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Trip from Irving, TX to Roma, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 28m

Distance

524.7 mi

844 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$79

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
9h 20m ★
6 AM
9h 29m
8 AM
9h 46m
10 AM
9h 35m
12 PM
9h 33m
3 PM
9h 36m
5 PM
9h 45m
8 PM
9h 24m

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

city in Starr County, Texas, United States

Roma, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Irving, TX to Roma, TX covers 524.7 miles and takes about 9h 28m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, South R L Thornton Freeway, I 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 244 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $79.28 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

262.4 miles from Irving, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 42m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Purple Heart Trail 244 mi 4h 12m
South R L Thornton Freeway 80.5 mi 1h 22m
I 35 55.8 mi 58m
United States Highway 83 54.3 mi 1h 1m
North Pan Am Expressway 18.5 mi 22m
US Highway 83 South 14.2 mi 15m
North Grant Street 12.4 mi 14m
South Pan Am Expressway 10.4 mi 12m
Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 244 mi, about 4h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Irving, TX and Roma, 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 South Use 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 467B Toward I 35E South: Waco Use 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

56 mi · 58 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

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.
19

Continue on I 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Continue on I 35

10.0 mi · 11 min · North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo Use the slight left lane.
24

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

10 mi · 12 min · South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street Use the slight right lane.
25

Continue on I 35

144 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Continue on US 83

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Santa Ursula Avenue
27

Turn left onto US 83

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Matamoros Street
28

Continue on US 83

1.0 mi · 2 min · Chihuahua Street
29

Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue

2.0 mi · 4 min · North Meadow Avenue
30

Turn right onto US 83

5.4 mi · 7 min · South Zapata Highway
31

Continue on US 83

14 mi · 15 min · US Highway 83 South
32

Continue on US 83

54 mi · 1 hr 1 min · United States Highway 83
33

Continue on US 83

12 mi · 14 min · North Grant Street
34

Arrive at destination

US 83

Trip Plan

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 262.4 miles from Irving, TX, or about 4h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 115 miles or 2h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 262.4 miles or 4h 42m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 262.4 miles or 4h 42m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roma, 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.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Irving, TX

Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Roma, TX

Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 miles from Irving, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 244 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Killeen, TX

173 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Killeen, TX to San Antonio, TX

145.5 mi · 2h 44m

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

346 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

New Braunfels, TX

262 mi · about 4.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near New Braunfels, TX after about 262 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Killeen, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 115 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kirby, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 262.4 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 262 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 280.1 — 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
8
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
8
277.9 mi into trip | ~5h 1m in | I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
280.1 mi into trip | ~5h 3m in | I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Housto...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$79.28 one way

$158.57 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 184 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $86.78 $173.56
premium $4.54 $93.68 $187.36
diesel $5.61 $115.85 $231.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$79

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$209–$319

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 183.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 157.4 1 $55.09 $25.19
Efficient EV 131.2 1 $45.91 $20.99
EV Truck/SUV 209.9 2 $73.46 $33.58

Gas CO2

184 kg

EV CO2

61 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

Afternoon in Irving on Sunday

Local time

4:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Roma, TX

Afternoon in Roma on Sunday

Local time

4:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

94°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

33 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

9h 28m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

524.7 mi / 9h 28m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: Purple Heart Trail.

47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 244 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

At 9h 28m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. 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 18 significant decision points across 524.7 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 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 198.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Roma, TX, road signs point toward Laredo and Spur 536: Houston.

Laredo

277.9 mi in | ~5h 1m | via I 35

Spur 536: Houston

280.1 mi in | ~5h 3m | via I 10; US 87

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 244 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 262 miles on day one.

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 Roma, 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 198.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Roma, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Roma, TX to Irving, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

527.2 mi 9h 31m

Explore more options from Irving, TX or browse trips ending in Roma, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.