Trip from Live Oak, TX to Grand Prairie, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 46m

Distance

265.4 mi

427 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 33m ★

6 AM

4h 47m

8 AM

5h 14m

10 AM

4h 56m

12 PM

4h 54m

3 PM

4h 58m

5 PM

5h 13m

8 PM

4h 39m

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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Live Oak, TX

Phil Evenden

city in Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis counties in Texas, United States

Grand Prairie, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 265.4-mile journey from Live Oak, TX to Grand Prairie, TX is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 46 minutes. You'll navigate using a combination of the Purple Heart Trail, I-35E, and the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway. With a projected fuel cost of around $40, this drive is quite economical for a full day's travel. The route, entirely within Texas and traversing the Great Plains region, offers a practical, turn-heavy local drive experience. It's a straightforward trip that doesn't require an overnight stop.

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

132.7 miles from Live Oak, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	188.3 mi	3h 18m
I 35E	47.3 mi	48m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway	9 mi	9m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
South Belt Line Road	5 mi	8m
North Pan Am Expressway	4.1 mi	4m
Interstate Highway 35	1.9 mi	2m
Interstate 35 North	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 188.3 mi, about 3h 18m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,671 veh/hr typical · worst 4,407

Quietest

2 AM

~640 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 Live Oak, TX and Grand Prairie, TX.

Start on I 35

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Exit 170 Toward Judson Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Interstate 35 North

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Interstate 35 North

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto Judson Road

249 ft · 12 sec · Judson Road

Turn left onto Interstate 35 North

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Interstate 35 North

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 35 North

Merge onto I 35

3.1 mi · 3 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

1.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

48 mi · 52 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290

96 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

47 mi · 48 min · I 35E

Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 2 min

Exit 418A Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 20

9.0 mi · 9 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Exit 457 Toward FM 1382 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto FM 1382

5.0 mi · 8 min · South Belt Line Road

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Turn slight right onto Southeast 9th Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Southeast 9th Street

Turn left onto TX 180

0.3 mi · 32 sec · East Main Street

Turn right

74 ft · 5 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 4 hour and 46-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is recommended to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach Grand Prairie. While the total distance is manageable for a single day, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 188.3 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels; the estimated cost is $40, but it's always wise to top up before embarking on the longer local road segments. Pay close attention to navigation as you'll be making frequent turns.

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 132.7 miles from Live Oak, TX, or about 2h 23m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 132.7 miles or 2h 23m 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 51m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Live Oak, 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 Live Oak, TX

This is one driving day of about 265.4 miles and 4h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Live Oak, 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 188.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, TX

133 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

Austin, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.7 miles from Live Oak, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.4 mi from route

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Grand Prairie, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19722632391

Visit website

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18306291572

Visit website

Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Grand Prairie, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19722632391

Visit website

Children's Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

San Marcos, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+15123938400

Visit website

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

San Marcos, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+15123938421

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 259.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the exit toward Judson Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 170 Toward Judson Road

67 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

202.2 mi into trip | ~3h 35m 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

249.5 mi into trip | ~4h 24m in

Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 418A Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth

259.5 mi into trip | ~4h 35m in

Take the exit toward FM 1382

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 457 Toward FM 1382

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.64 one way

$81.27 round trip

$3.89/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.29	$44.85	$89.69
premium	$4.64	$48.46	$96.92
diesel	$6.18	$64.56	$129.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	79.6	0	$27.87	$12.74
Efficient EV	66.4	0	$23.22	$10.62
EV Truck/SUV	106.2	1	$37.16	$16.99

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Oct 16, 2026

Origin

Live Oak, TX

Morning in Live Oak on Saturday

Local time

6:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Chance Rain Showers

N 20 mph 31% chance Live forecast

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 6:22AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued October 16 at 6:11AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

Grand Prairie, TX

Morning in Grand Prairie on Saturday

Local time

6:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

N 20 to 25 mph 35% chance Live forecast

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 6:22AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued October 16 at 6:11AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

63°F

Troy, TX

133 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

4h 46m 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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 173.9

View on nps.gov

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...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free

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 drive that's more about navigating local roads than open highway cruising, with only 26% of the route on highways. The majority of your time will be spent on the Purple Heart Trail, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 188.3 miles. This suggests a road with frequent turns and potential for slower speeds as you pass through various communities. The profile indicates a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience compared to a pure interstate route.

Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

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

Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 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 14 significant decision points across 265.4 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 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 67 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 202.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

911 ft 473 ft

Total Climb

407 ft

Total Descent

799 ft

Highest Point

911 ft

Elevation Range

438 ft

About the Cities

Arriving in Grand Prairie, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1863

Grand Prairie is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas.

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 46m. Total distance: 265.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 28 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 Grand Prairie, 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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Grand Prairie, 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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Trip from Live Oak, TX to Grand Prairie, 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

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Buc-ee's

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Ascent Travel Center

TA

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Pilot Travel Center

TA

Service Plaza

Marlstone Retail Center

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax

Children's Park

Tube Chute

Cultural Activities Center

Pioneer Farms

Calaboose African American History Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Live Oak, TX

Grand Prairie, TX

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 46m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Arriving in Grand Prairie, 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 Grand Prairie, TX

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