Trip from Zapata, TX to Fort Worth, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 22m

Distance

468.7 mi

754 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 15m ★

6 AM

8h 23m

8 AM

8h 38m

10 AM

8h 28m

12 PM

8h 26m

3 PM

8h 29m

5 PM

8h 37m

8 PM

8h 18m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Download GPX

Zapata, TX

Fernando Capetillo

city and county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Fort Worth, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 468.7-mile drive from Zapata, TX to Fort Worth, TX will take you approximately 8 hours and 22 minutes to complete. Considering the duration and the nature of the route, it's best split over two days, with an estimated fuel cost of $71. You'll primarily be on the Purple Heart Trail, I-35W, and US Highway 83. This journey traverses through the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a consistent landscape throughout. It's a practical option if you're looking for a straightforward, albeit turn-heavy, trip between these two Texas cities.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

234.3 miles from Zapata, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	332.7 mi	5h 45m
I 35W	49.2 mi	51m
United States Highway 83	25.7 mi	28m
South Pan Am Expressway	21.5 mi	26m
North US Highway 83	14.2 mi	15m
North Pan Am Expressway	7.4 mi	8m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
South Zapata Highway	5.4 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 332.7 mi, about 5h 45m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 156 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~2,817 veh/hr typical · worst 3,331

Quietest

2 AM

~478 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Zapata, TX and Fort Worth, TX.

Start on US 83

26 mi · 28 min · United States Highway 83

Continue on US 83

14 mi · 15 min · North US Highway 83

Continue on US 83

5.4 mi · 8 min · South Zapata Highway

Turn left onto South Meadow Avenue

2.1 mi · 4 min · South Meadow Avenue

Turn left onto US 83

1.0 mi · 2 min · Guadalupe Street

Continue on US 83

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Houston Street

Turn right onto US 83

278 ft · 5 sec · San Dario Avenue

Continue on I 35; I 27; US 83

144 mi · 2 hr 27 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

9.3 mi · 11 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35

10 mi · 13 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway

7.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35: Austin Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

1.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

48 mi · 52 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

49 mi · 51 min · I 35W

Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 49A Toward Allen Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto South Freeway

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Freeway

Turn left onto East Allen Avenue

210 ft · 12 sec · East Allen Avenue

Turn left onto South Freeway

258 ft · 5 sec · South Freeway

Arrive at destination

South Freeway

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 8-hour-plus drive, plan to depart early to maximize daylight, especially since it's recommended to split the trip over two days. With two recommended stops, break up your journey strategically to avoid fatigue. Pay attention to the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; a good tip is to pre-download offline maps for the Purple Heart Trail section, as cell service can be spotty in some rural areas. Ensure you have ample fuel before embarking on the longest stretch of 332.7 miles, as services may be less frequent.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 234.3 miles from Zapata, TX, or about 4h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 332.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 103 miles or 1h 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 234.3 miles or 4h 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 234.3 miles or 4h 14m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 19m

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 Zapata, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Zapata, TX

Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Fort Worth, TX

Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Zapata, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 332.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

234 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

234 mi · about 4.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 234 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Laredo, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 234.3 miles from Zapata, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 332.7 miles.

Overnight split

2.4 mi from route

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18306291572

Visit website

Roosevelt Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+12102077275

Visit website

Tube Chute

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

+18302214000

Visit website

Forest Park Miniature Railroad

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Fort Worth, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18179665509

Visit website

Padre Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+12102077275

Hemisfair

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+12107094750

Visit website

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+12102274746

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 202.6 and 468.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

202.6 mi into trip | ~3h 38m in | I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

204.3 mi into trip | ~3h 40m in | I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...

214.8 mi into trip | ~3h 53m in | North Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35: Austin

419 mi into trip | ~7h 29m 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

468.2 mi into trip | ~8h 21m 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

$64.20 one way

$128.39 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 164 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$71.71	$143.41
premium	$4.23	$77.96	$155.93
diesel	$4.80	$88.50	$177.00

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$194–$304

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 164 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	140.6	1	$49.21	$22.50
Efficient EV	117.2	1	$41.01	$18.75
EV Truck/SUV	187.5	2	$65.62	$30.00

Gas CO2

164 kg

EV CO2

55 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Zapata, TX

Evening in Zapata on Monday

Local time

7:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

100°F

Mostly Cloudy

SE 13 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:26PM CDT until July 17 at 11:37AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Destination

Fort Worth, TX

Evening in Fort Worth on Monday

Local time

7:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 45% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:26PM CDT until July 17 at 11:37AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

11 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

8h 22m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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 387.9

View on nps.gov

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour Free near mile 210.1

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 468.7-mile journey, with only 27% of the route on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 332.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which will likely dominate the first part of your drive. While some sections will be on faster roads like I-35W, the overall character leans towards more frequent turns and local road navigation. This means you'll need to stay engaged as the road conditions and speed limits change more frequently than on a pure interstate trip.

Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 332.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 202.6 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 468.7 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 202.6 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204.3 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.8 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

754 ft 396 ft

Total Climb

669 ft

Total Descent

413 ft

Highest Point

754 ft

~267.8 mi in

Elevation Range

357 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Zapata, TX and Fort Worth, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.

Corpus Christi

204.3 mi in | ~3h 40m | via I 35

Johnson City

204.3 mi in | ~3h 40m | via I 35

About the Cities

Starting in Zapata, TX

Full guide →

Arriving in Fort Worth, TX

Full guide →

“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

• 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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Solo Traveler

8h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 332.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 234 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 48 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 48 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Worth, TX before the return drive.

How this page is built

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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