Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Jourdanton, TX to Dallas, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 33m
Distance
323.9 mi
521 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 20m
★
6 AM
5h 34m
8 AM
6h 0m
10 AM
5h 43m
12 PM
5h 40m
3 PM
5h 44m
5 PM
5h 59m
8 PM
5h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jourdanton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Jourdanton to Dallas covers a 324.7-mile stretch that typically requires 5 hours of driving time. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout your journey. This route is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $48 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the trip's costs. Given the duration, you can comfortably complete the drive in one go, provided you are prepared for a steady pace on the road.
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
161.9 miles from Jourdanton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| Pickle Parkway | 86 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 35E | 58.1 mi | 1h |
| I 37 | 23.2 mi | 23m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 21.7 mi | 22m |
| I 10 | 10.9 mi | 10m |
| Connally Loop | 7 mi | 7m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,007 veh/hr typical · worst 4,783
Quietest
2 AM
~579 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.9×
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 Jourdanton, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on TX 16
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
Zanderson Avenue
2
Turn right onto TX 97
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Oak Street
3
Turn left onto US 281; TX 97
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on US 281; TX 97
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
5
Turn right onto TX 97
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
East State Highway 97
6
Turn left onto I-37 Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
I-37 Frontage Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 37 North
8
Merge onto I 37
23 mi
·
23 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 133
Toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 410 North, TX 130 North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
7.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto TX 130
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
TX 130
Exit 33
Toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, Houston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 130
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
TX 130
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, TX 130 North: Houston, Seguin
14
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 130
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
TX 130
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East
15
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
22 mi
·
22 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 10; TX 130
11 mi
·
10 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 614
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
58 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 429A
Toward Continental Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
25
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Continental Avenue
Use the right lane.
26
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Lamar Street
27
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour journey, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic, which can easily add time to your trip on these non-highway roads. Since you aren't on a major interstate, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge throughout the 324.7-mile trek to ensure you don't run low between smaller towns. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace if the turn-heavy nature of the route feels tiring. Setting aside the $48 fuel budget in advance will keep your planning stress-free. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation apps updated, as local road routes can sometimes involve unexpected turns that are harder to spot than standard highway exits.
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 161.9 miles from Jourdanton, TX, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 71 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.9 miles or 2h 45m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallas, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jourdanton, 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 Jourdanton, TX
This is one driving day of about 323.9 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Jourdanton, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 161.9 miles from Jourdanton, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.7 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.
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Circle K
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Jud's Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
City Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 32.7 and 160.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
32.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South
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 133
Toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South
8
32.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 410 North, TX 130 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 410 North, TX 130 North
8
40.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
TX 130
Take the exit onto TX 130 toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, Houston
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.
Exit 33
Toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, Housto...
8
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
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.
Exit 614
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
7
160.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.36 one way
$88.73 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $49.55 | $99.11 |
| premium | $4.23 | $53.88 | $107.75 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $61.16 | $122.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.2 | 1 | $34.01 | $15.55 |
| Efficient EV | 81 | 0 | $28.34 | $12.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.6 | 1 | $45.35 | $20.73 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Jourdanton, TX
Evening in Jourdanton on Monday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 5 to 15 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 10:45AM CDT until July 17 at 1:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Dallas, TX
Evening in Dallas on Monday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 10:45AM CDT until July 17 at 1:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
96°F
Troy, TX
162 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
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 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 33.5
View on nps.gov
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 234.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind for this 324.7-mile excursion. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a route defined by local roads that require your full attention behind the wheel. The journey demands a more active driving style compared to high-speed turnpikes, as you navigate the winding nature of the path. Without long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the road keeps you engaged as you transition between rural Texas locales. You will find that the personality of this drive is dictated by its technical, local road focus.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.7 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 20 significant decision points across 323.9 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 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (TX 130): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
729 ft
425 ft
Total Climb
713 ft
Total Descent
746 ft
Highest Point
729 ft
~161.9 mi in
Elevation Range
304 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.
Between Jourdanton, TX and Dallas, TX, road signs point toward Houston, Seguin, Austin and Waco.
Houston
40.3 mi in
|
~47m
|
via TX 130
Seguin
40.4 mi in
|
~47m
|
via TX 130
Austin
62.7 mi in
|
~1h 11m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Waco
62.7 mi in
|
~1h 11m
|
via I 10; TX 130
About the Cities
Starting in Jourdanton, TX
Full guide →Founded 1909
Jourdanton is a small rural town in South Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Atascosa County Courthouse — building in Jourdanton, Atascosa County, Texas
Arriving in Dallas, TX
Full guide →“Big D” · Founded 1841
Dallas, with a population of more than 1.3 million residents, is the ninth largest city in the United States and the third largest in the state of Texas. It is an impressive melting pot of culture and character. Boasting high-end luxury hotels, innumerable fine dining spots, and one of the busiest airports in the world, Dallas maintains an upscale ethos reflected by an affluent population, world-class museums, and a shimmering modern skyline. Its history was marred by the infamous assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, but there is more historic and contemporary heritage to be discovered in the city. As a center of the oil and cotton industries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dallas was a classic American boom town and remains one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.
Top landmarks
- • Dallas Museum of Art — art museum in Dallas, Texas
- • Texas School Book Depository — building in Dallas, Texas, United States
- • George W. Bush Presidential Center — Presidential library and museum for U.S. President George W. Bush, located in Da...
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 33m. Total distance: 323.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 42 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 Dallas, 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 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (TX 130): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dallas, 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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