Monahans to Fort Worth is 357 miles and takes about 6 hours and 7 minutes via I-20, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, primarily traversing Texas. It's a straightforward, predominantly highway trip, making it a good candidate for a single-day drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. Plan for a relatively uninterrupted route with minimal complexity.
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
178.7 miles from Monahans, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
337 mi
5h 40m
West Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
East Sealy Avenue
3 mi
5m
US 287 Bus
0.5 mi
1m
South Freeway
0.5 mi
<1m
US 377
0.2 mi
<1m
South Main Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 337 mi, about 5h 40m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,511 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,850
Quietest
2 AM
~212 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Monahans, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on this road
104 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto TX 18
178 ft·6 sec·South Main Avenue
3
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
3.0 mi·5 min·East Sealy Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 20 East: Odessa
5
Merge onto I 20
337 mi·5 hr 40 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Exit 421Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 377
0.2 mi·12 sec·US 377
Exit 15AToward I 35W, I 35W Express Toll North, US 377 North: Waco, DentonUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 35W South: Waco
9
Merge onto I 35W; US 287 Bus
0.1 mi·6 sec·South Freeway
10
Take the exit onto US 287 Bus
0.5 mi·1 min·US 287 Bus
Exit 49BToward US 287 Business: Rosedale Street, Allen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on South Freeway
0.4 mi·46 sec·South Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
To maximize daylight, aim to depart Monahans in the morning. With a driving time of just over 6 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. The longest stretch without a major road change is 337 miles on I-20, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need. Given the efficient highway nature of this route, you have flexibility; however, be aware of the dense exit activity as you near the Fort Worth 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 178.7 miles from Monahans, TX, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 337 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 79 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.7 miles or 3h 3m 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 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 Monahans, 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 Monahans, TX
This is one driving day of about 357.4 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Monahans, 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 337 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 356.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 18 / South Main Avenue
Turn right onto TX 18 / South Main Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
340.5 mi into trip|~5h 47m 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
8
355.8 mi into trip|~6h 4m in|US 377
Take the exit onto US 377 toward I 35W, I 35W Express Toll North, US 377 North: Waco, Denton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15A
Toward I 35W, I 35W Express Toll North, US 377...
8
356.5 mi into trip|~6h 6m in|US 287 Bus
Take the exit onto US 287 Bus toward US 287 Business: Rosedale Street, Allen 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.
Exit 49B
Toward US 287 Business: Rosedale Street, Allen...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.95 one way
$97.91 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$54.68
$109.36
premium
$4.23
$59.45
$118.90
diesel
$4.80
$67.48
$134.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.2
1
$37.53
$17.16
Efficient EV
89.4
1
$31.27
$14.30
EV Truck/SUV
143
1
$50.04
$22.87
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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
Monahans, TX
Late night
in Monahans on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:05AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:02AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Late night
in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:05AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:02AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
6 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 7m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on the highway, with 99% of the 357 miles on interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I-20, experiencing a longest stretch of 337 miles on this freeway. The transition to surface roads happens very late in the trip, near Fort Worth as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent exits along the interstate.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 337 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and West Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 18 / South Main Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 357.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (TX 18 / South Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 340.5 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 357.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 337 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 18 / South Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 340.5 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 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.
