Trip from Richardson, TX to Montopolis, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 45m

Distance

210.6 mi

339 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 32m ★

6 AM

3h 45m

8 AM

4h 10m

10 AM

3h 54m

12 PM

3h 51m

3 PM

3h 55m

5 PM

4h 9m

8 PM

3h 37m

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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city in Collin and Dallas counties in Texas, United States

Richardson, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Montopolis, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Richardson, TX to Montopolis, TX is 210.6 miles and takes about 3h 45m via South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, so expect a relatively flat landscape for the entire drive. With 80% highway driving, it's a straightforward shot to your destination. This route is ideal for a single-day trip, offering a quick and efficient connection between these two Texas locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

105.3 miles from Richardson, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
I 35	52.6 mi	54m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
South Central Expressway	11.5 mi	12m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
Bergstrom Expressway	4.8 mi	5m
US 183	2.2 mi	2m
North Central Expressway	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~4,060 veh/hr typical · worst 4,722

Quietest

2 AM

~607 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Richardson, TX and Montopolis, TX.

Start on this road

99 ft · 13 sec · this road

Turn left onto East Main Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · East Main Street

Continue on West Main Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · West Main Street

Turn left onto South Central Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Central Expressway

Use the straight / left lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward US 75 South

Merge onto US 75

11 mi · 11 min · South Central Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

501 ft · 12 sec

Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway Use the slight left lane.

Continue on North Central Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Central Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Elm Street

304 ft · 10 sec · Elm Street

Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Pearl Expressway

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Young Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Young Street

Turn left onto South Harwood Street

315 ft · 8 sec · South Harwood Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Canton Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Canton Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 30 West

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

53 mi · 54 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 240B Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto US 183

2.2 mi · 2 min · US 183

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on 183 Toll

4.8 mi · 5 min · Bergstrom Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto US 183

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Ed Bluestein Boulevard

Take the ramp

486 ft · 11 sec

Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart

Arrive at destination

Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart

Trip Plan

Given the 3h 45m estimated drive time and 210.6 miles, this is a comfortable same-day trip. Aim to leave Richardson in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. The primary roads, South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35, are well-maintained, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 89.9-mile stretch on South R L Thornton Freeway. Planning for one stop along the route should be sufficient to break up the drive. Your estimated fuel cost is around $32, so budget accordingly.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 105.3 miles from Richardson, TX, or about 1h 52m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 46 miles or 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 105.3 miles or 1h 52m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Richardson, 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 Richardson, TX

This is one driving day of about 210.6 miles and 3h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Richardson, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Italy, TX

105 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

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waco, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 105.3 miles from Richardson, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19724823055

Visit website

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Plano, Texas

+14692980556

Visit website

Jim Hogg Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour

Georgetown, Texas

+15129305253

Visit website

11th Hour Escape

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Plano, Texas

Hours: 12–5:30 pm

+14692095978

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 201.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

12.1 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

14.2 mi into trip | ~18m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

14.3 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes. Toward I 35E South: Waco

201.7 mi into trip | ~3h 33m in

Take the exit toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 240B Toward US 183: Lockhart, Lampasas

201.9 mi into trip | ~3h 34m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.85 one way

$57.69 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$32.22	$64.44
premium	$4.23	$35.03	$70.06
diesel	$4.80	$39.77	$79.53

Estimated Tolls: $0.98

Central Expressway (12.3 mi) $0.98

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	63.2	0	$22.11	$10.11
Efficient EV	52.7	0	$18.43	$8.42
EV Truck/SUV	84.2	1	$29.48	$13.48

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 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 Jul 19, 2026

Origin

Richardson, TX

Late night in Richardson on Monday

Local time

2:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Mostly Clear

S 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:51PM CDT until July 18 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:47PM CDT until July 18 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Destination

Montopolis, TX

Late night in Montopolis on Monday

Local time

2:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:51PM CDT until July 18 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:47PM CDT until July 18 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

100°F

Italy, TX

105 mi in

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

4 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

3h 45m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 101.7

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend about 80% of this 210.6-mile drive on the highway. The longest continuous stretch on highway surfaces is 89.9 miles along South R L Thornton Freeway. Expect a consistent highway experience for the majority of your travel time before transitioning to surface roads. The numerous exits on the highway sections will keep you engaged with frequent opportunities to assess your progress.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 22 significant decision points across 210.6 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 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

872 ft 410 ft

Total Climb

933 ft

Total Descent

1,099 ft

Highest Point

872 ft

~165.5 mi in

Elevation Range

462 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Richardson, TX and Montopolis, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco and Dallas Zoo.

Downtown

12.1 mi in | ~14m

Denton

14.1 mi in | ~18m

Waco

14.2 mi in | ~18m

Dallas Zoo

15.2 mi in | ~20m | via I 35E

About the Cities

Starting in Richardson, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1840

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 3h 45m. Total distance: 210.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.98 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Montopolis, 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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Montopolis, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Richardson, TX to Montopolis, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Ascent Travel Center

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

SoPac Trail Rest Area

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

City Park

Doris D Miller Park

Austin Bat Tours

Cultural Activities Center

Pioneer Farms

Dark Hour Haunted House

Jim Hogg Park

11th Hour Escape

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Richardson, TX

Montopolis, TX

Same local time

4 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 45m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Richardson, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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