Origin
Melissa, TX
Late night in Melissa on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melissa, TX to Grand Prairie, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
52.2 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melissa, TX
Victor Gavela
Grand Prairie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Melissa, TX to Grand Prairie, TX is 52.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 1 minute via Central Expressway, Tom Landry Freeway, and Woodall Rodgers Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey between two Texas locations. Given its short distance and manageable duration, this route is ideal for a same-day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Expressway | 34.7 mi | 37m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 9.9 mi | 10m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| McKinney Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Sam Rayburn Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Belt Line Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Interstate 30 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Davis Street | 0.2 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 Grand Prairie, 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
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
North Stemmons Freeway
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 30
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 30 West: Fort Worth
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 30
9.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 34
Toward Belt Line Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto East Interstate 30
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Interstate 30
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto North Belt Line Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Belt Line Road
17
Continue on FM 1382
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Belt Line Road
18
Turn right onto Davis Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Davis Street
19
Turn slight right onto TX 180
15 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
20
Turn right
74 ft
·
5 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 40 — 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
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
7
39.8 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the ramp toward I 35E South, I 30
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35E South, I 30
7
40 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 West: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 30 West: Fort Worth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.89 one way
$15.78 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.63 | $17.27 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.32 | $18.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.53 | $23.05 |
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
$8
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Grand Prairie, TX
Late night in Grand Prairie on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
10 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
1h 1m 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 a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 34.7 miles on Central Expressway, so expect a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. The journey primarily consists of expressway driving, which is characterized by higher speeds and multiple lanes. While the terrain itself within the Great Plains is generally open, the focus here is on efficient travel rather than scenic detours.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central Expressway and Tom Landry Freeway. 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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.2 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 37.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Melissa, TX and Grand Prairie, TX, road signs point toward Waco and Denton.
Waco
37.6 mi in
|
~42m
Denton
37.6 mi in
|
~42m
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 52.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). 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 Grand Prairie, 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 37.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grand Prairie, 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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