Trip from Midland, 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 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 44m

Distance

330.6 mi

532 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 32m ★

6 AM

5h 45m

8 AM

6h 11m

10 AM

5h 54m

12 PM

5h 51m

3 PM

5h 55m

5 PM

6h 10m

8 PM

5h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Midland, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Midland to Dallas covers 330.9 miles across the expansive Great Plains of Texas. Clocking in at approximately 4 hours and 51 minutes, this journey is manageable as a single-day trip if you are prepared for a steady pace. You should budget roughly $49 for fuel to complete the transit. While the route connects two major hubs within the same region, the drive requires your full attention due to the specific local roads involved. Whether you are heading east for business or a visit, knowing the duration helps you plan your departure time effectively to avoid fatigue.

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

165.3 miles from Midland, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	276 mi	4h 38m
Tom Landry Freeway	30 mi	35m
West Freeway	15.2 mi	17m
East Highway 80	4.5 mi	5m
East Front Street	1.3 mi	2m
West Texas Avenue	0.5 mi	<1m
Continental Avenue	0.2 mi	<1m
North Stemmons Freeway	0.2 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 276 mi, about 4h 38m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,369 veh/hr typical · worst 1,769

Quietest

2 AM

~188 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.3×

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 Midland, TX and Dallas, TX.

Start on Loop 269

44 ft · 3 sec · West Wall Street

Turn right onto TX 349 Bus

383 ft · 10 sec · North Big Spring Street

Turn right onto West Texas Avenue

0.5 mi · 57 sec · West Texas Avenue

Turn straight onto I 20 Bus

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Front Street

Continue on I 20 Bus

4.5 mi · 5 min · East Highway 80

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 1 min

Toward I 20 East: Abilene

Merge onto I 20

276 mi · 4 hr 38 min · I 20

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30

15 mi · 17 min · West Freeway

Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 30

30 mi · 35 min · Tom Landry Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Exit 45A Toward I 35E North: Denton Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Toward I 35E North: Denton, Commerce Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 35E North: Denton Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

0.2 mi · 19 sec · North Stemmons Freeway

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

Since this is a turn-heavy route without highway relief, plan to make at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh your focus. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to navigate the local roads before traffic peaks. Keep your navigation tools accessible at all times, as the lack of highway driving means you will be making frequent turns rather than staying on one main road. Given the $49 fuel estimate, topping off your tank before you depart Midland ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station while navigating the more congested segments of the drive.

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 165.3 miles from Midland, TX, or about 2h 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276 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 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 165.3 miles or 2h 49m 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 36m

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 Midland, 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 Midland, TX

This is one driving day of about 330.6 miles and 5h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Midland, 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 I 20 for about 276 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Shackelford County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albany, TX

165 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

Roscoe, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Abilene, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 165.3 miles from Midland, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1.5 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14326834403

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 283.7 and 330 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

283.7 mi into trip | ~4h 48m in | I 30 / West Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth

329 mi into trip | ~5h 41m in

Take the exit toward I 35E North: Denton

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 45A Toward I 35E North: Denton

329.2 mi into trip | ~5h 41m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North: Denton, Commerce Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North: Denton, Commerce Street

329.3 mi into trip | ~5h 42m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North: Denton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North: Denton

330 mi into trip | ~5h 43m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.28 one way

$90.56 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 116 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$50.58	$101.16
premium	$4.23	$54.99	$109.98
diesel	$4.80	$62.42	$124.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 115.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	99.2	1	$34.71	$15.87
Efficient EV	82.7	0	$28.93	$13.22
EV Truck/SUV	132.2	1	$46.28	$21.16

Gas CO2

116 kg

EV CO2

39 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 17, 2026

Origin

Midland, TX

Morning in Midland on Sunday

Local time

9:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 15 mph 45% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:14AM CDT until July 17 at 11:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:04AM CDT until July 21 at 3:57AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

Dallas, TX

Morning in Dallas on Sunday

Local time

9:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

93°F

Mostly Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:14AM CDT until July 17 at 11:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:04AM CDT until July 21 at 3:57AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

99°F

Albany, TX

165 mi in

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

8 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 44m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through city streets including North Big Spring Street, West Texas Avenue, and East Front Street to reach your destination. Because there are no long highway stretches, your longest uninterrupted segment on North Big Spring Street is 0 miles, meaning you will be making frequent adjustments behind the wheel. The experience is best described as a series of connected local roads that demand constant engagement from the driver.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 276 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Tom Landry Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 283.7 miles in near I 30 / West Freeway.

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 11 significant decision points across 330.6 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 283.7 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 329 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 329.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,780 ft 428 ft

Total Climb

722 ft

Total Descent

3,074 ft

Highest Point

2,780 ft

Elevation Range

2,351 ft

Detours Along the Way

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

Far West Coffee

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Midland, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-15:00

Visit website

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Heights, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:30

Visit website

Zeke's Fish & Chips

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Fort Worth, TX

Cuisine: fish_and_chips;american

Visit website

Moak's Family Texas BBQ

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route

Cuisine: barbecue

Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00

Visit website

WingBucket

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Dallas, TX

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Fort Worth, TX

Visit website

Home2 Suites by Hilton Big Spring

Hotel

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Hours: 24/7

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

About the Cities

Starting in Midland, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1881

Midland is a city in the Permian Basin region of Texas. Its warm climate, friendly people, and central location are the primary reasons for the city's popularity. It is home to about 133,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) Twenty minutes to the west is Odessa, with a population of about 100,000. Nearly a quarter of a million people reside in the Midland/Odessa metropolitan area.

Top landmarks

• George W. Bush Childhood Home — historic place in Midland, Midland County, Texas
• Tower Petroleum Building — historic place in Midland, Midland County, Texas
• Permian Basin Petroleum Museum — Midland museum

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 5h 44m. Total distance: 330.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 276 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 36 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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