Origin
Rockdale, TX
Late night in Rockdale on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rockdale, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
152.8 mi
246 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockdale, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 152.8-mile journey from Rockdale, TX, to Fort Worth, TX, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I 35W, North Travis Avenue, and Purple Heart Trail, with about 45% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $23. Given its relatively short duration and mixed driving profile, it's a straightforward drive through the Great Plains region of Texas, perfect for a quick relocation or a visit without needing an overnight stop.
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
76.4 miles from Rockdale, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 49.2 mi | 51m |
| North Travis Avenue | 48.6 mi | 55m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 33 mi | 33m |
| US 77 | 15.7 mi | 18m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| East Cameron Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Circle Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 49.2 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockdale, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on FM 908
48 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 79; FM 487
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Cameron Avenue
3
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
139 ft
·
4 sec
5
Merge onto US 77
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 77
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 77; US 190; TX 36
7
Turn right onto US 77
49 mi
·
55 min
·
North Travis Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto Circle Road
215 ft
·
11 sec
·
Circle Road
9
Continue on Circle Road
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Circle Road
10
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
11
Take the ramp
444 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
12
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 77
13
Merge onto I 35; US 77
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi
·
51 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Freeway
18
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
19
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Freeway
20
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 50-minute drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize your day in Fort Worth. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 152.8 miles, flexibility is key. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $23; it's wise to top off before you leave Rockdale or early in your journey. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic on I 35W as you approach the Fort Worth metroplex, especially during peak commute times.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.4 miles from Rockdale, TX, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.4 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rockdale, 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 Rockdale, TX
This is one driving day of about 152.8 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Rockdale, 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 35W for about 49.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.4 miles from Rockdale, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 152.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
16.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Turn right onto US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
66.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
I 35; US 77 / South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Merge onto I 35; US 77 / South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
103.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
152.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.09 one way
$46.18 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $25.27 | $50.54 |
| premium | $4.54 | $27.28 | $54.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.74 | $67.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.8 | 0 | $16.04 | $7.33 |
| Efficient EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.37 | $6.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.1 | 0 | $21.39 | $9.78 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Late night in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
S 15 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 4:17PM CDT until April 14 at 5:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 4:12PM CDT until April 14 at 4:30PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
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
16 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
2h 50m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 68.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion, 45%, dedicated to highway travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.2 miles on I 35W, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While much of the drive involves faster highway speeds, you'll also transition onto roads like North Travis Avenue and Purple Heart Trail, providing some variation. This blend means you'll experience both efficient travel and moments of more local road navigation.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.2 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 152.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.9 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.8 miles (I 35; US 77 / South Jack Kultgen Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Rockdale, TX
Full guide →Arriving in Fort Worth, TX
Full guide →“Panther city” · Founded 1849
Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.
Top landmarks
- • Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
- • Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
- • St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth — church located in Fort Worth, Texas
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 2h 50m. Total distance: 152.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.2 miles on I 35W. 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 Fort Worth, 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.9 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.8 miles (I 35; US 77 / South Jack Kultgen Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Worth, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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