Trip from Irving, TX to Canyon Lake, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 1m

Distance

268.5 mi

432 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 48m ★

6 AM

5h 1m

8 AM

5h 28m

10 AM

5h 11m

12 PM

5h 8m

3 PM

5h 12m

5 PM

5h 27m

8 PM

4h 53m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Irving, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Canyon Lake, TX

Artūras Kokorevas

Trip Overview

Irving, TX to Canyon Lake, TX is 268.5 miles and takes about 5h 1m via Purple Heart Trail, South R L Thornton Freeway, and I 35, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region towards another part of the same region. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, making it a manageable one-day excursion. Plan for a straightforward drive that should get you to your destination with plenty of time to spare.

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

134.2 miles from Irving, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	87.7 mi	1h 33m
South R L Thornton Freeway	80.5 mi	1h 22m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
RM 2722	7.7 mi	10m
South Walton Walker Boulevard	6.7 mi	7m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway	4.6 mi	4m
Duncanville Road	3.2 mi	6m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 87.7 mi, about 1h 33m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,671 veh/hr typical · worst 4,407

Quietest

2 AM

~640 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.7×

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 Irving, TX and Canyon Lake, TX.

Start on North Ohio Street

436 ft · 24 sec · North Ohio Street

Turn left onto West 2nd Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 2nd Street

Turn straight onto TX 356

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Irving Boulevard

Turn slight right

393 ft · 17 sec

Turn slight right onto South Loop 12

187 ft · 3 sec · South Loop 12

Take the ramp

410 ft · 10 sec

Toward Loop 12 South

Merge onto Loop 12

5.3 mi · 5 min · South Walton Walker Boulevard

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12

1.4 mi · 1 min · South Walton Walker Boulevard

Toward Loop 12 South Use the slight left lane.

Turn slight right onto Duncanville Road

3.2 mi · 6 min · Duncanville Road

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto West Interstate 20

0.2 mi · 21 sec · West Interstate 20

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward I 20 East

Merge onto I 20

4.6 mi · 4 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

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290

50 mi · 54 min · Purple Heart Trail

Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street Use the slight left lane.

Continue on I 35

0.3 mi · 19 sec · Interstate Highway 35

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Exit 186 Toward Walnut Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 35 South

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Interstate 35 South

Turn right onto South Walnut Avenue

2.8 mi · 5 min · South Walnut Avenue

Continue on TX 46

3.1 mi · 4 min · State Highway 46 West

Use the left lane.

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 53 sec

Turn slight right

110 ft · 7 sec

Turn right onto RM 2722

7.7 mi · 10 min · RM 2722

Turn left onto FM 2673

2.0 mi · 2 min · FM 2673

Continue on FM 2673

1.7 mi · 2 min · Cranes Mill Road

Turn right onto Oblate Drive

1.5 mi · 3 min · Oblate Drive

Continue on Lighthouse Drive

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Lighthouse Drive

Turn right onto Robin Hood Drive

528 ft · 24 sec · Robin Hood Drive

Continue on Robin Hood Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Robin Hood Drive

Turn left onto Canyon Lake Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Canyon Lake Drive

Arrive at destination

Sherwood Drive

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Irving, TX in the morning. With only one recommended stop and a total duration under 5 hours, you have flexibility. The primary roads are Purple Heart Trail, South R L Thornton Freeway, and I 35. Watch for the transition from highway to surface roads, which might happen around the 180-mile mark given the highway share. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $39, but it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially since the longest stretch is 87.7 miles.

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 134.2 miles from Irving, TX, or about 2h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.7 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 59 miles or 1h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 134.2 miles or 2h 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 3h 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Canyon Lake, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Irving, TX

This is one driving day of about 268.5 miles and 5h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Irving, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 87.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, TX

134 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

Italy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.2 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.5 mi from route

Children's Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

San Marcos, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+15123938400

Visit website

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18306291572

Visit website

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 248.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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

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.

198.1 mi into trip | ~3h 31m in | I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street

248.2 mi into trip | ~4h 26m in

Take the exit toward Walnut Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 186 Toward Walnut Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.31 one way

$80.61 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$44.60	$89.20
premium	$4.57	$48.26	$96.51
diesel	$6.28	$66.34	$132.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80.6	0	$28.19	$12.89
Efficient EV	67.1	0	$23.49	$10.74
EV Truck/SUV	107.4	1	$37.59	$17.18

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 22, 2026

Origin

Irving, TX

Evening in Irving on Thursday

Local time

7:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Clear

E 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Canyon Lake, TX

Evening in Canyon Lake on Thursday

Local time

7:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Mostly Clear

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

57°F

Troy, TX

134 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

2 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 1m 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.

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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 101.8

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

About 60% of this 268.5-mile route is on highways. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 87.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. After the highway sections, you'll transition to surface roads, so be prepared for more varied speed limits and traffic patterns. Expect a mix of faster highway travel and more local road conditions.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 87.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 268.5 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

967 ft 459 ft

Total Climb

970 ft

Total Descent

487 ft

Highest Point

967 ft

~268.5 mi in

Elevation Range

508 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Irving, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1903

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.

Top landmarks

• Ruth Paine Home — house in Irving, Texas, United States

Arriving in Canyon Lake, TX

Full guide →

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 1m. Total distance: 268.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 87.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 31 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 Canyon Lake, 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Canyon Lake, 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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Trip from Irving, TX to Canyon Lake, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Buc-ee's

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Ascent Travel Center

TA

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Marlstone Retail Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Children's Park

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

Tube Chute

Pioneer Farms

Calaboose African American History Museum

Cultural Activities Center

Village of Salado Visitors Center

Doris D Miller Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Irving, TX

Canyon Lake, TX

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 1m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Irving, TX

Arriving in Canyon Lake, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Canyon Lake, TX

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