Midway South, TX to Fort Worth, TX is 497.3 miles and takes about 9h 7m via Purple Heart Trail and I 69C, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive spans the Great Plains region, offering a highway-focused experience for much of its length. With a recommended two days for the trip, you'll have ample time to break up the nearly 500 miles. Consider this route if you prefer efficient travel with a clear path, making it a straightforward option for reaching your destination.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
248.6 miles from Midway South, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 47m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Midway South, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on Live Oak Avenue
495 ft·27 sec·Live Oak Avenue
2
Continue on Live Oak Avenue
377 ft·18 sec·Live Oak Avenue
3
Turn right onto 7W
0.5 mi·1 min·Midway Road
4
Turn left onto US 83 Bus
1.3 mi·2 min·Hooks Avenue
5
Turn right onto FM 493
0.8 mi·1 min·North Salinas Boulevard
6
Turn left onto West Expressway 83
0.4 mi·39 sec·West Expressway 83
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
8
Merge onto I 2; US 83
7.8 mi·8 min·I 2; US 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 146AToward I 69C North, US 281: EdinburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 69C
22 mi·23 min·I 69C
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 281
57 mi·1 hr·US 281
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 69C; US 281
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi·14 min·Nueces Street
14
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi·39 min·King David Drive
15
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
16
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
17
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi·10 min·Helena Road
18
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi·25 min·State Highway 80
19
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nixon Avenue
20
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi·35 min·State Highway 80 North
21
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
22
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
23
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
25
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi·51 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 49AToward Allen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
32
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Freeway
33
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft·12 sec·East Allen Avenue
34
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft·5 sec·South Freeway
35
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 7m duration, it's wise to plan this as a two-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $75. Consider starting early on your first day to cover a substantial portion, perhaps around 250-300 miles, leaving a shorter, more relaxed drive for day two. The two planned stops are ideal for stretching your legs and refueling. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on Purple Heart Trail, to ensure you don't get caught needing to find a station in a more remote area.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 248.6 miles from Midway South, TX, or about 4h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 109 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 248.6 miles or 4h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 248.6 miles or 4h 47m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 3m
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 Midway South, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Midway South, TX
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fort Worth, TX
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Midway South, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 496.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11.1 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
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 146A
Toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
6
283.9 mi into trip|~5h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
7
342.9 mi into trip|~6h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
447.6 mi into trip|~8h 14m 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
496.8 mi into trip|~9h 5m 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
$75.14 one way
$150.29 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg174 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$82.25
$164.50
premium
$4.54
$88.79
$177.58
diesel
$5.61
$109.80
$219.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$205–$315
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 174 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
149.2
1
$52.22
$23.87
Efficient EV
124.3
1
$43.51
$19.89
EV Truck/SUV
198.9
2
$69.62
$31.83
Gas CO2
174 kg
EV CO2
58 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Midway South, TX
Late night
in Midway South on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Late night
in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
12 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
9h 7m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 411.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is largely a highway-focused drive, with 68% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail, indicating significant portions where you can maintain a steady pace. While the majority of the journey is on high-speed roads, the inclusion of other main roads like I 69C suggests some variation in the driving experience. Expect a consistent, driving-oriented feel for most of this 497.3-mile journey.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and I 69C. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 497.3 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 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 342.9 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.
On the drive from Midway South, TX to Fort Worth, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 249 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 342.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.2 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.
