Origin
Melissa, TX
Late night in Melissa on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melissa, 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
45m
Distance
39.1 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melissa, TX
Victor Gavela
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 39.1-mile drive from Melissa, TX to Dallas, TX takes about 45 minutes and is an easy day trip. With 90% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward journey primarily utilizing Central Expressway. The estimated fuel cost is around $6, making it an economical option for a short excursion. Since the entire trip is within the Great Plains region of Texas, the landscape will remain consistent. This route is perfect for a quick commute or a brief visit without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Expressway | 34.7 mi | 37m |
| McKinney Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Sam Rayburn Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Broom Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Cooper 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 Melissa, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on FM 545
375 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Cooper Street
2
Turn left onto TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
McKinney Street
3
Turn right onto TX 121
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Sam Rayburn Highway
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 75; TX 121
35 mi
·
37 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Waco, Denton
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Saint Paul Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Spur 366
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Field Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Broom Street
170 ft
·
3 sec
·
Broom Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on Broom Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Broom Street
12
Turn slight left
173 ft
·
7 sec
Toward Lamar Street, Continental Avenue
13
Turn straight
136 ft
·
6 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft
·
15 sec
15
Turn left onto North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Lamar Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.5 miles from Melissa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 38.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m 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
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m 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
37.6 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
38 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
38.5 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
$5.91 one way
$11.82 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $6.47 | $12.93 |
| premium | $4.54 | $6.98 | $13.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.63 | $17.27 |
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
$6
Tolls
$3
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
4:09 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
5 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
45m 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?
This is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the 39.1 miles spent on high-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 34.7 miles on Central Expressway, offering a consistent pace. The main roads include Central Expressway, McKinney Street, and Sam Rayburn Highway, indicating a mix of major thoroughfares and potentially some connecting surface streets as you approach Dallas. Expect minimal variation in road type, making it a predictable driving experience.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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 McKinney Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 39.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Melissa, TX
Full guide →Founded 1853
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 45m. Total distance: 39.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). 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 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.6 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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