.
Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 2m. Total distance: 387.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.5 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Aransas Pass, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles (Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.3 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Aransas Pass, TX before the return drive.
