Origin
Leonard, TX
Late night in Leonard on Tuesday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leonard, TX to Dallas, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
60.6 mi
97 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leonard, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 60.6-mile drive from Leonard, TX to Dallas, TX takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes and is perfectly suited for a single day trip. You'll primarily travel on Central Expressway, Sam Rayburn Highway, and South State Highway 78, with 73% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $9, making it an economical option. Given its short distance and manageable duration, there's no need to split this trip into multiple days; you can easily complete it in one go. This drive keeps you within the Great Plains region throughout your journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Expressway | 34.7 mi | 37m |
| Sam Rayburn Highway | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| South State Highway 78 | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 160 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Fannin Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Broom Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Central Expressway
— 34.7 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leonard, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on South Main Street
53 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto TX 78
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Fannin Street
3
Continue on TX 78
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
South State Highway 78
4
Turn right onto TX 160
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 160
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
6
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
this road
7
Merge onto TX 121
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Sam Rayburn Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 75; TX 121
35 mi
·
37 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Waco, Denton
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Saint Paul Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Spur 366
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Field Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on Broom Street
170 ft
·
3 sec
·
Broom Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on Broom Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Broom Street
16
Turn slight left
173 ft
·
7 sec
Toward Lamar Street, Continental Avenue
17
Turn straight
136 ft
·
6 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft
·
15 sec
19
Turn left onto North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Lamar Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 23.6 and 60 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
23.6 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
5
24.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway
Merge onto US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
59.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Waco, Denton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward Waco, Denton
7
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Saint Paul Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Saint Paul Street
6
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward Field Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Field Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.16 one way
$18.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
| premium | $4.54 | $10.82 | $21.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.78
Central Expressway
(34.7 mi)
$2.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Dallas, TX
Late night in Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
1h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this route. With 73% of the trip on highways, you'll experience stretches of efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 34.7 miles on Central Expressway, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While the specific road surfaces and scenery aren't detailed, the profile suggests a predominantly high-speed, direct path connecting these Texas locations.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.7 mi on Central Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central Expressway and Sam Rayburn Highway. 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
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.4 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
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 1h 10m. Total distance: 60.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.7 miles on Central Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.78 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. 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.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.4 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dallas, TX before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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