Trip from Murillo Colonia, 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 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 1m

Distance

492.8 mi

793 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$68

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

8h 53m ★

6 AM

9h 2m

8 AM

9h 18m

10 AM

9h 7m

12 PM

9h 6m

3 PM

9h 8m

5 PM

9h 17m

8 PM

8h 57m

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

Best Time

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Murillo Colonia, TX

Brent Singleton

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Murillo Colonia to Dallas is 492.8 miles and takes about 9h 1m via I 69C, with a fuel budget near $72 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in the same area. With a 67% highway share, expect a good amount of time on major roads. Plan for two stops along the way to break up the nearly 500-mile drive. This route is best suited for those looking for a straightforward, efficient drive between these two points.

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

246.4 miles from Murillo Colonia, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 45m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 69C	141.7 mi	2h 35m
Purple Heart Trail	97.7 mi	1h 39m
Pickle Parkway	58.5 mi	54m
I 35E	58.1 mi	1h
King David Drive	31.8 mi	39m
State Highway 80 North	30.8 mi	35m
State Highway 80	23.6 mi	25m
Nueces Street	11.1 mi	14m

Longest stretch: I 69C — 141.7 mi, about 2h 35m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,007 veh/hr typical · worst 4,783

Quietest

2 AM

~579 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.9×

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 Murillo Colonia, TX and Dallas, TX.

Start on Murillo Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Murillo Street

Turn left onto FM 907

2.5 mi · 4 min · South Alamo Road

Continue on FM 907

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Alamo Road

Turn left onto FM 2128

0.5 mi · 40 sec · East Schunior Street

Continue on FM 2128

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Richardson Street

Continue on FM 2128

1.2 mi · 1 min · East Richardson Road

Turn right onto North Expressway 281

181 ft · 3 sec · North Expressway 281

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward I 69C North, US 281 North

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

71 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

11 mi · 14 min · Nueces Street

Turn right onto TX 72

32 mi · 39 min · King David Drive

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

58 mi · 1 hr · I 35E

Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.

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

Given the 9-hour duration, this trip is best split over two days. Aim to depart early to maximize daylight for your first leg, especially if you plan to stop for the night around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $72, and plan your refueling stops accordingly. The longest stretch without a major road change is 141.7 miles on I 69C, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. Two planned stops are recommended to manage the 492.8-mile distance comfortably.

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 246.4 miles from Murillo Colonia, TX, or about 4h 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.7 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 108 miles or 2h 1m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 246.4 miles or 4h 45m 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 246.4 miles or 4h 45m

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 7h 58m

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 Murillo Colonia, 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 Murillo Colonia, TX

Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Dallas, TX

Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Murillo Colonia, 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 I 69C for about 141.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

246 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

246 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 246 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Diego, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 246.4 miles from Murillo Colonia, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 141.7 miles.

Overnight split

2.3 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

2.5 mi from route

City Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19724823055

Visit website

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Edinburg, Texas

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19563819922

Visit website

South Texas Motorcycle Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Edinburg, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19562920770

Visit website

Museum of South Texas History

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Edinburg, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19563836911

Visit website

Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

San Juan, Texas

+19567870033

Visit website

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 270.5 and 492.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

270.5 mi into trip | ~5h 15m 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

329.5 mi into trip | ~6h 11m 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

434.2 mi into trip | ~7h 59m 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

492.3 mi into trip | ~9h 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

492.5 mi into trip | ~9h in | Continental Avenue

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$67.50 one way

$135.00 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 172 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$75.39	$150.79
premium	$4.23	$81.97	$163.94
diesel	$4.80	$93.05	$186.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$68

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$198–$308

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 172.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	147.8	1	$51.74	$23.65
Efficient EV	123.2	1	$43.12	$19.71
EV Truck/SUV	197.1	2	$68.99	$31.54

Gas CO2

172 kg

EV CO2

58 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 16, 2026

Origin

Murillo Colonia, TX

Evening in Murillo Colonia on Monday

Local time

7:08 PM

CDT

Current temp

96°F

Partly Sunny

SE 17 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Dallas, TX

Evening in Dallas on Monday

Local time

7:08 PM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 37% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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

6 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 1m 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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 407.9

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 67% highway driving, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on major thoroughfares like I 69C. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 141.7 miles on I 69C. You'll transition from highway to surface roads at some point, so be prepared for changes in speed limits and traffic patterns. Expect a mostly highway profile with some segments of rural cruising.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 141.7 mi on I 69C.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69C and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 270.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 492.8 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 270.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 329.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 434.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

671 ft 77 ft

Total Climb

706 ft

Total Descent

372 ft

Highest Point

671 ft

~422.4 mi in

Elevation Range

594 ft

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 Murillo Colonia, TX to Dallas, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.

Waco

270.5 mi in | ~5h 15m

About the Cities

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 141.7 miles on I 69C. 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 246 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 35 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.0 hours each way, a round trip means 18.1 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Murillo Colonia, TX or browse trips ending in Dallas, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Murillo Colonia, TX to Dallas, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Quality Services Towing & Tires

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Rest Area

Brooks County Rest Area

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Circle K

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

City Park

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center

South Texas Motorcycle Museum

Museum of South Texas History

Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine

Village of Salado Visitors Center

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Murillo Colonia, TX

Dallas, TX

Same local time

6 degrees cooler at arrival

9h 1m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Dallas, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More