Origin
Plainview, TX
Late night in Plainview on Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plainview, TX to Dallas, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
51.1 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainview, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Plainview to Dallas, you are looking at a quick 51.2-mile journey that typically takes about 58 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel needs. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Great Plains, you will remain in the same geographic region throughout your drive. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, this route offers a straightforward connection between the two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Stemmons Freeway | 20.5 mi | 22m |
| I 35E | 9.8 mi | 10m |
| FM 1173 | 8.5 mi | 17m |
| North Stemmons Freeway | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| I 35 | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Continental Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Stemmons Freeway
— 20.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainview, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on this road
70 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Plainview Road
138 ft
·
9 sec
·
Plainview Road
3
Turn right onto FM 1173
8.5 mi
·
17 min
·
FM 1173
4
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Interstate 35
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 South
6
Merge onto I 35; US 77
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35; US 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35E; US 77
9.8 mi
·
10 min
·
I 35E; US 77
Toward I 35E South: Dallas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
20 mi
·
22 min
·
South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 429B
Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Stemmons Freeway
12
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Continental Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Lamar Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Plainview, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 50.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Plainview Road
Turn right onto Plainview Road
Navigation decision point
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 35; US 77
Merge onto I 35; US 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
42.1 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 429B
Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.72 one way
$15.44 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.45 | $16.90 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.12 | $18.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.28 | $22.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.37 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Dallas, TX
Late night in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Lewisville, TX
26 mi in
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
11 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
1h 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way toward your destination. You will primarily utilize Plainview Road and Interstate 35, or I-35 South, to complete the trip. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a route that prioritizes local roads over high-speed interstate cruising. The nature of these roads means you will be actively engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a long, monotonous highway grind. Keep in mind that the route's technical character requires your full attention as you transition between these local segments.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.5 mi on South Stemmons Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Stemmons Freeway and I 35E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Plainview Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Plainview Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles (I 35; US 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Plainview, TX
Full guide →Plainview is a city in the Llano Estacado region of Texas.
Arriving in Dallas, TX
Full guide →“Big D” · Founded 1841
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...
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 51.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.5 miles on South Stemmons Freeway. 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 Dallas, 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: near the start (Plainview Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles (I 35; US 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway): 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 Dallas, TX before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Dallas, TX
More trips to Dallas, TX
Explore more options from Plainview, TX or browse trips ending in Dallas, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.