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Trip from Refugio, 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

6h 9m

Distance

346.6 mi

558 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
5h 57m ★
6 AM
6h 10m
8 AM
6h 35m
10 AM
6h 19m
12 PM
6h 16m
3 PM
6h 20m
5 PM
6h 34m
8 PM
6h 2m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in and county seat of Refugio County, Texas, United States

Refugio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Dallas, TX, TX

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 341.1-mile journey from Refugio, TX, to Dallas, TX, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 42 minutes. It's a straightforward drive primarily on local roads, with no highway segments, making it a turn-heavy experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $52, this route offers a budget-friendly option for connecting these two Texas locations within the Great Plains region. You'll spend most of your time on North Alamo Street and Highway 183, with a brief stint on South Jefferson Street. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive.

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

173.3 miles from Refugio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Purple Heart Trail 97.7 mi 1h 39m
Pickle Parkway 58.5 mi 54m
I 35E 58.1 mi 1h
North US Highway 183 51.4 mi 56m
US 183 35.9 mi 41m
US Highway 183 22.6 mi 24m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway 6.6 mi 7m
South Colorado Street 4.9 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Refugio, TX and Dallas, TX.

1

Start on West Commons Street

43 ft · 8 sec · West Commons Street
2

Turn left onto US 77

0.7 mi · 58 sec · North Alamo Street
3

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Alamo Street
4

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

23 mi · 24 min · US Highway 183
5

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183; TX 239

3.7 mi · 5 min · South Jefferson Street
6

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

29 mi · 31 min · North US Highway 183
7

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 87; US 183

2.8 mi · 3 min · South Esplanade Street
8

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

23 mi · 24 min · North US Highway 183
9

Continue on US 183; TX 111

6.0 mi · 6 min · US 183; TX 111
10

Continue on US 183; TX 97

20 mi · 23 min · US 183; TX 97
11

Turn right onto US 183; TX 80

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Magnolia Avenue
12

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
13

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
14

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
16

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

58 mi · 1 hr · I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.
22

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 429A Toward Continental Avenue Use the slight right lane.
23

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Continental Avenue
Use the right lane.
24

Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street

433 ft · 10 sec · North Lamar Street
25

Arrive at destination

North Lamar Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 42-minute duration, this trip is definitely manageable as a single-day drive from Refugio to Dallas. Aim for an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and account for the numerous turns. With a fuel cost around $52, make sure your tank is full before you leave Refugio to minimize any unscheduled fuel stops. Since it's a local drive, be mindful of posted speed limits and potential traffic congestion as you enter and leave towns. Planning for just one stop will allow you to reach Dallas with plenty of time left in your day.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.3 miles from Refugio, TX, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 76 miles or 1h 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 173.3 miles or 3h 10m 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 6m

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 Refugio, 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 Refugio, TX

This is one driving day of about 346.6 miles and 6h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Refugio, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Travis and Williamson counties in Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Round Rock, TX

173 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.

Popular next leg

Round Rock, TX to Dallas, TX

177.3 mi · 3h 5m

Pacing Suggestions

Yoakum, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Round Rock, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 173.3 miles from Refugio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

City Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 346.6

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19724823055

Visit website

NTER - The Great Escape

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 321.8

Waxahachie, Texas

Hours: 5–9 pm

+12149801053

Visit website

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 222.8

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 198

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 124.3 and 346.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
124.3 mi into trip | ~2h 24m 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
183.2 mi into trip | ~3h 19m 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
287.9 mi into trip | ~5h 7m 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
346 mi into trip | ~6h 8m 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
346.2 mi into trip | ~6h 9m in | Continental Avenue

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.37 one way

$104.74 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 121 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $57.33 $114.65
premium $4.54 $61.88 $123.77
diesel $5.61 $76.52 $153.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$52

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$77–$102

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 121.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 104 1 $36.39 $16.64
Efficient EV 86.7 0 $30.33 $13.86
EV Truck/SUV 138.6 1 $48.52 $22.18

Gas CO2

121 kg

EV CO2

41 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Refugio, TX

Night in Refugio on Saturday

Local time

11:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dallas, TX

Night in Dallas on Saturday

Local time

11:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°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

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

6h 9m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 341.1-mile trip, as indicated by the 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating through towns and potentially dealing with more frequent traffic signals and intersections rather than open highway cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests a consistent need for attention and adjustments to your speed and direction. You'll likely experience a more intimate connection with the landscape as you pass through communities and varying road conditions typical of Texas.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and Pickle Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 124.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 346.6 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 124.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 287.9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Refugio, TX to Dallas, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.

Waco

124.3 mi in | ~2h 24m

About the Cities

Starting in Refugio, TX

Full guide →

Refugio is a small town on the South Barrier Coast of Texas. The county seat of Refugio County, Refugio is one of the older settlements in Texas, founded as a Catholic mission during the Spanish Texas era of the 18th century. Today, it sits as a crossroads and a halfway point between Victoria and Corpus Christi. Despite that, it still has several attractions, both historical and natural, that make it a destination in its own right.

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 6h 9m. Total distance: 346.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 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 124.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 287.9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 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.

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.

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