Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Lytle, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
288.4 mi
464 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 57m
★
6 AM
5h 10m
8 AM
5h 37m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 17m
3 PM
5h 21m
5 PM
5h 36m
8 PM
5h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lytle, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lytle, TX to Fort Worth, TX is 288.4 miles and takes about 5h 10m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Great Plains region of South Texas north into the same region around Fort Worth. With a highway share of 30%, expect a mix of interstate cruising and surface roads. Given the manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day drive, making it a convenient option for getting between these two points in Texas.
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
144.2 miles from Lytle, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 199.5 mi | 3h 29m |
| I 35W | 49.2 mi | 51m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 21.5 mi | 26m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 199.5 mi, about 3h 29m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 66 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,150 veh/hr typical · worst 3,705
Quietest
2 AM
~533 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Lytle, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on North Bank Street
36 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Bank Street
2
Turn left onto TX 132; FM 2790
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 North
4
Merge onto I 35
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35: Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi
·
51 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Freeway
18
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
19
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Freeway
20
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Lytle in the morning should give you ample daylight to reach Fort Worth. With a total duration of just over 5 hours, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider taking your only planned stop about halfway through to break up the longest stretch on the Purple Heart Trail. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer surface road sections, as fuel availability can be more spread out. The $42 fuel cost is an estimate, so factor in current prices when budgeting.
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 144.2 miles from Lytle, TX, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.5 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 63 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.2 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
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 Lytle, 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 Lytle, TX
This is one driving day of about 288.4 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Lytle, 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 199.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 144.2 miles from Lytle, 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 199.5 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.
Service Plaza
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
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
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
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 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
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.3 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2.4 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteRoosevelt Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 5 am–11 pm
+12102077275
Visit websiteForest 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 websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteHemisfair
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 5 am–12 pm
+12107094750
Visit websitePadre Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–9 pm
+12102077275
GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+12102274746
Visit websiteSpanish Governor's Palace
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12102077527
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 287.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...
7
34.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
7
238.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m 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
287.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m 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
$39.50 one way
$79.00 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $44.12 | $88.25 |
| premium | $4.23 | $47.97 | $95.94 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $54.46 | $108.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.5 | 1 | $30.28 | $13.84 |
| Efficient EV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.24 | $11.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.4 | 1 | $40.38 | $18.46 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Origin
Lytle, TX
Afternoon in Lytle on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 10 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:13PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:12PM MDT until July 17 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Afternoon in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
S 10 to 15 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:13PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:12PM MDT until July 17 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
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
5h 10m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 208.8
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 19.9
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 features a mixed highway and surface road profile. You'll spend a good portion of your time on surface roads, with only 30% of the drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 199.5 miles along the Purple Heart Trail. Be prepared for a transition from more rural cruising to denser traffic and more frequent exits as you approach Fort Worth.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 199.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 22.3 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 288.4 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 22.3 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.5 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
903 ft
435 ft
Total Climb
975 ft
Total Descent
1,042 ft
Highest Point
903 ft
~144.2 mi in
Elevation Range
469 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.
Between Lytle, TX and Fort Worth, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.
Corpus Christi
24 mi in
|
~27m
|
via I 35
Johnson City
24 mi in
|
~27m
|
via I 35
About the Cities
Starting in Lytle, 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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 288.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 199.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.3 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.5 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 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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