This 540.3-mile journey from Roma, TX to Irving, TX will take approximately 8 hours and 16 minutes of driving time. Given the length, it's best suited for a two-day trip, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time to enjoy the drive. You'll primarily be on East Franklin Avenue, North Garcia Street, and Highway 83, with no significant highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $83. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so you'll experience a consistent landscape throughout. This route is ideal for those looking for a longer, more leisurely drive across Texas.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
263.6 miles from Roma, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 49m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Roma, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on US 83
258 ft·8 sec·North Grant Street
2
Turn left onto East Franklin Avenue
294 ft·18 sec·East Franklin Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 83
12 mi·14 min·North Garcia Street
4
Continue on US 83
54 mi·1 hr 1 min·United States Highway 83
5
Continue on US 83
14 mi·15 min·North US Highway 83
6
Continue on US 83
5.4 mi·8 min·South Zapata Highway
7
Turn left onto South Meadow Avenue
2.1 mi·4 min·South Meadow Avenue
8
Turn left onto US 83
1.0 mi·2 min·Guadalupe Street
9
Continue on US 83
0.4 mi·48 sec·Houston Street
10
Turn right onto US 83
278 ft·5 sec·San Dario Avenue
11
Continue on I 35; I 27; US 83
144 mi·2 hr 27 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
9.3 mi·11 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
1.7 mi·2 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
10 mi·13 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson CityUse the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35: AustinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi·1 hr 40 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
47 mi·48 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
23
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 418AToward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto I 20
6.6 mi·7 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 460Toward Spur 408Use the slight right lane.
26
Merge onto Spur 408
3.9 mi·4 min·Patriot Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto Loop 12
5.4 mi·5 min·South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
492 ft·12 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Loop 12
30
Turn left onto TX 356
0.4 mi·59 sec·East State Highway 356
Use the left / straight lanes.
31
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi·2 min·East Irving Boulevard
32
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi·26 sec·West Irving Boulevard
33
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft·2 sec·North Ohio Street
34
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 540.3-mile drive, plan for an overnight stop to split the 8-hour 16-minute travel time. Departing early in the morning will allow you to reach your halfway point with daylight to spare. With two planned stops, you can easily manage your breaks and refueling needs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you traverse Highway 83; while the total fuel cost is estimated at $83, it's always wise to top off when you see convenient stations. This route offers a good opportunity to experience Texas at a more measured pace.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 263.6 miles from Roma, TX, or about 4h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 332.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 116 miles or 2h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 263.6 miles or 4h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 263.6 miles or 4h 49m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irving, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Roma, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Roma, TX
Aim for roughly 264 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Irving, TX
Aim for roughly 264 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 116 miles from Roma, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 332.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 245.5 and 515 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
245.5 mi into trip|~4h 27m in|I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...
7
255.9 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
7
460.2 mi into trip|~8h 17m 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
507.4 mi into trip|~9h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
515 mi into trip|~9h 15m in
Take the exit toward Spur 408
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$79.66 one way
$159.32 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg185 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$87.20
$174.39
premium
$4.54
$94.13
$188.26
diesel
$5.61
$116.40
$232.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 184.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
158.2
1
$55.36
$25.31
Efficient EV
131.8
1
$46.13
$21.09
EV Truck/SUV
210.9
2
$73.81
$33.74
Gas CO2
184 kg
EV CO2
62 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 18, 2026
Origin
Roma, TX
Night
in Roma on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Irving, TX
Night
in Irving on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
33 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
9h 31m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 236.3
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 436.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that largely avoids major interstate highways, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating more local roads and state highways, offering a different feel than a typical fast-paced road trip. The route involves a steady progression through towns and rural areas, with two recommended stops to break up the journey. While there's no specified longest stretch, the absence of continuous high-speed highway driving suggests a drive that keeps you engaged with the changing scenery and local pace.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 332.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 9h 31m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 245.5 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.
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 18 significant decision points across 527.2 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 245.5 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.9 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 460.2 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.
Between Roma, TX and Irving, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.
Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents.
Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 332.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 264 miles on day one.
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 Irving, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 245.5 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.9 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 460.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Irving, TX before the return drive.
