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Trip from La Villa, TX to Fort Worth, TX

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

Drive Time

9h 3m

Distance

492 mi

792 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$67

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
8h 55m ★
6 AM
9h 3m
8 AM
9h 20m
10 AM
9h 9m
12 PM
9h 7m
3 PM
9h 10m
5 PM
9h 19m
8 PM
8h 58m

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

Downtown La Villa, TX, TX

La Villa, TX

Jeff Stapleton

city and county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Fort Worth, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

La Villa, TX to Fort Worth, TX is 492 miles and takes about 9h 3m via I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a mostly highway experience. With 2 recommended days, you can comfortably split the 492 miles, making it a feasible overnight trip for many. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive between South Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

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

246 miles from La Villa, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 69C 141.7 mi 2h 35m
Purple Heart Trail 97.7 mi 1h 39m
Pickle Parkway 58.5 mi 54m
I 35W 49.2 mi 51m
King David Drive 31.8 mi 39m
State Highway 80 North 30.8 mi 35m
State Highway 80 23.6 mi 25m
Nueces Street 11.1 mi 14m
Longest stretch: I 69C — 141.7 mi, about 2h 35m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~2,844 veh/hr typical · worst 3,686

Quietest

2 AM

~446 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 La Villa, TX and Fort Worth, TX.

1

Start on East 6th Street

67 ft · 8 sec · East 6th Street
2

Turn left onto FM 491

0.3 mi · 33 sec · North Chapa Road
3

Turn right onto TX 107

1.0 mi · 1 min · Mile 16½ North Road
4

Continue on TX 107

9.1 mi · 13 min · East Santa Rosa Avenue
5

Turn right onto FM 2128

0.9 mi · 1 min · Richardson Road
6

Continue on FM 2128

0.5 mi · 40 sec · East Schunior Street
7

Continue on FM 2128

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Richardson Street
8

Continue on FM 2128

1.2 mi · 1 min · East Richardson Road
9

Turn right onto North Expressway 281

181 ft · 3 sec · North Expressway 281
10

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
11

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

71 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281
13

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

11 mi · 14 min · Nueces Street
14

Turn right onto TX 72

32 mi · 39 min · King David Drive
15

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
16

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street
17

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road
18

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80
19

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
20

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
21

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
22

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
23

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183
24

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
25

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
27

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

49 mi · 51 min · I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.
31

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 49A Toward Allen Avenue Use the slight right lane.
32

Turn straight onto South Freeway

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Freeway
33

Turn left onto East Allen Avenue

210 ft · 12 sec · East Allen Avenue
34

Turn left onto South Freeway

258 ft · 5 sec · South Freeway
35

Arrive at destination

South Freeway

Trip Plan

Given the 9h 3m estimated drive time, splitting this into two days is a smart move. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours, especially if you plan to stop. With 2 recommended days, you can comfortably drive around 246 miles each day. Plan your second stop strategically to break up the longest stretch of 141.7 miles on I 69C. Keep an eye on fuel prices, as the estimated cost is $71; it's wise to fill up when you see competitive rates, especially before longer stretches without services. Two planned stops are suggested, so utilize those for breaks and to refuel.

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 246 miles from La Villa, TX, or about 4h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.7 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 108 miles or 2h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 246 miles or 4h 46m 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 246 miles or 4h 46m

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

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving La Villa, 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 La Villa, TX

Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Fort Worth, TX

Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from La Villa, 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 I 69C for about 141.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

246 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

San Antonio, TX

246 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 246 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Diego, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 246 miles from La Villa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 141.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 246 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

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.

Quality Services Towing & Tires

0 mi from route

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Brooks County Rest Area

0 mi from route

TA

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 Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

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

Buc-ee's

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

Ascent Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

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

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

Forest Park Miniature Railroad

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Fort Worth, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18179665509

Visit website

Fort Worth Herd

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Fort Worth, Texas

Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm

+18173364373

Visit website

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 491.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | FM 491 / North Chapa Road

Turn left onto FM 491 / North Chapa Road

Navigation decision point

6
278.6 mi into trip | ~5h 27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
7
337.6 mi into trip | ~6h 22m 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
7
442.3 mi into trip | ~8h 10m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
491.5 mi into trip | ~9h 2m in

Take the exit toward Allen Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 49A Toward Allen Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$67.39 one way

$134.78 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 172 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.89 $75.27 $150.54
premium $4.23 $81.84 $163.68
diesel $4.80 $92.90 $185.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$67

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$197–$307

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 172.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 147.6 1 $51.66 $23.62
Efficient EV 123 1 $43.05 $19.68
EV Truck/SUV 196.8 2 $68.88 $31.49

Gas CO2

172 kg

EV CO2

58 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.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

La Villa, TX

Late night in La Villa on Sunday

Local time

3:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

95°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 18 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Fort Worth, TX

Late night in Fort Worth on Sunday

Local time

3:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 45% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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

6 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

9h 3m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

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 407.2
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 65% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on major interstates. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 141.7 miles on I 69C. You can expect to transition from highway driving to more local roads as you approach your destination, with a notable change in traffic density and exit frequency around urban areas. The profile is mostly highway, so anticipate consistent speeds for much of the drive.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.7 mi on I 69C.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69C and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FM 491 / North Chapa Road.

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 492 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: near the start (FM 491 / North Chapa Road): Navigation decision point; at 278.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 337.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

777 ft 56 ft

Total Climb

872 ft

Total Descent

276 ft

Highest Point

777 ft

~351.4 mi in

Elevation Range

721 ft

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 La Villa, TX to Fort Worth, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.

Waco

278.6 mi in | ~5h 27m

About the Cities

Starting in La Villa, TX

Full guide →

Arriving in Fort Worth, TX

Full guide →

“Panther city” · Founded 1849

Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.

Top landmarks

  • Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
  • Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
  • St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth — church located in Fort Worth, Texas

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 141.7 miles on I 69C. 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 246 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 32 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 Fort Worth, 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. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (FM 491 / North Chapa Road): Navigation decision point; at 278.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 337.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Worth, 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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