Trip from Lopezville, TX to Dallas, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 58m

Distance

492.1 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 24 min

4 AM

8h 51m ★

6 AM

8h 59m

8 AM

9h 15m

10 AM

9h 4m

12 PM

9h 3m

3 PM

9h 5m

5 PM

9h 14m

8 PM

8h 54m

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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Lopezville, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Lopezville to Dallas covers a substantial 516.4-mile journey through the heart of the Great Plains. You should budget approximately 7 hours and 41 minutes of pure driving time for this trip. While it is technically possible to complete this drive in a single day, be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. Expect to spend about $77 on fuel, so factor that into your travel budget before heading out. Since both locations are situated within the same state and region, the scenery remains consistent throughout the trek. Planning for at least two stops will help break up the monotony of this cross-Texas haul.

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 Lopezville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 42m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 69C	144.5 mi	2h 38m
Purple Heart Trail	97.7 mi	1h 39m
Pickle Parkway	58.5 mi	54m
I 35E	58.1 mi	1h
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 — 144.5 mi, about 2h 38m

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 Lopezville, TX and Dallas, TX.

Start on East Minnesota Road

23 ft · 2 sec · East Minnesota Road

Turn right onto North Veterans Boulevard

0.5 mi · 54 sec · North Veterans Boulevard

Continue on South I Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · South I Road

Turn left onto East Wisconsin Road

0.2 mi · 30 sec · East Wisconsin Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 69C North, US 281 North

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

74 mi · 1 hr 18 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

11 mi · 14 min · Nueces Street

Turn right onto TX 72

32 mi · 39 min · King David Drive

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 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

58 mi · 1 hr · I 35E

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

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 429A Toward Continental Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Continental Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street

433 ft · 10 sec · North Lamar Street

Arrive at destination

North Lamar Street

Trip Plan

To tackle this 7-hour and 41-minute drive successfully, aim to depart as early as possible to avoid midday traffic congestion along your route. Because you are relying on local roads like North Veterans Boulevard and East Wisconsin Road, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection traffic that you wouldn't encounter on an interstate. Plan for those two necessary stops to manage fatigue, as the lack of highway miles can make the drive feel more demanding over the 516.4-mile span. Keep your $77 fuel budget accessible, as local fueling stations may have different availability than major highway travel centers. A pro tip for this route: verify your GPS settings to ensure it keeps you on the designated local roads rather than attempting to reroute you onto faster, unfamiliar highways.

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 Lopezville, TX, or about 4h 42m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.5 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 1h 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 246 miles or 4h 42m 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 42m

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 7h 55m

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 Lopezville, 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 Lopezville, TX

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

Day 2

Finish the approach into Dallas, 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 Lopezville, 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 144.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

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 Lopezville, 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 144.5 miles.

Overnight split

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 website

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

McAllen, Texas

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+19569293106

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 269.8 and 491.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

269.8 mi into trip | ~5h 13m 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

328.8 mi into trip | ~6h 8m 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

433.5 mi into trip | ~7h 56m 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

491.6 mi into trip | ~8h 57m in

Take the exit toward Continental Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 429A Toward Continental Avenue

491.8 mi into trip | ~8h 58m in | Continental Avenue

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$67.40 one way

$134.80 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 172 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$75.29	$150.57
premium	$4.23	$81.86	$163.71
diesel	$4.80	$92.92	$185.84

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: 172.2 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	$51.67	$23.62
Efficient EV	123	1	$43.06	$19.68
EV Truck/SUV	196.8	2	$68.89	$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 19, 2026

Origin

Lopezville, TX

Evening in Lopezville on Monday

Local time

7:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

101°F

Sunny

SSE 12 to 17 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:33AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:32AM CDT until July 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Dallas, TX

Evening in Dallas on Monday

Local time

7:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

98°F

Sunny

SSW 5 to 10 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:33AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:32AM CDT until July 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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

3 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

8h 58m 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

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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 407.3

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 trades the typical high-speed interstate grind for a more local, grounded experience. You will navigate using North Veterans Boulevard, South I Road, and East Wisconsin Road, which means you are prioritizing surface-level roads over major highway arteries. Because the highway share is 0%, the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns rather than open-road cruising. You will notice the drive feels steady and deliberate, requiring your full attention as you transition between these specific thoroughfares. Expect a consistent, flat-country feel that persists for the entire 516.4-mile distance.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 144.5 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 around 269.8 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 15 significant decision points across 492.1 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 269.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 328.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 433.5 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

659 ft 81 ft

Total Climb

620 ft

Total Descent

294 ft

Highest Point

659 ft

~421.8 mi in

Elevation Range

578 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 Lopezville, TX to Dallas, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.

Waco

269.8 mi in | ~5h 13m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Corner Bakery

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Dallas, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Opening Bell Coffee

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Dallas, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-We 07:00-18:00; Th-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa...

Visit website

AllGood Cafe

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Dallas, TX

Hours: Mo-We 08:00-15:00; Th-Sa 08:00-21:00; Su...

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Dallas, TX

Cuisine: chicken

Hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-24:00

Visit website

Chop House Burger

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Dallas, TX

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00

Visit website

Park

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Legacy of Love Monument

Attraction

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Hours: 24/7

Frank H. Caven Memorial Garden

Attraction

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Sisk Reunion Park

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

McBrayer Park

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Museum of Illusions

Museum

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Dallas, TX

Hours: Su-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-21:00

Visit website

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Museum

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Dallas, TX

Hours: We-Su 10:00-17:00

Visit website

Waples-Platter Buildings

Yes

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route

West End Historic District

District

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Harrow

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Gateway Stele

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Lopezville, TX

Full guide →

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 144.5 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 37 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.0 hours each way, a round trip means 18.0 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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