If you are planning a trip from Terrell Hills to Dallas, prepare for a 291.5-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 29 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight highway shot, it is best approached as a focused single-day outing. You should budget approximately $43 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Great Plains locations. Since the route relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, you will want to account for the extra time spent navigating turns. It is a straightforward trip if you keep your expectations aligned with the local nature of the roads, making it a manageable day trip for most drivers.
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
133.9 miles from Terrell Hills, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Terrell Hills, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on Garraty Road
129 ft·5 sec·Garraty Road
2
Turn right onto Eldon Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Eldon Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Rittiman Road
318 ft·15 sec·Rittiman Road
4
Turn sharp right onto Loop 368
3.5 mi·5 min·Austin Highway
5
Take the ramp
523 ft·12 sec
Toward I 410 West, I 35, I 410 South: Austin
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 35, I 410 South: Austin
7
Merge onto I 410
0.5 mi·32 sec·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 35 North: Austin
9
Merge onto I 35
6.8 mi·7 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
58 mi·1 hr·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 429AToward Continental AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·Continental Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft·10 sec·North Lamar Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to account for the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, which can make the 291.5-mile trek feel more involved than a typical highway drive. Since you only have one scheduled stop, use it wisely to stretch your legs and refresh before the final leg of the trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $43 estimate is a solid baseline, but local driving conditions can sometimes affect consumption. Because the route is composed of roads like Rittiman and Austin Highway, staying focused on your navigation is key to avoiding unnecessary detours. Flexibility is your greatest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace to match the local traffic flow.
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 133.9 miles from Terrell Hills, TX, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 59 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.9 miles or 2h 27m 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 56m
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 Terrell Hills, 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 Terrell Hills, TX
This is one driving day of about 267.8 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Terrell Hills, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 267.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35, I 410 South: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35, I 410 South: Austin
6
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
209.2 mi into trip|~3h 45m 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
267.2 mi into trip|~4h 46m 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
6
267.5 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|Continental Avenue
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.47 one way
$80.93 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$44.29
$88.58
premium
$4.54
$47.81
$95.63
diesel
$5.61
$59.13
$118.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.3
0
$28.12
$12.85
Efficient EV
67
0
$23.43
$10.71
EV Truck/SUV
107.1
1
$37.49
$17.14
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 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
Terrell Hills, TX
Morning
in Terrell Hills on Tuesday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dallas, TX
Morning
in Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
7:18 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
6 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
4h 47m 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.
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 175.4
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a unique driving experience on this route, as it consists entirely of local roads like Eldon Road, Rittiman Road, and Austin Highway. With a highway share of 0%, this is not a monotonous interstate grind; instead, you will be navigating a sequence of turns that demand your full attention. The road's personality is defined by its technical, local feel rather than high-speed cruising. You will find that the lack of major highway stretches keeps the drive engaging, requiring you to stay alert through the various segments of the journey. Prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace as you move through the landscape.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 267.8 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 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.9 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 209.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4h 47m. Total distance: 267.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.9 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 209.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Dallas, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
