Traveling from Robert Lee to Dallas covers 249.1 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 3 minutes of drive time. Since this route is well within a single day’s reach, you can easily complete the journey without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget around $37 for fuel, though actual costs will fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency. The drive remains entirely within the Great Plains region, transitioning from the more remote, quiet plains of Robert Lee into the urban sprawl of Dallas. It serves as a straightforward connection across the state, making it a manageable day trip for those who prefer to keep their travel time under five hours.
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
125.8 miles from Robert Lee, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
137.1 mi
2h 19m
North State Street
51.4 mi
56m
Tom Landry Freeway
30 mi
35m
West Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Highland Park Road
11.8 mi
12m
Winters Freeway
2.9 mi
3m
South Danville Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Continental Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 137.1 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Robert Lee, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on Loop 229
91 ft·4 sec·East 7th Street
2
Turn right onto TX 158
0.2 mi·31 sec·Commerce Street
3
Continue on TX 158
12 mi·12 min·Highland Park Road
4
Turn left onto US 277
51 mi·56 min·North State Street
5
Turn left onto US 277
0.6 mi·1 min·South Danville Drive
6
Take the ramp onto US 277
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 277
7
Merge onto US 83; US 84; US 277
2.9 mi·3 min·Winters Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·50 sec
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
9
Merge onto I 20
137 mi·2 hr 19 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Exit 421Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 30
30 mi·35 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 45AToward I 35E North: DentonUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I 35E North: Denton, Commerce StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 35E North: DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 35E
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Stemmons Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 429AToward Continental AvenueUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·Continental Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft·10 sec·North Lamar Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 3-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal preference. Since the route involves local roads rather than major highways, check your navigation system frequently to ensure you stay on the correct path through the turns. There are no mandatory stops listed, but you should still plan for at least one break to stretch your legs and refuel if needed to keep your $37 budget on track. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, prioritize daylight travel to ensure you can clearly see the local road signage and transitions. Keeping a physical map or an offline digital backup is a smart move, as local road signage can sometimes be less intuitive than major interstate markers.
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 125.8 miles from Robert Lee, TX, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.1 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 55 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 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 3h 36m
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 Robert Lee, 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 Robert Lee, TX
This is one driving day of about 251.7 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Robert Lee, 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 I 20 for about 137.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 204.8 and 251.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
204.8 mi into trip|~3h 34m 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
250.1 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North: Denton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 45A
Toward I 35E North: Denton
9
250.3 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North: Denton, Commerce Street
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: Denton, Commerce Street
7
250.4 mi into trip|~4h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North: Denton
8
251.1 mi into trip|~4h 29m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.03 one way
$76.06 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$41.63
$83.26
premium
$4.54
$44.94
$89.88
diesel
$5.61
$55.57
$111.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.43
$12.08
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.07
EV Truck/SUV
100.7
1
$35.24
$16.11
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Robert Lee, TX
Late night
in Robert Lee on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dallas, TX
Late night
in Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 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
23 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
4h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route lacks significant highway travel. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more involved driving experience that requires your full attention on local roads. This configuration creates a distinct rhythm, as you navigate turns and local connections instead of settling into a monotonous interstate pace. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major expressways, your speed will likely remain consistent but slower than a typical highway trek. Stay alert, as the absence of major highways means you will navigate the landscape at a more intimate, ground-level pace.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and North State Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 204.8 miles in near I 30 / West Freeway.
Driving Effort9/10
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 13 significant decision points across 251.7 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 204.8 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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...
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 251.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.1 miles on I 20. 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 204.8 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Dallas, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
