Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Maud, TX to Montopolis, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 18m
Distance
333.9 mi
537 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 6m
★
6 AM
6h 18m
8 AM
6h 43m
10 AM
6h 27m
12 PM
6h 24m
3 PM
6h 28m
5 PM
6h 42m
8 PM
6h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maud, TX
Thomas balabaud
Montopolis, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Maud, TX to Montopolis, TX is 333.9 miles and takes about 6h 18m via TX 155 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, taking you across the Great Plains region. With over half the trip on highways, expect a mix of faster travel and more local cruising. This is a solid option for a single-day road trip, allowing ample time for a relaxed pace or an early arrival.
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
167 miles from Maud, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 155 | 66.1 mi | 1h 15m |
| I 35 | 52.6 mi | 54m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| State Highway 31 East | 30.9 mi | 35m |
| West State Highway 31 | 18.8 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 31 | 17.2 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 8 | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 11.8 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
TX 155
— 66.1 mi, about 1h 15m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,599 veh/hr typical · worst 4,284
Quietest
2 AM
~572 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
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 Maud, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on Fincher Drive
127 ft
·
5 sec
·
Fincher Drive
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto TX 8
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Houston Drive
4
Continue on TX 8
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Street
5
Continue on TX 8
12 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 8
6
Turn sharp right onto TX 155
40 mi
·
45 min
·
TX 155
7
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Wood Street
8
Turn straight onto TX 155
13 mi
·
15 min
·
TX 155
9
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto TX 155
13 mi
·
14 min
·
TX 155
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto US 271; TX 155
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 271
12
Turn right onto Loop 323
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Northeast Loop 323
13
Continue on Loop 323
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Northwest Loop 323
14
Continue on Loop 323
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Southwest Loop 323
15
Turn right onto TX 31
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Chandler Highway
16
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 31 West
17
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Highway 31
18
Continue on TX 31
21 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 31 East
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
20
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jed Robinson Loop
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
22
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft
·
14 sec
23
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 31 West
24
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Royall Boulevard
25
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 31 East
26
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
27
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
28
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
West State Highway 31
29
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
30
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
31
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East US Highway 84
32
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
33
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Waco Drive
34
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
35
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
36
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
53 mi
·
54 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 240B
Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Use the slight left lane.
41
Merge onto US 183
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Continue on 183 Toll
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
44
Turn straight onto US 183
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
45
Take the ramp
486 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
46
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 18m drive, aim for an early morning departure from Maud to avoid potential traffic, especially as you get closer to Montopolis. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; consider breaking up the drive around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $49, and plan your refueling strategically before hitting longer highway stretches. Pay attention to the transition from TX 155 to I 35, as this is where the driving environment will change most noticeably.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 167 miles from Maud, TX, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.1 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 73 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 167 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maud, 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 Maud, TX
This is one driving day of about 333.9 miles and 6h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Maud, 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 TX 155 for about 66.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
167 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 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 167 miles from Maud, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 155 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.1 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 Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Cultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteAustin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteVisit Tyler/SPORTyler
4.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, ~12 min detour
Early stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Tyler, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19035936905
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 decision points cluster between mile 169.3 and 333.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
169.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m in
|
TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
272.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 11m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
325 mi into trip
|
~6h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240B
Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
7
325.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
7
333.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 16m in
Take the exit toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.12 one way
$102.25 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
117 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.29 | $56.42 | $112.84 |
| premium | $4.64 | $60.97 | $121.94 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $81.23 | $162.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 100.2 | 1 | $35.06 | $16.03 |
| Efficient EV | 83.5 | 0 | $29.22 | $13.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 133.6 | 1 | $46.75 | $21.37 |
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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
Maud, TX
Late night in Maud on Monday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
E 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:12AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Late night in Montopolis on Monday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:12AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville 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.
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
7 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
6h 18m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 230.3
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 is primarily highway, with 69% of the 333.9 miles on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 66.1 miles on TX 155 before transitioning to I 35. Expect a significant portion of the drive to involve merging with faster traffic and navigating more frequent exits as you approach your destination.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.1 mi on TX 155.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 155 and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 169.3 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 333.9 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 169.3 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 272.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 325 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
775 ft
287 ft
Total Climb
687 ft
Total Descent
511 ft
Highest Point
775 ft
~286.2 mi in
Elevation Range
488 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Maud, TX
Full guide →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 6h 18m. Total distance: 333.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.1 miles on TX 155. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 Montopolis, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 169.3 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 272.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 325 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Montopolis, 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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