Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Irving, TX to Santa Fe, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 13m
Distance
285.5 mi
459 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 0m
★
6 AM
5h 14m
8 AM
5h 41m
10 AM
5h 23m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 24m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irving, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Santa Fe, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
Irving, TX to Santa Fe, TX is 285.5 miles and takes about 5h 13m via Julius Schepps Freeway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region on both ends. Given its highway-heavy profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, making it a practical choice for a quick transit.
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
142.7 miles from Irving, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 235.8 mi | 4h 7m |
| Gulf Freeway | 28.6 mi | 33m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| FM 646 | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| South Walton Walker Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| FM 1764 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| FM 517 | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Irving Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 235.8 mi, about 4h 7m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,256 veh/hr typical · worst 3,806
Quietest
2 AM
~407 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 48 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 Santa Fe, 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
234 mi
·
4 hr 5 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 45
29 mi
·
33 min
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 19
Toward FM 517: Dickinson
18
Turn straight onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
19
Turn right onto FM 517
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 517
20
Turn left onto FM 646
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
FM 646
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto FM 1764
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
FM 1764
22
Continue on FM 1764
497 ft
·
15 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 1764
23
At end of road, turn left onto TX 6
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Highway 6
24
Arrive at destination
TX 6
Trip Plan
Leaving Irving, TX in the morning, ideally before peak traffic, will set you up for a smooth start. With a total duration of just over 5 hours, this route is easily achievable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. The fuel cost is estimated at $45, so ensure your tank is full before you leave. Given the 285.5-mile distance, you might consider one brief stop for a stretch or quick bite, but it's not strictly necessary to break it up. Pay attention to the freeway transitions, especially as you approach your destination in Santa Fe, TX.
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 142.7 miles from Irving, TX, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 235.8 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 63 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.7 miles or 2h 34m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Fe, 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 285.5 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 235.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
143 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 142.7 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 235.8 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
Flying J Travel Center
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
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 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
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
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
Buc-ee's
1.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.5 mi from route
Lone Star Flight Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13467082517
Visit websiteThe Woodlands Waterway
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
The Woodlands, Texas
Visit websiteDennis Johnston Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17132740930
Visit websiteFrankie Carter Randolph Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Friendswood, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+12814826055
Ripley'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 145 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
6
15 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.10 one way
$78.21 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
100 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $43.68 | $87.36 |
| premium | $4.23 | $47.49 | $94.98 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $53.91 | $107.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85.7 | 1 | $29.98 | $13.70 |
| Efficient EV | 71.4 | 0 | $24.98 | $11.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.2 | 1 | $39.97 | $18.27 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Origin
Irving, TX
Afternoon in Irving on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:53PM CDT until July 21 at 3:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:52PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Santa Fe, TX
Afternoon in Santa Fe on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:53PM CDT until July 21 at 3:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:52PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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
5h 13m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 98% of the travel occurring on major roads. You'll encounter a considerable stretch of 235.8 miles on the Julius Schepps Freeway, indicating long periods of consistent cruising. Expect dense exits and merging traffic as you navigate through urban and suburban areas for a significant portion of the drive. The transition to surface roads will be minimal and occur very late in the trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 235.8 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Gulf Freeway. 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
9/10
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 14 significant decision points across 285.5 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 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
29 ft
Total Climb
387 ft
Total Descent
842 ft
Highest Point
484 ft
Elevation Range
455 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 Santa Fe, 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 13m. Total distance: 285.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 235.8 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 Santa Fe, 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Santa Fe, 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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