Runaway Bay to Dallas is 82.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via South US Highway 287 and West US Highway 380, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward transition from a more rural setting into the metroplex. It's a common route for those heading east into a major urban center, with most of the travel occurring on well-maintained highways. Given its short duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Runaway Bay, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South US Highway 287
30.4 mi
34m
West US Highway 380
16.4 mi
20m
SH 183 TEXpress
15 mi
14m
I 820 TEXpress
5.5 mi
5m
SH 121/183 TEXpress
4.4 mi
4m
North Stemmons Freeway
4 mi
5m
North Freeway
2.3 mi
2m
West Business 380
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
South US Highway 287
— 30.4 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Runaway Bay, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on Half Moon Way
0.1 mi·34 sec·Half Moon Way
2
Turn right onto Tryall Drive
488 ft·27 sec·Tryall Drive
3
Turn left onto US 380; TX 114
16 mi·20 min·West US Highway 380
4
Turn right onto US 380 Bus
1.2 mi·2 min·West Business 380
5
Turn right onto FM 51
0.3 mi·33 sec·South US Highway 287
6
Take the ramp onto South Highway 287
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Highway 287
Use the straight lane.
7
Merge onto US 81; US 287
30 mi·33 min·South US Highway 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35W; US 287
2.3 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·24 sec
Exit 57Toward I 820Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 820 EastUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 820
0.4 mi·24 sec·Northeast Loop
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·7 sec
Toward I 820 Express East Toll
13
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
5.5 mi·5 min·I 820 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
4.4 mi·4 min·SH 121/183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
12 mi·11 min·SH 183 TEXpress
Toward TX 183 Express EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
3.3 mi·3 min·SH 183 TEXpress
17
Merge onto TX 183
0.8 mi·50 sec·John W Carpenter Freeway
18
Merge onto I 35E
3.9 mi·4 min·North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·22 sec
Exit 429BToward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street WestUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·North Stemmons Freeway
21
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
0.3 mi·48 sec·Continental Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft·10 sec·North Lamar Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under two hours, it's best suited for a single-day excursion. Leaving Runaway Bay in the morning will allow you to arrive in Dallas with plenty of time to spare, avoiding peak commuter traffic. You'll want to ensure you have enough fuel before departing, as the $13 estimated cost suggests a straightforward drive without excessive detours. Given the short distance, you can be flexible with your departure time, but keep in mind that the final stretch into Dallas can become congested. There are no specific stops recommended, so plan your fuel and breaks accordingly before you start.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.4 miles from Runaway Bay, TX, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.4 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
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 Runaway Bay, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Runaway Bay, TX
This is one driving day of about 82.8 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Runaway Bay, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South US Highway 287 for about 30.4 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 18.1 and 82.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18.1 mi into trip|~24m in|South Highway 287
Take the ramp onto South Highway 287
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
18.2 mi into trip|~24m in|US 81; US 287 / South US Highway 287
Merge onto US 81; US 287 / South US Highway 287
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
50.7 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit toward I 820
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57
Toward I 820
7
51.1 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 820 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 820 East
8
82.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 429B
Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.51 one way
$25.02 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$13.69
$27.39
premium
$4.54
$14.78
$29.57
diesel
$5.61
$18.28
$36.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.69
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.24
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.59
$5.30
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Runaway Bay, TX
Late night
in Runaway Bay on Tuesday
Local time
4:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dallas, TX
Late night
in Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
4:40 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
24 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
1h 35m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 95% of this 82.8-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 30.4 miles along South US Highway 287. After that, you'll transition to West US Highway 380 and SH 183 TEXpress. Expect a predominantly highway driving experience, which means you'll encounter a higher volume of traffic and more frequent exit ramps as you approach the Dallas area.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.4 mi on South US Highway 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South US Highway 287 and West US Highway 380. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.1 miles in near South Highway 287.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 18.1 miles (South Highway 287): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles (US 81; US 287 / South US Highway 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 35m. Total distance: 82.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.4 miles on South US Highway 287. 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 Dallas, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.1 miles (South Highway 287): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles (US 81; US 287 / South US Highway 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dallas, TX before heading back.
