Traveling from Texarkana to Dallas spans 181 miles across the Great Plains, typically taking about 2 hours and 47 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $27 on fuel for the one-way trip. Navigating this route involves a blend of local roads like Main Street, West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, and Summerhill Road. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that connects two major Texas hubs without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
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
89.6 miles from Texarkana, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 30
172.3 mi
2h 56m
New Boston Road
2.1 mi
3m
Elm Street
0.9 mi
1m
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Summerhill Road
0.8 mi
1m
North Lamar Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Jarvis Parkway
0.2 mi
<1m
Sowell Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 172.3 mi, about 2h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Texarkana, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on US 67; US 82
298 ft·10 sec·West 7th Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
384 ft·15 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 67; US 82
0.8 mi·1 min·West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
4
Turn right onto TX 93
0.8 mi·1 min·Summerhill Road
5
Turn left onto US 82
2.1 mi·3 min·New Boston Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Sowell Lane
474 ft·9 sec·Sowell Lane
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
8
Merge onto I 369; US 59
0.2 mi·15 sec·Jarvis Parkway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 30 West: Dallas
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
11
Merge onto I 30
172 mi·2 hr 56 min·I 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 47BToward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinneyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinneyUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Main Street West, Elm StreetUse the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward Elm StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto Elm Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Elm Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto North Lamar Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Lamar Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple given the manageable 181-mile distance, but you should still account for the turn-heavy nature of the roads when estimating your arrival time. Since the trip takes less than three hours, you only need to budget for one stop to keep your energy up and handle any necessary refueling. Keep that $27 fuel budget in mind as you prep your vehicle, and try to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure your time on Main Street and Summerhill Road remains smooth. Because this route lacks major highway stretches, focus on pacing yourself through the various turns rather than rushing, as the local road profile makes steady, attentive driving your best strategy for a comfortable arrival.
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 89.6 miles from Texarkana, TX, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 172.3 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 39 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.6 miles or 1h 36m 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 34m
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 Texarkana, 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 Texarkana, TX
This is one driving day of about 179.2 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Texarkana, 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 30 for about 172.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 178 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|US 82 / New Boston Road
Turn left onto US 82 / New Boston Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
177.3 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 47B
Toward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinn...
7
177.5 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
177.8 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Main Street West, Elm Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Main Street West, Elm Street
8
178 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Elm Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Elm Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.08 one way
$54.16 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$29.64
$59.28
premium
$4.54
$31.99
$63.99
diesel
$5.61
$39.57
$79.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.8
0
$18.82
$8.60
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
EV Truck/SUV
71.7
0
$25.09
$11.47
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Texarkana, TX
Night
in Texarkana on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dallas, TX
Night
in Dallas on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Sulphur Springs, TX
90 mi in
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
4 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
3h 10m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will be navigating local arteries for the duration of the 181-mile journey, requiring more active attention than a typical highway trek. The experience is defined by the transitions between these specific local roads, which keep the drive feeling varied throughout the 2-hour and 47-minute duration. Since the route relies entirely on local infrastructure, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that contrasts sharply with the high-speed transit found on major interstates.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 172.3 mi on I 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and New Boston Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near US 82 / New Boston Road.
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 16 significant decision points across 179.2 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 1.7 miles (US 82 / New Boston Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 177.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.5 miles: 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 3h 10m. Total distance: 179.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 172.3 miles on I 30. 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 1.7 miles (US 82 / New Boston Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 177.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Dallas, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
