New London, TX to Fort Worth, TX is 165.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 57 minutes via I 20, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path between two points. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of your journey. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is ideal for those looking to cover ground efficiently without an overnight stop. It's a practical choice for getting from East Texas to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
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
82.8 miles from New London, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
103.1 mi
1h 44m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
22 mi
23m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
19.7 mi
21m
Main Street
11.1 mi
15m
State Highway 135 North
4.7 mi
5m
South Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
Phillips Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Burnett Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 103.1 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New London, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on Burnett Street
295 ft·15 sec·Burnett Street
2
Turn right onto Phillips Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Phillips Street
3
Turn right onto TX 42
11 mi·15 min·Main Street
4
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 135
228 ft·5 sec·TX 135
5
Enter roundabout onto TX 135
217 ft·3 sec·State Highway 135 North
6
Continue on TX 135
4.6 mi·5 min·State Highway 135 North
7
Turn left onto I-20 Access Road
94 ft·2 sec·I-20 Access Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
9
Merge onto I 20
84 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
19 mi·20 min·I 20
Toward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 20
22 mi·23 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 20
20 mi·21 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 437Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 35W North: DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35W North: Fort Worth
16
Merge onto I 35W
3.2 mi·3 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 49AToward Allen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Freeway
19
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft·12 sec·East Allen Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft·5 sec·South Freeway
21
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You could leave New London in the morning and arrive in Fort Worth well before lunch. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility to pause when needed, perhaps for fuel or a quick break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 103.1-mile stretch on I 20, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 82.8 miles from New London, TX, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 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 36 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.8 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 24m
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 New London, 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 New London, TX
This is one driving day of about 165.6 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from New London, 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 103.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.3 and 165.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11.3 mi into trip|~15m in|TX 135 / State Highway 135 North
Enter roundabout onto TX 135 / State Highway 135 North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
100.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
8
161.1 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
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 437
Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
7
161.4 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W North: Denton
7
165.1 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.02 one way
$50.05 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$27.39
$54.78
premium
$4.54
$29.57
$59.13
diesel
$5.61
$36.56
$73.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.7
0
$17.39
$7.95
Efficient EV
41.4
0
$14.49
$6.62
EV Truck/SUV
66.2
0
$23.18
$10.60
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
New London, TX
Afternoon
in New London on Tuesday
Local time
12:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Afternoon
in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
12:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
17 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
2h 57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 80% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 20, including a continuous stretch of 103.1 miles on this highway. The Lyndon B Johnson Freeway and Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway also play roles in navigating the later stages of the trip. Expect a generally consistent driving experience, characteristic of long-haul interstate travel across Texas.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in near TX 135 / State Highway 135 North.
Driving Effort8/10
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 165.6 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 (TX 135 / State Highway 135 North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 100.2 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 2h 57m. Total distance: 165.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m 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 103.1 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 11.3 miles (TX 135 / State Highway 135 North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 100.2 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Worth, TX before heading back.
