Trip from Irving, TX to Sinton, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 43m

Distance

369.2 mi

594 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

6h 32m ★

6 AM

6h 44m

8 AM

7h 7m

10 AM

6h 52m

12 PM

6h 50m

3 PM

6h 53m

5 PM

7h 6m

8 PM

6h 37m

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

Best Time

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Irving, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Sinton, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Irving, TX to Sinton, TX is 369.2 miles and takes about 6h 43m via South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly on the highway, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. If you're looking for a relatively quick transit between North Texas and the South Texas region, this route gets you there efficiently without significant detours.

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

184.6 miles from Irving, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	80.5 mi	1h 22m
TX 130 Toll	58.5 mi	54m
TX 80	51.2 mi	56m
South US Highway 181	40.2 mi	45m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
I 35	26.5 mi	26m
US Highway 181 South	16.1 mi	18m
US 183	10.1 mi	11m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 80.5 mi, about 1h 22m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,987 veh/hr typical · worst 3,782

Quietest

2 AM

~483 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.2×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 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 Sinton, TX.

Start on North Ohio Street

436 ft · 24 sec · North Ohio Street

Turn left onto West 2nd Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 2nd Street

Turn straight onto TX 356

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Irving Boulevard

Turn slight right

393 ft · 17 sec

Turn slight right onto South Loop 12

187 ft · 3 sec · South Loop 12

Take the ramp

410 ft · 10 sec

Toward Loop 12 South

Merge onto Loop 12

5.3 mi · 5 min · South Walton Walker Boulevard

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Turn slight right onto Duncanville Road

3.2 mi · 6 min · Duncanville Road

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto West Interstate 20

0.2 mi · 21 sec · West Interstate 20

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward I 20 East

Merge onto I 20

4.6 mi · 4 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec

Exit 467B Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

81 mi · 1 hr 22 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South

Take the exit onto US 181

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 181

Keep slight right at fork onto US 181

213 ft · 5 sec · US Route 181

Turn straight onto US 181

1.4 mi · 2 min · US Highway 181

Continue on US 181

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North San Patricio Avenue

Turn left onto US 181; US 77 Bus; TX 188

0.4 mi · 57 sec · West Sinton Street

Arrive at destination

US 181; TX 188

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 6h 43m drive, aim to depart from Irving, TX early in the morning. This allows you to complete the majority of your travel before peak traffic and ensures you have ample daylight for the final stretch. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $58, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Pay attention to the transition from TX 130 Toll to TX 80, as this marks the shift from highway to surface roads where speeds will decrease.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 184.6 miles from Irving, TX, or about 3h 15m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.5 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 81 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 184.6 miles or 3h 15m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sinton, 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 369.2 miles and 6h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 80.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montopolis, TX

185 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

Italy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jarrell, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 184.6 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.5 mi from route

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Early stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

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 website

Louis 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 website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 228 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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

142.3 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | I 35

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

168.8 mi into trip | ~3h in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

228 mi into trip | ~3h 56m in

Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$50.57 one way

$101.14 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 129 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$56.48	$112.97
premium	$4.23	$61.41	$122.82
diesel	$4.80	$69.71	$139.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$51

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 129.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	110.8	1	$38.77	$17.72
Efficient EV	92.3	1	$32.31	$14.77
EV Truck/SUV	147.7	1	$51.69	$23.63

Gas CO2

129 kg

EV CO2

43 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Irving, TX

Late night in Irving on Monday

Local time

4:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 5 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Sinton, TX

Late night in Sinton on Monday

Local time

4:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 13 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM 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

5 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

6h 43m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 101.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly highway driving, with 80% of the 369.2 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 80.5 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway, so be prepared for extended cruising. Expect the highway portion to conclude as you transition to surface roads for the final leg of your trip. The nature of the drive shifts from consistent highway speeds to more varied local traffic and lower speeds.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 80.5 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll. 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 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 17 significant decision points across 369.2 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 142.3 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

864 ft 50 ft

Total Climb

577 ft

Total Descent

1,012 ft

Highest Point

864 ft

~158.2 mi in

Elevation Range

815 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 Sinton, 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 6h 43m. Total distance: 369.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 80.5 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 30 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 Sinton, 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 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sinton, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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

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Trip from Irving, TX to Sinton, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Quality Services Towing & Tires

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Circle K

Ascent Travel Center

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

Cultural Activities Center

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Irving, TX

Sinton, TX

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 43m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Irving, TX

Arriving in Sinton, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Sinton, TX

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