Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 20m
Distance
340.7 mi
548 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pampa, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Irving, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Pampa to Irving is 340.7 miles and takes about 6h 20m via US Highway 287 East, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive across generally flat terrain. With 87% of the route on highways, expect a largely efficient transit. It's a solid single-day option if you're looking to get from the Panhandle area down towards the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
170.3 miles from Pampa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 14m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central East Freeway | 99.2 mi | 1h 46m |
| US Highway 287 | 81.8 mi | 1h 27m |
| US Highway 287 East | 40.5 mi | 42m |
| State Highway 70 | 40.1 mi | 52m |
| West 2nd Street | 28.1 mi | 31m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 5.5 mi | 5m |
| Northwest Freeway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Airport Freeway | 5 mi | 5m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~442 veh/hr typical · worst 553
Quietest
3 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 36 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Pampa, TX and Irving, TX.
Start on South Ballard Street
Turn right onto East Atchison Avenue
Turn left onto South Cuyler Street
Turn right onto US 60; TX 152
Turn left onto TX 70
Continue on SH 70
Continue on TX 70
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40; TX 70
Take the exit onto TX 70
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto TX 70
At end of road, turn left onto US 287; TX 70
Turn slight right onto US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
Continue on US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
Continue on US 281; US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
Continue on US 81; US 287
Merge onto I 35W; US 287
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 820
Take the exit
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
Take the exit
Merge onto TX 183
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on TX 356
Continue on TX 356
Turn left onto South Ohio Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 6h 20m estimated drive time, leaving Pampa mid-morning should get you to Irving with daylight to spare. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, especially since the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is nearly 100 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you get closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as services can become more spread out between exits on some highway segments. The total fuel cost is estimated at $50, so budget accordingly.
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 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 75 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.3 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irving, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pampa, 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 Pampa, TX
This is one driving day of about 340.7 miles and 6h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
170 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 170.3 miles from Pampa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Central East Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Near the start, right off the route
Pampa, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19499452000
Visit websiteNear the end, ~12 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteNear the end, ~12 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 207.6 and 337.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 820
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 820 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$46.67 one way
$93.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $52.12 | $104.25 |
| premium | $4.23 | $56.67 | $113.34 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $64.33 | $128.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.2 | 1 | $35.77 | $16.35 |
| Efficient EV | 85.2 | 0 | $29.81 | $13.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 136.3 | 1 | $47.70 | $21.80 |
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Pampa on Monday
Local time
1:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:36AM CDT until July 17 at 10:30AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 7:22AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Late night in Irving on Monday
Local time
1:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:36AM CDT until July 17 at 10:30AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 7:22AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with 87% of the 340.7 miles on roads like US Highway 287 East. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 99.2 miles, giving you a good opportunity for sustained cruising. As you approach Irving, expect more exits and merging traffic as you transition from rural and semi-rural environments into a more urban setting.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 207.6 miles in near US 287 / Northwest Freeway.
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 24 significant decision points across 340.7 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 207.6 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 317.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 318.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
12 ft
Total Descent
2,765 ft
Highest Point
3,237 ft
Elevation Range
2,753 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pampa, TX to Irving, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Texas 70 South: Clarendon along the way.
Texas 70 South: Clarendon
Founded 1888
Pampa is the second largest city in the High Plains region of the Texas Panhandle. Pampa hosts the Top o' Texas Rodeo each year in July, which brings competitors from Texas and the surrounding states to Gray County. The White Deer Land Company Museum, which showcases ranching exhibits, is in downtown Pampa. In 2020, it was home to 17,000 people.
Founded 1903
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 20m. Total distance: 340.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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