Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
28m
Distance
21.5 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Forney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick getaway from the city, the 21.5-mile journey from Dallas to Forney is an ideal choice. Expect to spend about 28 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Since both locations are situated within the Great Plains, the terrain remains consistent throughout your transit. Budgeting around $3 for fuel should comfortably cover your needs for this short hop. Given the brief duration, you certainly won't need to plan for any overnight stays, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a morning or afternoon schedule.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 21.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of the city and toward Forney. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will experience zero highway driving. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, you should stay alert for frequent turns and changing traffic patterns. The personality of this drive is defined by its local character rather than high-speed transit. You will spend the entire 28-minute duration navigating the local grid, so keep your focus on the road ahead.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
240 ft
Total Descent
195 ft
Highest Point
553 ft
~7.7 mi in
Elevation Range
153 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 80 and East R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 21.5 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 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 45 South
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 toward US 80 East: Terrell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward FM 688, FM 740
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dallas, TX and Forney, TX, road signs point toward Fm 688 and Fm 740.
Fm 688
Fm 740
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 80 | 12 mi | 12m |
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| West Broad Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Commerce Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West US Highway 80 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Bois d'Arc Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Forney, TX.
Start on North Lamar Street
Turn left onto Commerce Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 30; US 67
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80
Take the exit
Turn straight onto West US Highway 80
Turn slight right
Continue on FM 688
Turn right onto FM 740
Turn right onto West Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.7 mi from Dallas, TX · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 10.7 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Forney, 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 Forney, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$3.28 one way
$6.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
| premium | $4.59 | $3.89 | $7.77 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.78 | $9.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Late night in Dallas on Friday
Local time
1:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Forney on Friday
Local time
1:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
54°F
Mesquite, TX
11 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
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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