Trip from Irving, TX to Livingston, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 2m
Distance
225.7 mi
363 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irving, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Livingston, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Trip Overview
Irving, TX to Livingston, TX is 225.7 miles and takes about 4h 2m via Julius Schepps Freeway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in the same area. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel. Plan your departure to maximize daylight hours for the 225.7-mile trip.
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
112.8 miles from Irving, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 167 mi | 2h 49m |
| Phelps Drive | 42.5 mi | 49m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| South Walton Walker Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| 11th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| US 190 | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Irving Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,927 veh/hr typical · worst 2,389
Quietest
2 AM
~288 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 45 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 Livingston, TX.
Start on North Ohio Street
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
Turn straight onto TX 356
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto South Loop 12
Take the ramp
Merge onto Loop 12
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 30
Continue on I 30; US 67
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 45
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45
Take the exit onto US 190
Turn left onto US 190; TX 30
Continue on US 190; TX 30
Turn left onto US 59 Business
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Irving early in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic and ensure you have ample daylight for the 4h 2m drive. With only 225.7 miles, you have flexibility, but planning for one stop around the halfway mark is sensible. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Livingston, TX, as the longest stretch without a major town could be over 100 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $33 should help you budget for gas stops along the way. This route is designed to be completed in a single day, so focus on a smooth, uninterrupted travel experience.
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.
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 50 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.8 miles or 1h 59m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livingston, 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 225.7 miles and 4h 2m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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
A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 112.8 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 167 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.
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
Buc-ee's
Love's Travel Stop
Road Ranger
TA Express
Pilot Travel Center
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
Pilot Travel Center
TA Express
Buc-ee's
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
Flying J Travel Center
Service Plaza
TA
QuikTrip
City Park
Near the start, short detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteRipley's Believe It or Not!
Near the start, ~12 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteLouis Tussaud's Palace of Wax
Near the start, ~12 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 15 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.91 one way
$61.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $34.53 | $69.06 |
| premium | $4.23 | $37.54 | $75.09 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $42.62 | $85.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.7 | 0 | $23.70 | $10.83 |
| Efficient EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.75 | $9.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.3 | 1 | $31.60 | $14.44 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Origin
Irving, TX
Late night in Irving on Monday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Livingston, TX
Late night in Livingston on Monday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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
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
4h 2m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 78% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 167 miles on the Julius Schepps Freeway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a concentrated area of exits and potential merging traffic during the initial urban portions. The latter part of the drive will likely feel more open as you move away from the initial highway segments.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Phelps Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.
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 13 significant decision points across 225.7 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: at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
364 ft
Total Descent
679 ft
Highest Point
510 ft
~48.4 mi in
Elevation Range
365 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Irving, TX and Livingston, TX, road signs point toward Mckinney and Texas 30.
Mckinney
Texas 30
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 Livingston, TX
Full guide →Founded 1902
Top landmarks
- • Polk County Courthouse and 1905 Courthouse Annex — building in Livingston, Polk County, Texas
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 4h 2m. Total distance: 225.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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