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Trip from Dallas, TX to Alice, TX

Drive Time

6h 59m

Distance

407.4 mi

656 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$62

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
6h 48m ★
6 AM
6h 59m
8 AM
7h 22m
10 AM
7h 7m
12 PM
7h 5m
3 PM
7h 8m
5 PM
7h 21m
8 PM
6h 52m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Dallas, TX, TX

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Alice, TX, TX

Alice, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

Traveling from Dallas to Alice covers a 407.4-mile stretch across the Great Plains of Texas. Clocking in at approximately 6 hours and 59 minutes of drive time, this journey is manageable as a single-day trip if you are comfortable with a full day behind the wheel. You should budget roughly $61 for fuel to complete the trek. Since the entire route remains within the Great Plains region, you will experience a consistent landscape as you head south. Whether you are ready for a long haul or need to plan for a break, understanding the time commitment is essential for a smooth arrival.

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

203.7 miles from Dallas, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

This journey is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend your time navigating local thoroughfares like Ross Avenue, North Houston Street, and Elm Street. Expect a driving experience that demands your full attention, as the route avoids the monotony of major highways in favor of more technical, street-level navigation. Because the path relies on local roads rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of open interstate, you will find that the pace of the drive stays steady and requires constant focus.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 89.9 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

880 ft 146 ft

Total Climb

883 ft

Total Descent

971 ft

Highest Point

880 ft

~152.8 mi in

Elevation Range

734 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 407.4 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: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 West, I 35E South

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 30 West, I 35E South
8
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E South
7
162.6 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
7
249.4 mi into trip | ~4h 9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
290.6 mi into trip | ~4h 52m in

Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

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 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Dallas, TX to Alice, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.

Corpus Christi

290.6 mi in | ~4h 52m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway 89.9 mi 1h 32m
TX 130 Toll 86.1 mi 1h 19m
I 37 60.5 mi 1h 1m
Purple Heart Trail 37.9 mi 39m
South Nueces Street 36.1 mi 36m
I 10 32.5 mi 33m
I 35 26.5 mi 26m
US 281 South 15.2 mi 19m
Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Alice, TX.

1

Start on North Lamar Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · North Lamar Street
Use the none lane.
2

Turn right onto Elm Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Elm Street
3

Continue on Elm Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Elm Street
4

Take the ramp

327 ft · 7 sec
Toward I 30, I 35E
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 30 West, I 35E South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork

330 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 35E South Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 35E

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Stemmons Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway
9

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the none lane.
10

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the none lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec
Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.
14

Continue on TX 130 Toll

86 mi · 1 hr 19 min · TX 130 Toll
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 10; TX 130

11 mi · 11 min · I 10; TX 130
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130

9.4 mi · 9 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

12 mi · 12 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight right at fork onto I 410

1.4 mi · 1 min · Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Merge onto I 410; TX 130

6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23

Merge onto I 37

60 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 37
Use the none lane.
24

Take the exit onto US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South
Toward US 281 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

36 mi · 36 min · South Nueces Street
26

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
27

Continue on US 281 Business

3.1 mi · 4 min · US 281 Business
28

Turn left onto West 3rd Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 3rd Street
29

Turn right onto North Cameron Street

357 ft · 15 sec · North Cameron Street
30

Turn left onto East 2nd Street

94 ft · 4 sec · East 2nd Street
31

Arrive at destination

East 2nd Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 407.4-mile trek, aim for an early departure to navigate the initial local streets while traffic is at its lightest. Planning for at least one dedicated stop is highly recommended to break up the nearly seven-hour duration and keep your energy levels consistent. Keep your $61 fuel budget in mind throughout the day, as local road driving can sometimes impact your vehicle's efficiency differently than highway cruising. Since this route utilizes specific city streets like Elm and Ross Avenue, rely on a reliable GPS to help you manage the frequent turns throughout the journey.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 203.7 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 90 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 203.7 miles or 3h 27m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alice, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Dallas, 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 Dallas, TX

This is one driving day of about 407.4 miles and 6h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Dallas, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 203.7 mi from Dallas, TX · 3h 27m into the drive

Downtown Killeen, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Killeen, TX

204 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

Killeen, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 203.7 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.

Arriving in Alice, TX

The final approach into Alice, 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 Alice, 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

$62.23 one way

$124.47 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 143 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $68.20 $136.40
premium $4.59 $73.64 $147.27
diesel $5.64 $90.51 $181.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$62

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$87–$112

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 142.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 122.2 1 $42.78 $19.56
Efficient EV 101.9 1 $35.65 $16.30
EV Truck/SUV 163 2 $57.04 $26.07

Gas CO2

143 kg

EV CO2

48 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 data refreshed 6 hours ago

Origin

Dallas, TX

Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 to 15 mph 89% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 8:19AM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 7:55AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Alice, TX

Afternoon in Alice on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

83°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 10 to 17 mph 55% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 8:19AM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 7:55AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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.

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

6h 59m on the road

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

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Dallas, TX to Alice, TX covers 407.4 miles and takes about 6h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South R L Thornton Freeway, TX 130 Toll, I 37. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 203.7 miles from Dallas, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $62.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 407.4 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: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Dallas, TX to Alice, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 146 ft to 880 ft elevation with about 883 ft of total climbing.

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Alice, TX to Dallas, TX

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