Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
2:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Denton, TX
Drive Time
46m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Denton, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip within the Great Plains, traveling the 38 miles from Dallas to Denton is a quick and manageable excursion. You can expect to spend about 46 minutes on the road, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $6 for fuel is sufficient for the journey, which relies on a combination of I-35E North, North Stemmons Freeway, and Dallas Drive. Because the route is entirely contained within the state of Texas, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of pace, this direct connection offers a simple way to navigate between these two North Texas hubs.
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
19 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise on this 38-mile trek. While you will utilize I-35E North and North Stemmons Freeway, the route lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, meaning you should stay alert for frequent transitions. Since the highway share is 0%, the drive emphasizes local navigation over high-speed interstate travel. You will navigate various turns as you transition between the primary roads, requiring you to pay close attention to your route markers. The character of this trip is defined by its technical, local nature, making it feel more like a suburban commute than a cross-country endurance test.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 34.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Stemmons Freeway and Spur 377. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 38 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 11 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
7
35.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Spur 377
Take the exit onto Spur 377 toward Dallas Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 464
Toward Dallas Drive
6
37.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
South Cedar Street
At end of road, turn right onto South Cedar Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Stemmons Freeway | 34.6 mi | 39m |
| Spur 377 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Locust Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Walnut Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Hickory Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Eagle Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Cedar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Stemmons Freeway
— 34.6 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Denton, 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
31 mi
·
34 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Toward I 35E North: Denton
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit onto Spur 377
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Spur 377
Exit 464
Toward Dallas Drive
Use the slight right lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto Spur 377
207 ft
·
7 sec
·
Eagle Drive
9
Turn right onto South Locust Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Locust Street
10
Turn left onto West Walnut Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Walnut Street
11
At end of road, turn right onto South Cedar Street
198 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Cedar Street
12
Turn right onto West Hickory Street
379 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Hickory Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Hickory Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 46-minute trip with zero planned stops, you have maximum flexibility in your departure schedule. Keep in mind that the route is turn-heavy, so ensuring your navigation is set before leaving Dallas will help you navigate the transition from North Stemmons Freeway to Dallas Drive smoothly. Since you are only covering 38 miles, there is no need to worry about mid-trip rest stops or extensive logistics. Use your $6 fuel budget to ensure your tank is ready before you hit the road, as there are no major stretches where you will be forced to commit to long intervals of driving. Prioritize leaving during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the main roads used for this transit.
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 19 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.6 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denton, 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 38 miles and 46m.
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 34.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19 mi from Dallas, TX · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Denton, TX
The final approach into Denton, 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 Denton, 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
$5.80 one way
$11.61 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $6.36 | $12.72 |
| premium | $4.59 | $6.87 | $13.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.44 | $16.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Denton, TX
Afternoon in Denton on Sunday
Local time
2:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
68°F
Lewisville, TX
19 mi in
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
3 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
46m 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 Denton, TX covers 38 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Stemmons Freeway, Spur 377, South Locust Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19 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 $5.80 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 11 significant decision points across 38 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 Denton, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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