Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Montopolis, TX to Liberty, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 3m
Distance
306.9 mi
494 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 51m
★
6 AM
6h 4m
8 AM
6h 29m
10 AM
6h 13m
12 PM
6h 10m
3 PM
6h 14m
5 PM
6h 28m
8 PM
5h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montopolis, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Liberty, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Montopolis, TX to Liberty, TX is 306.9 miles and takes about 6h 3m via Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 31, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path across Texas. Given its duration and route, this trip is best suited for a single day of travel. The majority of the route uses surface roads, so don't expect a high-speed interstate experience. Plan for a consistent pace as you make your way east.
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
153.4 miles from Montopolis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 89.8 mi | 1h 33m |
| State Highway 31 | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| State Highway 155 | 26.8 mi | 30m |
| State Highway 31 East | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| North Tyler Street | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 155 North | 11.5 mi | 12m |
| Northeast 2nd Street | 9.9 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 89.8 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,737 veh/hr typical · worst 4,320
Quietest
2 AM
~580 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 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 Montopolis, TX and Liberty, TX.
1
Start on this road
219 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
2
Merge onto 183 Toll
0.8 mi
·
47 sec
·
Bergstrom Expressway
3
Continue on US 183
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4
Take the exit
136 ft
·
10 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Turn sharp left onto US 183
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 183 South
6
Continue on 183 Toll
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 183
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
475 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 35, Loop 275: Waco, Lamar Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 South, Loop 275: Lamar Boulevard
10
Turn straight onto East Anderson Lane
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Anderson Lane
11
Turn right onto North Interstate 35
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Interstate 35
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 35 North
13
Merge onto I 35
90 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
17
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Waco Drive
18
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
19
Continue on US 84
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East US Highway 84
20
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
21
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
22
Continue on TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 31
23
Turn right onto TX 31
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Highway 31
25
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Northeast 2nd Street
26
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Royall Boulevard
27
Continue on TX 31
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 31 West
28
Turn left onto TX 31
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
TX 31
29
Merge onto TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jed Robinson Loop
30
Take the exit onto TX 31
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
TX 31
31
Turn left onto TX 31
21 mi
·
24 min
·
State Highway 31 East
32
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Highway 31
33
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 31 West
34
Continue on TX 31
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Chandler Highway
35
Continue on TX 31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Front Street
36
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Beckham Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
37
Continue on US 271; TX 155
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Gentry Parkway
38
Continue on US 271; TX 155
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 271
39
Turn left onto TX 155
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 155 North
40
Continue on TX 155
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
41
Continue on TX 155
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 155 North
42
At end of road, turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Street
43
Turn left onto TX 155
15 mi
·
17 min
·
North Tyler Street
Use the left lane.
44
Turn right onto TX 155
27 mi
·
30 min
·
State Highway 155
45
Turn right onto TX 49
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
46
Turn left onto Liberty Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Road
47
Continue on County Road 1617
2.9 mi
·
11 min
·
County Road 1617
48
Continue on West Liberty Road
1.6 mi
·
6 min
·
West Liberty Road
49
Continue on County Road 1617
1.7 mi
·
6 min
·
County Road 1617
50
Turn right
253 ft
·
11 sec
51
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 89.8-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent. The $45 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra. This route is manageable in a single day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, splitting it could also be an option.
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 153.4 miles from Montopolis, TX, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.8 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 68 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.4 miles or 2h 45m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Liberty, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Montopolis, 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 Montopolis, TX
This is one driving day of about 306.9 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Montopolis, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 89.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
153 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 153.4 miles from Montopolis, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAustin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~9 min detour
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteVisit Tyler/SPORTyler
4.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
Final third
4.2 mi from route
~10 min detour
Tyler, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19035936905
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 255 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 236.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
11.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 35, Loop 275: Waco, Lamar Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35, Loop 275: Waco, Lamar Boulevard
7
11.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35 South, Loop 275: Lamar Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, Loop 275: Lamar Boulevard
8
109.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
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 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
6
236.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 23m in
|
US 271; TX 155 / South Beckham Avenue
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155 / South Beckham Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.04 one way
$84.07 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
107 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $46.95 | $93.91 |
| premium | $4.23 | $51.05 | $102.10 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $57.95 | $115.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.1 | 1 | $32.22 | $14.73 |
| Efficient EV | 76.7 | 0 | $26.85 | $12.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 122.8 | 1 | $42.97 | $19.64 |
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Origin
Montopolis, TX
Night in Montopolis on Monday
Local time
9:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:31PM CDT until July 19 at 1:30PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:31PM CDT until July 19 at 6:30AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Liberty, TX
Night in Liberty on Monday
Local time
9:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:31PM CDT until July 19 at 1:30PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:31PM CDT until July 19 at 6:30AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
100°F
Italy, TX
153 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
3 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 3m 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.
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 105.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a highway share of 47%, meaning you'll spend less than half the drive on faster roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 89.8 miles on Purple Heart Trail. You'll notice the transition from more developed areas to less populated stretches as you move along State Highway 31 and State Highway 155. Expect a mix of cruising and navigating through various communities.
Only 47% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
51 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.8 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 306.9 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 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
904 ft
321 ft
Total Climb
977 ft
Total Descent
1,119 ft
Highest Point
904 ft
~43.8 mi in
Elevation Range
583 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Liberty, TX
Full guide →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 6h 3m. Total distance: 306.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.8 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 Liberty, 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Liberty, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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