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2h 37m
Distance
145 mi
233 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Cameron, TX
Thomas balabaud
The drive from Dallas, TX to Cameron, TX covers 145 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South R L Thornton Freeway, Robinson Drive, US 77 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.15 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
72.5 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
This is a 2h 37m highway drive covering 145 miles, with most of the trip on South R L Thornton Freeway and Robinson Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
390 ft
Total Descent
419 ft
Highest Point
659 ft
~62.1 mi in
Elevation Range
261 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and Robinson Drive. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 145 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 30, I 35E
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Loop 396 / South Valley Mills Drive
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Dallas, TX to Cameron, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 396 along the way.
Loop 396
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| Robinson Drive | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| US 77 | 19.1 mi | 21m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Valley Mills Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Cameron, TX.
Start on North Lamar Street
Turn right onto Elm Street
Continue on Elm Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 35E
Continue on I 35E
Continue on I 35E
Continue on I 35; US 77
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Turn left onto Loop 396
Enter roundabout onto Robinson Drive
Continue on Robinson Drive
Continue on US 77
Turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.5 miles or 1h 15m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cameron, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 145 miles and 2h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.5 mi from Dallas, TX · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 72.5 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.
The final approach into Cameron, 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 Cameron, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$22.15 one way
$44.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $24.27 | $48.55 |
| premium | $4.59 | $26.21 | $52.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.21 | $64.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.5 | 0 | $15.23 | $6.96 |
| Efficient EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.69 | $5.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58 | 0 | $20.30 | $9.28 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Cameron on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
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.
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