Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Montopolis, TX to Sachse, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 2m
Distance
223.8 mi
360 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 49m
★
6 AM
4h 2m
8 AM
4h 28m
10 AM
4h 11m
12 PM
4h 9m
3 PM
4h 12m
5 PM
4h 27m
8 PM
3h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sachse, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 223.8-mile drive from Montopolis, TX, to Sachse, TX, is estimated to take about 4 hours and 2 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. You'll primarily be on the Purple Heart Trail and I-35E, with a portion of Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway. About 40% of this journey involves highway driving, offering a mixed experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, this route through the Great Plains region of Texas is straightforward and efficient. You can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stop.
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
111.9 miles from Montopolis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 122.8 mi | 2h 6m |
| I 35E | 47.5 mi | 49m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 23.4 mi | 25m |
| Bergstrom Expressway | 7 mi | 6m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Lavon Drive | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| South 1st Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| US 183 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 122.8 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montopolis, TX and Sachse, 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
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
47 mi
·
49 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 418B
Toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 20
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 635
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Exit 480
Toward I 635 North: Mesquite, Garland
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 11A
Toward Centerville Road, Ferguson Road
21
Turn straight onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
22
Turn right onto West Centerville Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Centerville Road
23
Turn left onto South 1st Street
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South 1st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right onto TX 78
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Lavon Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on TX 78
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 78
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
TX 78
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your trip from Montopolis early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach more urban areas. While this route is manageable in one day, consider taking advantage of the flexibility by stopping at least once. A good place to stretch your legs might be around the halfway point, though no specific stops are highlighted in the data. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, with an estimated cost of $34 for the entire trip, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before embarking on the longest 122.8-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail.
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 111.9 miles from Montopolis, TX, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.8 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 49 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.9 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sachse, 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 223.8 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 122.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.9 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 122.8 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.
TA
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 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
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.5 mi from route
Pioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteXcape Adventures
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Mesquite, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19729822073
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
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 websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Halfway reset
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Early stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteToybrary Austin
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~12 min detour
First break
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+15124343927
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 11.3 and 202.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
142.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
190.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 418B
Toward I 20 East: Shreveport
9
202.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
|
I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway toward I 635 North: Mesquite, Garland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 480
Toward I 635 North: Mesquite, Garland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.82 one way
$67.63 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $37.02 | $74.03 |
| premium | $4.54 | $39.96 | $79.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.41 | $98.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.1 | 0 | $23.50 | $10.74 |
| Efficient EV | 56 | 0 | $19.58 | $8.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.5 | 1 | $31.33 | $14.32 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Montopolis on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sachse, TX
Late night in Sachse on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°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.
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
7 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
4h 2m 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.
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 108
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
The drive offers a mixed bag, with 40% of it on highways. Expect a significant stretch of 122.8 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which could be a more engaging part of the journey. As you transition to I-35E and Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, the character shifts to more typical interstate conditions. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced highway travel and potentially more varied scenery along the Purple Heart Trail. The overall drive profile suggests a dynamic experience rather than a monotonous one.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.8 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in.
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 17 significant decision points across 223.8 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 11.3 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; at 142.8 miles (I 35E): 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 Montopolis, TX and Sachse, TX, road signs point toward Loop 275: Waco and Garland.
Loop 275: Waco
11.3 mi in
|
~12m
Garland
202.7 mi in
|
~3h 32m
|
via I 635
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 223.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.8 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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 Sachse, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 142.8 miles (I 35E): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Sachse, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Sachse, TX
More trips to Sachse, TX
Explore more options from Montopolis, TX or browse trips ending in Sachse, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.