Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Irving, TX to Pasadena, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 45m
Distance
263.7 mi
424 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 32m
★
6 AM
4h 46m
8 AM
5h 13m
10 AM
4h 55m
12 PM
4h 53m
3 PM
4h 57m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irving, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Pasadena, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 263.7 miles, this route from Irving to Pasadena connects two hubs within the Great Plains region of Texas. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that doesn't strictly require an overnight stay. Budget roughly $40 for fuel to cover the distance. Because the journey relies on a turn-heavy local road profile rather than major expressways, your travel time can fluctuate depending on local traffic conditions. It is a straightforward trip if you prefer staying off the major interstates, though it demands more focus than a typical highway cruise.
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
131.9 miles from Irving, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 211.8 mi | 3h 38m |
| HTR | 21.9 mi | 25m |
| North Loop East | 10.5 mi | 13m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| South Walton Walker Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| La Porte Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| South Shaver Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Irving Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 211.8 mi, about 3h 38m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Pasadena, 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 left at fork onto I 45
210 mi
·
3 hr 36 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto HTR
22 mi
·
25 min
·
HTR
Exit 72B
Toward Hardy Toll Road South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 610 East
18
Merge onto I 610
11 mi
·
13 min
·
North Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 30B
Toward TX 225 East: Pasadena, La Porte
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Merge onto TX 225
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
La Porte Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on TX 225
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Pasadena Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Shaver Street, Main Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road
24
Turn right onto South Shaver Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Shaver Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto Southmore Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Southmore Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left onto South Main Street
84 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 4 hour and 45 minute drive, starting your day early is the best way to avoid the peak congestion often found on local thoroughfares. You have the advantage of flexibility, with only one recommended stop needed to stretch your legs or grab a quick refreshment. Keep your $40 fuel budget handy and try to fill up before hitting the more technical, turn-heavy sections of the route to avoid searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. If you find the local road navigation taxing, use your GPS to strictly monitor the transitions between South Loop 12 and the local streets to ensure you stay on track throughout the entire trip.
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 131.9 miles from Irving, TX, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 211.8 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 58 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.9 miles or 2h 21m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pasadena, 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 263.7 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 Julius Schepps Freeway for about 211.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 131.9 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 211.8 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
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.9 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.6 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.6 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.5 mi from route
Dennis Johnston Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17132740930
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
Visit websiteThe Woodlands Waterway
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
The Woodlands, Texas
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 195 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 258.5 — 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
8
258.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
Take the exit toward TX 225 East: Pasadena, La Porte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 30B
Toward TX 225 East: Pasadena, La Porte
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.12 one way
$72.24 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $40.34 | $80.69 |
| premium | $4.23 | $43.86 | $87.73 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $49.79 | $99.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.1 | 0 | $27.69 | $12.66 |
| Efficient EV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.07 | $10.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.5 | 1 | $36.92 | $16.88 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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
Night in Irving on Monday
Local time
9:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:17AM CDT until July 19 at 6:20AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:17AM CDT until July 19 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Pasadena, TX
Night in Pasadena on Monday
Local time
9:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:17AM CDT until July 19 at 6:20AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:17AM CDT until July 19 at 1:00PM 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
1 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
4h 45m 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?
Expect a very different experience than a standard high-speed highway commute, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a sequence of local roads, starting with West 2nd Street and East Irving Boulevard before transitioning onto South Loop 12. Because it is a turn-heavy local drive, you won't find the monotonous stretches typical of cross-country interstates. Instead, you will be actively managing turns and local traffic flow throughout the entire 263.7-mile journey. Be prepared for a more hands-on driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation rather than settling into a cruise-control rhythm.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 211.8 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and HTR. 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 19 significant decision points across 263.7 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
484 ft
27 ft
Total Climb
152 ft
Total Descent
609 ft
Highest Point
484 ft
Elevation Range
457 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.
On the drive from Irving, TX to Pasadena, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Hardy Toll Road South along the way.
Hardy Toll Road South
225.2 mi in
|
~3h 57m
|
via HTR
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
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 45m. Total distance: 263.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 211.8 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. 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 Pasadena, 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.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Pasadena, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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