Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
3:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Carrollton, TX
Drive Time
22m
Distance
15.4 mi
25 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Carrollton, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Dallas to Carrollton, you are looking at a quick 15.4-mile trek that typically takes about 22 minutes. This trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, as it functions more like a local commute than a long-haul road trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $2, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. You will primarily utilize I-35E North, the North Stemmons Freeway, and Valwood Parkway to reach your destination. Both cities are situated within the Great Plains region, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your brief journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
7.7 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will spend very little time on long, uninterrupted highway stretches, as the route requires frequent navigation through local infrastructure. Because there is essentially no extended highway driving involved, you should stay alert for constant lane changes and turns. This path offers a direct, functional approach to moving between the two cities. The road's personality is defined by its urban, stop-and-go nature rather than open stretches of pavement.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Stemmons Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Stemmons Freeway and Josey Lane. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 15.4 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 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35E North
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Merge onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway toward I 35E North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35E North: Denton
8
12.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward Valwood Parkway, Crosby Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 442
Toward Valwood Parkway, Crosby Road
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Valwood Parkway
Turn right onto Valwood Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Stemmons Freeway | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| Josey Lane | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Valwood Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Belt Line Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Stemmons Freeway
— 12.5 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Carrollton, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Lamar Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
133 ft
·
3 sec
Toward I 35E North
3
Turn right
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 35E North
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 35E North
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 35E
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Toward I 35E North: Denton
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
257 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 442
Toward Valwood Parkway, Crosby Road
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
9
Turn right onto Valwood Parkway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Valwood Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Josey Lane
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Josey Lane
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
East Belt Line Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 22-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire trip without needing to plan for rest stops or meal breaks. Keep in mind that the route relies heavily on local roads, so be prepared for typical urban traffic patterns. For the smoothest experience, check your GPS for real-time updates on I-35E North before you pull out of your driveway. Enjoy the convenience of a quick commute that gets you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 7.7 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.5 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 15.4 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.7 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carrollton, 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 15.4 miles and 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on North Stemmons Freeway for about 12.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.7 mi from Dallas, TX · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 15.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7.7 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carrollton, TX
The final approach into Carrollton, 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 Carrollton, 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
$2.35 one way
$4.70 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.58 | $5.16 |
| premium | $4.59 | $2.78 | $5.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.42 | $6.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Carrollton, TX
Afternoon in Carrollton on Sunday
Local time
3:33 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
22m 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 Dallas, TX to Carrollton, TX covers 15.4 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Stemmons Freeway, Josey Lane, Valwood Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.7 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 $2.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 15.4 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 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dallas, TX to Carrollton, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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