Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Irving, TX to Nederland, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 50m
Distance
297.4 mi
479 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 37m
★
6 AM
5h 51m
8 AM
6h 17m
10 AM
6h 0m
12 PM
5h 57m
3 PM
6h 1m
5 PM
6h 15m
8 PM
5h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irving, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Nederland, TX
Job1505 De waal
Trip Overview
Irving, TX to Nederland, TX is 297.4 miles and takes about 5h 50m via C F Hawn Freeway and US Highway 69 South, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the trip. With a single day recommended for completion, this route is best suited for those looking for an efficient way to get from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex towards Southeast Texas.
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
148.7 miles from Irving, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| C F Hawn Freeway | 68.7 mi | 1h 14m |
| US Highway 69 South | 63.3 mi | 1h 11m |
| East Denman Avenue | 38.5 mi | 43m |
| US Highway 175 East | 20.8 mi | 22m |
| US Highway 69 North | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| Rusk Street | 15.1 mi | 19m |
| US Highway 175 | 13.3 mi | 14m |
| US 69 | 9.5 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
C F Hawn Freeway
— 68.7 mi, about 1h 14m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,960 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~423 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 7 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 Nederland, 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
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 30: Dallas, Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 30
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 45 South: Houston
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 45
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175
69 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
C F Hawn Freeway
Toward US 175 South: Kaufman
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 175 Bus
151 ft
·
9 sec
·
US Highway 175 West
17
Turn left onto US 175 Bus; TX 31 Bus
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
West Corsicana Street
18
Continue on US 175 Bus
21 mi
·
22 min
·
US Highway 175 East
19
Continue on US 175
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Pine Street
20
Continue on US 175
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 175
21
Continue on US 175
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Frankston Highway
22
Continue on US 175
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Alexander Boulevard
23
At end of road, turn right onto US 69
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Jackson Street
24
Continue on US 69
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
US Highway 69 North
25
Continue on US 69
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Dickinson Drive
26
Continue on US 69
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US Highway 69 South
27
Continue on US 69
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Marcus Street
28
Continue on US 69
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 69 South
29
Continue on US 69
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Rusk Street
30
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
31
Continue on Loop 287 Frontage Road
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Loop 287 Frontage Road
32
Continue on Loop 287
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Loop 287 Frontage Road
33
Turn right onto US 69 Bus
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Kurth Drive
34
Turn straight onto US 59 Bus; US 69 Bus; TX 103
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Timberland Drive
35
Turn left onto US 69 Bus
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Chestnut Street
36
Turn left onto US 69 Bus
39 mi
·
43 min
·
East Denman Avenue
37
Continue on US 69
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Wheeler Avenue
38
Continue on US 69
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 69 North
39
Continue on US 69
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
North Magnolia Street
40
Continue on US 69; US 287
42 mi
·
48 min
·
US Highway 69 South
41
Merge onto US 69; US 96; US 287
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
US 69; US 96; US 287
42
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East: Lake Charles
43
Merge onto I 10; US 90
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 10; US 90
Toward Lake Charles
44
Take the exit
492 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 854
Toward Spur 380: Martin Luther King Parkway, Magnolia Avenue
45
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East Frontage Road
488 ft
·
13 sec
·
Interstate 10 East Frontage Road
46
Turn right onto Spur 380
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Gulf Street
47
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 347
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
TX 347
Use the straight / left lanes.
48
Turn right onto Boston Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Boston Avenue
49
Arrive at destination
Boston Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 50m estimated drive time, starting in the morning from Irving, TX, will allow you to reach Nederland, TX, well before sunset. You only have one recommended stop, so plan it strategically for a mid-drive break. The fuel cost estimate is around $44, so ensure you have sufficient funds or a card ready. Pay attention to the transition from US Highway 69 South to East Denman Avenue, as this marks the shift from highway speeds to local roads as you enter Nederland.
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 148.7 miles from Irving, TX, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.7 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 65 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.7 miles or 2h 51m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nederland, 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 297.4 miles and 5h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 C F Hawn Freeway for about 68.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.7 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before C F Hawn Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.7 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.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.8 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.9 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.5 mi from route
Port Neches Riverfront Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Port Neches, Texas
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+14097194280
Visit websiteRipley's Believe It or Not!
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteLouis Tussaud's Palace of Wax
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.9 mi from route
~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 235 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.
7
4.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 30: Dallas, Fort Worth
7
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
8
12.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
7
13 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 45 South: Houston
7
15 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 175 / C F Hawn Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175 / C F Hawn Freeway toward US 175 South: Kaufman
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 175 South: Kaufman
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.53 one way
$91.07 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.29 | $50.25 | $100.51 |
| premium | $4.64 | $54.30 | $108.61 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $72.35 | $144.70 |
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: 104.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.2 | 1 | $31.23 | $14.28 |
| Efficient EV | 74.4 | 0 | $26.02 | $11.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119 | 1 | $41.64 | $19.03 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Origin
Irving, TX
Late night in Irving on Monday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:12AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Destination
Nederland, TX
Late night in Nederland on Monday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:12AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
61°F
Jacksonville, TX
149 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
5h 50m 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 trip is mostly highway, with 70% of the 297.4 miles on higher-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway at 68.7 miles on C F Hawn Freeway. The transition to surface roads, like East Denman Avenue, will occur as you approach your destination, marking the end of the highway portion. Be prepared for a significant amount of merging and exiting as you navigate the initial urban areas and transition to more open highway cruising.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
49 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.7 mi on C F Hawn Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on C F Hawn Freeway and US Highway 69 South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 297.4 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
493 ft
19 ft
Total Climb
399 ft
Total Descent
864 ft
Highest Point
493 ft
~127.5 mi in
Elevation Range
474 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 Nederland, TX
Full guide →Founded 1897
Nederland is a small city in Southeast Texas, USA. It is a part of an area called "The Golden Triangle".
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 50m. Total distance: 297.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.7 miles on C F Hawn Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Nederland, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Nederland, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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