Murphy, TX to Montopolis, TX is 220.5 miles and takes about 3h 59m via South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward trip. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a practical option for a single-day transit. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a functional route for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
110.2 miles from Murphy, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway
89.9 mi
1h 32m
I 35
52.6 mi
54m
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
North Central Expressway
16.2 mi
17m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
7m
Bergstrom Expressway
4.8 mi
5m
East Plano Parkway
2.6 mi
4m
US 183
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,060 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,722
Quietest
2 AM
~607 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Murphy, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on FM 2551
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Murphy Road
2
Turn right onto FM 544
0.7 mi·1 min·West FM 544
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on 14th Street
0.9 mi·1 min·14th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on East Plano Parkway
2.6 mi·4 min·East Plano Parkway
5
Turn left onto Jupiter Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Jupiter Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn slight right
167 ft·7 sec
7
Turn straight onto TX 190
0.5 mi·44 sec·President George Bush Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward PGBT Toll West
9
Merge onto PGBT
0.3 mi·17 sec·President George Bush Turnpike
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 75 South: DallasUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto US 75
15 mi·16 min·North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
501 ft·12 sec
Exit 284CToward Downtown, Good-Latimer ExpresswayUse the slight left lane.
14
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi·1 min·North Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto Elm Street
304 ft·10 sec·Elm Street
16
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Pearl Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·Young Street
18
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft·8 sec·South Harwood Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi·47 sec·Canton Street
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 30 West
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
22
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 35E South: WacoUse the left / right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi·44 sec·South R L Thornton Freeway
25
Continue on I 35E
89 mi·1 hr 31 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426Toward Dallas ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
53 mi·54 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 240BToward US 183: Lockhart, LampasasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward US 183 South: LockhartUse the slight left lane.
31
Merge onto US 183
2.2 mi·2 min·US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on 183 Toll
4.8 mi·5 min·Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton AvenueUse the slight right lane.
34
Turn straight onto US 183
0.4 mi·30 sec·Ed Bluestein Boulevard
35
Take the ramp
486 ft·11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
36
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3h 59m drive, consider departing in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Montopolis. With only one recommended stop for a drive of this length, you have flexibility; plan your break around the midpoint or when you feel the need. The fuel cost is estimated at $35, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Murphy. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 89.9-mile stretch on South R L Thornton Freeway, as services can be more spaced out on longer highway segments.
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 110.2 miles from Murphy, TX, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 2h 1m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Murphy, 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 Murphy, TX
This is one driving day of about 220.5 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Murphy, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 211.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 South: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 75 South: Dallas
8
22 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
9
24.1 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
24.2 mi into trip|~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
8
211.6 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
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 240B
Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.20 one way
$60.40 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$33.73
$67.47
premium
$4.23
$36.68
$73.36
diesel
$4.80
$41.63
$83.27
Estimated Tolls: $1.32
Central Expressway
(16.2 mi)$1.30
President George Bush Turnpike
(0.3 mi)$0.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.15
$10.58
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Murphy, TX
Morning
in Murphy on Monday
Local time
6:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 5 to 15 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:02AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Morning
in Montopolis on Monday
Local time
6:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:02AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
100°F
Italy, TX
110 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
1 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
3h 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 80% of the 220.5 miles on major roads like South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. You'll experience a longest stretch of 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway before transitioning to other routes. Expect consistent cruising for the majority of the trip, with the highway portion likely featuring dense exit patterns and merging traffic as you approach urban areas.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 25 significant decision points across 220.5 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 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
797 ft449 ft
Total Climb
871 ft
Total Descent
985 ft
Highest Point
797 ft
~204.7 mi in
Elevation Range
348 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Murphy, TX and Montopolis, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco and Dallas Zoo.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 220.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.32 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Montopolis, 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: at 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Montopolis, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
