Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Lakeway, TX to Frisco, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 13m
Distance
229 mi
369 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 1m
★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 21m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeway, TX
Danny Meneses
Frisco, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lakeway, TX to Frisco, TX is 229 miles and takes about 4h 13m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35E, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive cuts across Texas, moving from the Great Plains region near Lakeway into the same region heading towards Frisco. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. It's a practical route for getting from one part of Texas to another without extensive planning.
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
114.5 miles from Lakeway, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 113 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 35E | 59.2 mi | 1h 2m |
| Dallas North Tollway | 22.5 mi | 25m |
| Ranch Road 620 South | 14.6 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 45 North | 7.1 mi | 7m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Lakeway Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Parkwood Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 113 mi, about 1h 55m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,143 veh/hr typical · worst 4,919
Quietest
2 AM
~678 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Lakeway, TX and Frisco, TX.
1
Start on this road
112 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Lohmans Crossing Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lohmans Crossing Road
3
Turn left onto Lakeway Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Lakeway Boulevard
4
Turn left onto RM 620
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Ranch Road 620 South
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward TX 45 Toll East
6
Continue on TX 45 Toll
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 45 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 35
80 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
59 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
411 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 430A
Toward Oak Lawn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
468 ft
·
9 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Oak Lawn Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Oak Lawn Avenue
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward DNT North
16
Merge onto DNT
23 mi
·
25 min
·
Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Stonebrook Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto CR 13
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Dallas Parkway
19
Turn right onto Stonebrook Parkway
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Stonebrook Parkway
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto Parkwood Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Parkwood Boulevard
21
Continue on 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
5th Street
22
Turn right onto Elm Street
353 ft
·
20 sec
·
Elm Street
23
Turn left onto 6th Street
346 ft
·
15 sec
·
6th Street
24
Turn left onto Main Street
309 ft
·
14 sec
·
Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning gives you plenty of time to reach Frisco before dark. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time. The route includes one recommended stop, so plan for a brief break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $33, and it's always wise to refuel before hitting major urban areas like Dallas. The transition from Purple Heart Trail to I 35E is a key point to be aware of for navigation.
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 114.5 miles from Lakeway, TX, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 50 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.5 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frisco, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakeway, 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 Lakeway, TX
This is one driving day of about 229 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Lakeway, 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 113 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
115 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 114.5 miles from Lakeway, 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 113 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.
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
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
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
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
Rest Area
1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
Lakeline Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Cedar Park, Texas
+15124015500
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~9 min detour
Final third
3.8 mi from route
~9 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websiteVisit Frisco
4.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Frisco, Texas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+19722925250
Visit websiteKids Colony
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
The Colony, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
+19726251106
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Halfway reset
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 23.6 and 227 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
23.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
144.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
203.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward Oak Lawn Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 430A
Toward Oak Lawn Avenue
7
203.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
227 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward Stonebrook Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Stonebrook Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.37 one way
$62.73 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $35.04 | $70.07 |
| premium | $4.23 | $38.09 | $76.18 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $43.24 | $86.48 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.80
Dallas North Tollway
(22.5 mi)
$1.80
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.05 | $10.99 |
| Efficient EV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.04 | $9.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.6 | 1 | $32.06 | $14.66 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Lakeway, TX
Evening in Lakeway on Monday
Local time
7:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Frisco, TX
Evening in Frisco on Monday
Local time
7:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 10 to 15 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
96°F
Troy, TX
115 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
2 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
4h 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 110.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 32% of this drive is on highways, with the longest stretch on Purple Heart Trail measuring 113 miles. You'll experience a mixed profile, meaning you'll transition between highway speeds and surface roads. This will involve navigating urban merging as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 23.6 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 229 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 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
934 ft
504 ft
Total Climb
840 ft
Total Descent
900 ft
Highest Point
934 ft
~16.4 mi in
Elevation Range
430 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.
On the drive from Lakeway, TX to Frisco, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dnt North along the way.
Dnt North
204.2 mi in
|
~3h 43m
About the Cities
Starting in Lakeway, TX
Full guide →Lakeway is a city in the Hill Country region of Texas. It is just outside of Austin.
Arriving in Frisco, TX
Full guide →Founded 1904
Frisco is a suburb of Dallas and part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Top landmarks
- • Videogame History Museum — computer museum in Texas, USA
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 4h 13m. Total distance: 229 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.80 in tolls one way, starting with Dallas North Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 29 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 Frisco, 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 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Frisco, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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