Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h
Distance
161.2 mi
259 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thorndale, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Thorndale, TX to Fort Worth, TX is 161.2 miles and takes about 3 hours via Purple Heart Trail and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the rolling terrain of the Great Plains in Texas to the more urbanized landscape surrounding Fort Worth, also within the Great Plains region. The drive offers a mix of highway cruising and more local road travel, making it a straightforward journey for a single day. You'll find it's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to cover this distance within the state.
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
80.6 miles from Thorndale, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 59.2 mi | 59m |
| I 35W | 49.2 mi | 51m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 437 | 11.5 mi | 15m |
| Mesquite Avenue | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Southeast H K Dodgen Loop | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| East Moerbe Street | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 487 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Thorndale, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
Start on US 79
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
At end of road, turn right onto FM 486
Turn right onto FM 486
Turn left onto FM 3061
At end of road, turn left onto FM 487
Turn right onto FM 437
Turn left onto US 190; TX 36; FM 2184
Take the exit
Turn right onto Loop 363
Turn right onto North General Bruce Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35; US 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Freeway
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
Turn left onto South Freeway
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 59.2 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping in mind the estimated $24 fuel cost. While there's only one recommended stop point, you might want to break up the drive further based on your personal comfort and need for a rest.
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.
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 35 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.6 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Thorndale, 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 Thorndale, TX
This is one driving day of about 161.2 miles and 3h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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.
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 80.6 miles from Thorndale, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 160.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto FM 487 / Farm-to-Market Road 487
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward To I 35 North, Loop 363 North, TX 95 South: Waco, Taylor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Loop 363 / Southeast H K Dodgen Loop
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$24.36 one way
$48.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $26.66 | $53.32 |
| premium | $4.54 | $28.78 | $57.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.59 | $71.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.93 | $7.74 |
| Efficient EV | 40.3 | 0 | $14.10 | $6.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.5 | 0 | $22.57 | $10.32 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Thorndale on Tuesday
Local time
10:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Fort Worth on Tuesday
Local time
10:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive presents a mixed bag, with 38% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 59.2 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which offers a change of pace from the interstate. The route progresses from more rural sections to the busier corridors as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Expect a blend of consistent cruising speeds on I-35W and more varied conditions on Farm-to-Market Road 437 and other local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.9 miles in near FM 487 / Farm-to-Market Road 487.
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 161.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 10.9 miles (FM 487 / Farm-to-Market Road 487): Navigation decision point; at 38.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles (Loop 363 / Southeast H K Dodgen Loop): Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Thorndale, TX and Fort Worth, TX, road signs point toward To I 35 North, Loop 363 North and Taylor.
To I 35 North
Loop 363 North
Taylor
“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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 161.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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