This 91.1-mile drive from Palo Pinto County to Irving, Texas, should take you about 1 hour and 54 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's perfectly suited for a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of around $14. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a convenient option for getting from the Great Plains region of West Texas to its counterpart closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. No overnight stays are necessary for this route; you can comfortably complete it in one go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.5 miles from Palo Pinto County, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
15.5 mi
16m
Mineral Wells Highway
12.9 mi
15m
Jim Wright Freeway
12.6 mi
14m
Palo Pinto Highway
8.1 mi
12m
I 820 TEXpress
6.9 mi
6m
West Freeway
5.6 mi
5m
Airport Freeway
5 mi
5m
SH 121/183 TEXpress
4.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 15.5 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palo Pinto County, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on this road
1.1 mi·4 min·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 180
0.7 mi·55 sec·US Highway 180
3
Continue on US 180
1.1 mi·1 min·Cedar Street
4
Continue on US 180; BH
8.1 mi·12 min·Palo Pinto Highway
5
Continue on US 180; BH
2.0 mi·3 min·US Highway 180 West
6
Continue on US 180; BH
1.0 mi·1 min·Southwest 1st Street
7
Continue on US 180; BH
1.2 mi·1 min·Southeast 1st Street
8
Continue on US 180
2.9 mi·4 min·Highway 180 East
9
Continue on US 180
13 mi·15 min·Mineral Wells Highway
10
Turn right onto Southwest Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
2.4 mi·3 min·Southwest Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
11
Turn left onto West Interstate 20
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 20 East
13
Merge onto I 20
15 mi·16 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
5.6 mi·5 min·West Freeway
Exit 421Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 5BToward I 820 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 820
13 mi·14 min·Jim Wright Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 820
0.3 mi·18 sec·Northeast Loop
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress
6.9 mi·6 min·I 820 TEXpress
Toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas EntranceUse the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
4.4 mi·4 min·SH 121/183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
2.5 mi·2 min·SH 183 TEXpress
Toward TX 183 Express EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
262 ft·6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto TX 183
5.0 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard, Belt Line Road SouthUse the right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on TX 356
2.7 mi·4 min·West Irving Boulevard
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on TX 356
0.4 mi·52 sec·West 2nd Street
27
Turn left onto South Ohio Street
436 ft·19 sec·South Ohio Street
28
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour congestion as you approach Irving. With no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps when you notice your fuel gauge dipping. A good practice is to utilize the longest stretch on I 20, which spans 15.5 miles, as a marker for when you might want to start thinking about your next rest or fuel stop.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.5 miles from Palo Pinto County, TX, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.5 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 20 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.5 miles or 1h 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 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irving, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palo Pinto County, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Palo Pinto County, TX
This is one driving day of about 91.1 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Palo Pinto County, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 15.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 49.2 and 87.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
49.2 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 30 / West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 421
Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
7
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 820 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5B
Toward I 820 North
7
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|I 820 TEXpress
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas Entrance
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas E...
7
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard, Belt Line Road South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard, Belt Line Road...
7
87.6 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.77 one way
$27.53 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$15.07
$30.13
premium
$4.54
$16.27
$32.53
diesel
$5.61
$20.11
$40.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.3
0
$9.57
$4.37
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.97
$3.64
EV Truck/SUV
36.4
0
$12.75
$5.83
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Palo Pinto County, TX
Morning
in Palo Pinto County on Tuesday
Local time
11:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Irving, TX
Morning
in Irving on Tuesday
Local time
11:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 54m 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 route is largely defined by its highway-centric nature, with 64% of the drive taking place on major roads like I 20 and the Jim Wright Freeway. Expect long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 15.5 miles solely on I 20. While it's primarily a fast-paced journey, you'll also navigate sections on Mineral Wells Highway, offering a slight variation in the driving experience. The road generally maintains a consistent pace, making it a predictable drive for those seeking efficiency.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.5 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Mineral Wells Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 49.2 miles in near I 30 / West Freeway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.1 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 49.2 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.6 miles (I 820 TEXpress): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents.
Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
Top landmarks
•Ruth Paine Home — house in Irving, Texas, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 91.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.5 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 Irving, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 49.2 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.6 miles (I 820 TEXpress): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Irving, TX before heading back.
