This 254.7-mile journey from Windcrest, TX to Fort Worth, TX is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 32 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via the Purple Heart Trail and I 35W, with a portion on the South Jack Kultgen Expressway. With a projected fuel cost of around $38, this drive offers a straightforward way to travel between two points within the Great Plains region. Consider this a practical, turn-heavy local drive that can be completed without an overnight stop.
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
127.3 miles from Windcrest, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Windcrest, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on Midcrown Drive
0.5 mi·2 min·Midcrown Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Crestway Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Crestway Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Continue on Interstate 35 North
0.6 mi·1 min·Interstate 35 North
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 35 North
5
Merge onto I 35
6.0 mi·6 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi·51 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 49AToward Allen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Freeway
15
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft·12 sec·East Allen Avenue
16
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft·5 sec·South Freeway
17
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 254.7-mile trip, consider departing in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach Fort Worth. With a total duration of just over 4.5 hours, you can comfortably complete this drive in one go, making a single stop for fuel or a quick break sufficient. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the longest 188.3-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be more spaced out compared to the interstate sections. The fuel cost is estimated at $38.
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 127.3 miles from Windcrest, TX, or about 2h 19m 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 56 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.3 miles or 2h 19m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Windcrest, 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 Windcrest, TX
This is one driving day of about 254.7 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Windcrest, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 254.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|Crestway Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Crestway Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Merge onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
69.7 mi into trip|~1h 19m 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
205 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
254.2 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.49 one way
$76.97 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$42.13
$84.25
premium
$4.54
$45.47
$90.95
diesel
$5.61
$56.23
$112.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.4
0
$26.74
$12.23
Efficient EV
63.7
0
$22.29
$10.19
EV Truck/SUV
101.9
1
$35.66
$16.30
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Windcrest, TX
Late night
in Windcrest on Sunday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Late night
in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Belton, TX
127 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 32m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 175.6
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 drive with a significant number of turns, as only 25% of this route is highway. You'll experience an 188.3-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, which will likely feel like the most continuous part of your journey. The road character shifts, moving from more local roads to interstate driving as you progress toward Fort Worth. This mix means you'll encounter varying speed limits and traffic patterns throughout the 4-hour and 32-minute drive.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Crestway Drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 254.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.5 miles (Crestway Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
•Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
•Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
•St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth — church located in Fort Worth, Texas
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 254.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m 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 Fort Worth, 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 0.5 miles (Crestway Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Worth, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
