Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Kaufman, TX
Drive Time
40m
Distance
35 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Kaufman, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Dallas to Kaufman, you are looking at a manageable 35-mile trek across the Texas Great Plains. This drive typically takes about 40 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate through local urban streets using McKinney Avenue, US 75 North, and Woodall Rodgers Freeway to exit the city. With a modest fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly cost-effective route for a weekend outing. Because the entire journey stays within the same region, you will find the transition between these two points straightforward and predictable. It is a practical choice for those who prefer to keep their travel time minimal while exploring local surroundings.
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
17.5 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway share. You will spend the entirety of the 35-mile journey navigating local roads, which demands a bit more attention to turns and urban traffic patterns than a typical highway stretch. Because there is no single longest uninterrupted stretch, you should prepare for a consistent series of maneuvers rather than long periods of cruising. The character of the road is defined by its localized nature, reflecting the transition from the heart of Dallas into the surrounding Texas landscape. Stay alert behind the wheel, as the lack of highway miles means you will be interacting directly with the local road infrastructure for the duration of the 40-minute drive.
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.
C F Hawn Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on C F Hawn Freeway and Julius Schepps Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 35 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 0.5 miles (Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Merge onto Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 45 South: Houston
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 175 / C F Hawn Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175 / C F Hawn Freeway toward US 175 South: Kaufman
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 175 South: Kaufman
5
34 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
TX 243
Take the exit onto TX 243 toward TX 243: Kaufman, Canton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 243: Kaufman, Canton
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| C F Hawn Freeway | 29.5 mi | 32m |
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| TX 243 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| McKinney Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Mulberry Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Jackson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
C F Hawn Freeway
— 29.5 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Kaufman, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Lamar Street
2
Turn right onto McKinney Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
McKinney Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 75 North
4
Merge onto Spur 366
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Use the none lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 45 South: Houston
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175
30 mi
·
32 min
·
C F Hawn Freeway
Toward US 175 South: Kaufman
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto TX 243
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
TX 243
Toward TX 243: Kaufman, Canton
9
Turn right onto TX 243
261 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Jackson Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto TX 243
366 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
11
Arrive at destination
TX 243
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 40-minute trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule without needing to worry about complex pacing or multiple rest stops. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the 35-mile distance is easily completed in one go. Keep your $5 fuel budget in mind, but otherwise, focus your planning on navigating the specific turn-heavy local streets identified in the route data. Your best bet is to avoid peak traffic hours on McKinney Avenue and Woodall Rodgers Freeway to ensure your travel time remains as close to the 40-minute estimate as possible. Because this route relies entirely on local roads, keep your GPS handy to navigate the frequent turns effectively.
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 17.5 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.5 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.5 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kaufman, 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 35 miles and 40m.
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 C F Hawn Freeway for about 29.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.5 mi from Dallas, TX · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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
Arriving in Kaufman, TX
The final approach into Kaufman, 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 Kaufman, 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
$5.35 one way
$10.69 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $5.86 | $11.72 |
| premium | $4.59 | $6.33 | $12.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.78 | $15.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kaufman, TX
Afternoon in Kaufman on Sunday
Local time
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
49°F
Mesquite, TX
18 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
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
40m 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 Kaufman, TX covers 35 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are C F Hawn Freeway, Julius Schepps Freeway, TX 243. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.5 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 $5.35 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 9 significant decision points across 35 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 0.5 miles (Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dallas, TX to Kaufman, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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