Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
29 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
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
Lake Dallas, TX
Thilina Alagiyawanna
This quick 29-mile drive from Dallas to Lake Dallas in Texas is easily manageable as a day trip, taking only about 35 minutes. With a 94% highway share, you'll be spending most of your time on major roadways like North and South Stemmons Freeway. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $4, making it an economical choice for a short excursion. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape. Given its short duration and minimal stops recommended, it's a straightforward journey perfect for a quick getaway or an easy transfer.
Dallas, with a population of more than 1.3 million residents, is the ninth largest city in the United States and the third largest in the state of Texas. It is an impressive melting pot of culture and character. Boasting high-end luxury hotels, innumerable fine dining spots, and one of the busiest airports in the world, Dallas maintains an upscale ethos reflected by an affluent population, world-class museums, and a shimmering modern skyline. Its history was marred by the infamous assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, but there is more historic and contemporary heritage to be discovered in the city. As a center of the oil and cotton industries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dallas was a classic American boom town and remains one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 29 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a heavily highway-focused experience on this trip, with 94% of the drive utilizing major freeways. You'll primarily navigate North Stemmons Freeway and South Stemmons Freeway before transitioning to South Lake Dallas Drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 26.8 miles on North Stemmons Freeway, meaning you'll have extended periods of consistent driving without many turns. This profile suggests a fast-paced journey with minimal local road interaction, designed for efficient travel between these two Texas locations.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Stemmons Freeway and South Stemmons Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 29 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Lake Dallas Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto South Lake Dallas Drive
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Stemmons Freeway | 26.8 mi | 30m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Lake Dallas Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Lake Dallas, TX.
Start on North Lamar Street
Take the ramp
Turn right
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Stemmons Freeway
Turn right onto South Lake Dallas Drive
Turn straight
Turn slight right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$4.38 one way
$8.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.80 | $9.59 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.18 | $10.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.40 | $12.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.54 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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 Saturday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Lake Dallas on Saturday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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