Origin
College Station, TX
Afternoon in College Station on Sunday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from College Station, TX to Dallas, TX
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
179.8 mi
289 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
College Station, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from College Station to Dallas covers 180.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 47 minutes. Since this route remains entirely within the Great Plains, you will experience a consistent landscape as you move toward the city. Budget approximately $27 for fuel to cover the journey. Given the duration, this trip works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you likely won't need to book an overnight stay. It is a practical drive for those looking to reach Dallas efficiently without the need for 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
89.9 miles from College Station, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike long interstate hauls, this route relies on local roads such as University Drive East, Tarrow Street East, and East 29th Street. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace rather than a high-speed cruise. With the longest stretch being 0 miles on University Drive East, the journey feels constant and requires frequent navigation through local transitions. It is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the road rather than letting you drift into cruise control.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35E is the longest continuous segment at about 58.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and North State Highway 6. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Tarrow Street East.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 179.8 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 0.6 miles (Tarrow Street East): Lane positioning matters here; at 89.7 miles (I 35; US 77 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Tarrow Street East
Turn left onto Tarrow Street East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
89.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
I 35; US 77 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35; US 77 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
121.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m 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
179.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m 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
179.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 13m in
|
Continental Avenue
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 58.1 mi | 1h |
| North State Highway 6 | 57.4 mi | 58m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 31.5 mi | 31m |
| East State Highway 6 | 9.1 mi | 9m |
| North Earl Rudder Freeway | 7.4 mi | 7m |
| East Loop 340 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| South Main Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| South Memorial Street | 2.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 58.1 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between College Station, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on this road
36 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto FM 60
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
University Drive East
3
Turn left onto Tarrow Street East
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tarrow Street East
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on East 29th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East 29th Street
5
Turn right onto FM 1179
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Briarcrest Drive
6
Turn left onto North Earl Rudder Freeway Frontage Road
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
North Earl Rudder Freeway Frontage Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
8
Merge onto TX 6
7.4 mi
·
7 min
·
North Earl Rudder Freeway
9
Continue on US 190; TX 6
14 mi
·
14 min
·
North State Highway 6
10
Continue on US 190; TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Market Street
11
Continue on US 79; TX 6
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
North State Highway 6
12
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Highway 6
13
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
14
Continue on TX 6
37 mi
·
37 min
·
North State Highway 6
15
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Memorial Street
16
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East State Highway 6
17
Take the exit onto TX 6
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
TX 6
18
Turn right onto Loop 340
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
East Loop 340
19
Take the exit
354 ft
·
10 sec
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 35 North
21
Merge onto I 35; US 77
31 mi
·
31 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
58 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 429A
Toward Continental Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
24
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Continental Avenue
Use the right lane.
25
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Lamar Street
26
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly three-hour drive. Since this is a local-road-heavy route, try to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the surface streets. Keep your eyes on the navigation, as the lack of highway miles means you will be making more turns than you would on a typical interstate route. Having your $27 fuel budget set aside before you leave will keep your planning stress-free. Take advantage of the trip's flexibility by allowing yourself extra time to adjust to the frequent turns along the route.
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 89.9 miles from College Station, TX, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.1 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.9 miles or 1h 40m 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 39m
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 College Station, 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 College Station, TX
This is one driving day of about 179.8 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from College Station, 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 35E for about 58.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 89.9 mi from College Station, TX · 1h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.9 miles from College Station, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dallas, TX
The final approach into Dallas, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Dallas, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.47 one way
$54.93 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $30.10 | $60.20 |
| premium | $4.59 | $32.50 | $65.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $39.95 | $79.89 |
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: 62.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.88 | $8.63 |
| Efficient EV | 45 | 0 | $15.73 | $7.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.17 | $11.51 |
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.
Destination
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
7 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
3h 13m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from College Station, TX to Dallas, TX covers 179.8 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35E, North State Highway 6, Purple Heart Trail. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.9 miles from College Station, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 179.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Tarrow Street East): Lane positioning matters here; at 89.7 miles (I 35; US 77 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from College Station, TX to Dallas, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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