Traveling from Olivarez to Dallas covers 522.8 miles and typically takes about 7 hours and 58 minutes of drive time. You will navigate using South Broadway Street, Edinburg Avenue, and Richardson Road as your primary connectors. While the journey is technically feasible in a single day, it is a substantial haul that requires stamina behind the wheel. Expect to budget roughly $78 for fuel to complete the trip. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can anticipate consistent terrain throughout the duration of your travel. This route is best suited for drivers who prefer a direct, long-distance haul rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour.
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
250.6 miles from Olivarez, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 51m 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 24 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
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 Olivarez, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on FM 88
4.0 mi·5 min·North Texas Boulevard
2
Continue on FM 88
0.5 mi·51 sec·South Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto TX 107
6.1 mi·9 min·Edinburg Avenue
4
Turn right onto FM 2128
0.9 mi·1 min·Richardson Road
5
Continue on FM 2128
0.5 mi·40 sec·East Schunior Street
6
Continue on FM 2128
0.8 mi·1 min·East Richardson Street
7
Continue on FM 2128
1.2 mi·1 min·East Richardson Road
8
Turn right onto North Expressway 281
181 ft·3 sec·North Expressway 281
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
10
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
71 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 69C; US 281
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi·14 min·Nueces Street
13
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi·39 min·King David Drive
14
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
16
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi·10 min·Helena Road
17
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi·25 min·State Highway 80
18
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nixon Avenue
19
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi·35 min·State Highway 80 North
20
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
21
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
22
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
24
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
58 mi·1 hr·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 429AToward Continental AvenueUse the slight right lane.
31
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·Continental Avenue
Use the right lane.
32
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft·10 sec·North Lamar Street
33
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
Given the nearly 8-hour duration, try to get an early start to avoid the fatigue of late-night driving. You should plan for at least two designated stops along the way to break up the 522.8-mile trek effectively. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $78 estimate is a baseline that can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and local pricing. Since you are navigating local roads rather than interstates, ensure your GPS is updated to account for potential traffic patterns on South Broadway Street or Richardson Road. Staying flexible with your departure time will help you manage the long-distance nature of this drive with greater ease.
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 250.6 miles from Olivarez, TX, or about 4h 51m 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 110 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 250.6 miles or 4h 51m 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 250.6 miles or 4h 51m
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 8h 9m
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 Olivarez, 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 Olivarez, TX
Aim for roughly 251 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Dallas, TX
Aim for roughly 251 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Olivarez, 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.
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 278.8 and 500.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
278.8 mi into trip|~5h 27m 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
7
337.8 mi into trip|~6h 22m 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
7
442.5 mi into trip|~8h 10m 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
500.6 mi into trip|~9h 11m 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
6
500.8 mi into trip|~9h 12m in|Continental Avenue
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.63 one way
$137.27 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg175 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$76.66
$153.33
premium
$4.23
$83.35
$166.70
diesel
$4.80
$94.62
$189.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$199–$309
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 175.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
150.3
1
$52.62
$24.05
Efficient EV
125.3
1
$43.85
$20.04
EV Truck/SUV
200.4
2
$70.15
$32.07
Gas CO2
175 kg
EV CO2
59 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
Olivarez, TX
Late night
in Olivarez on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Partly Sunny
SE 17 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 2:46PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 2:39PM CDT until July 16 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Dallas, TX
Late night
in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph46% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 2:46PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 2:39PM CDT until July 16 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
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
5 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 12m 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 414.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 522.8-mile journey is characterized by local road travel, as the route maintains a 0% highway share. Because you are relying on South Broadway Street, Edinburg Avenue, and Richardson Road, the pace of the drive remains steady rather than high-speed. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted highway stretches, meaning you should be prepared for more frequent turns and varied road conditions. Expect a practical, no-frills experience that demands your full attention as you move through the Great Plains. The lack of highway miles makes this a unique, ground-level look at the Texas landscape that differs significantly from standard interstate travel.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 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
At 9h 12m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 278.8 miles in.
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 501.1 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 278.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 337.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 442.5 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
754 ft68 ft
Total Climb
781 ft
Total Descent
420 ft
Highest Point
754 ft
~322.1 mi in
Elevation Range
687 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 Olivarez, TX to Dallas, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
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...
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 251 miles on day one.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 278.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 337.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 442.5 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.4 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.
