Dallas, TX to Lake Kiowa, TX is 70.1 miles and takes about 1h 46m via Dallas North Tollway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a relatively short, single-day trip connecting two points within the Great Plains region of Texas. You'll primarily be on toll roads and highways, making for a straightforward journey. Given the manageable distance and time, it's a convenient option for a quick getaway or a necessary commute without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.1 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 42m into the drive
.
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.
Top landmarks
•Dallas Museum of Art — art museum in Dallas, Texas
•Texas School Book Depository — building in Dallas, Texas, United States
•George W. Bush Presidential Center — Presidential library and museum for U.S. President George W. Bush, located in Da...
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 70.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 45% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Dallas North Tollway, South US Highway 377, and South Dallas Parkway. The longest uninterrupted segment is 30.6 miles on the Dallas North Tollway, providing a good opportunity for consistent speed. The route transitions from more urban or suburban access roads to what is generally a more open highway feel as you head north, offering a straightforward driving experience.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dallas North Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 30.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 35E North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35E North
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right toward I 35E North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35E North
7
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward DNT: Dallas North Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward DNT: Dallas North Tollway
5
43.1 mi into trip|~55m in|FM 455 / FM 455 East
Turn left onto FM 455 / FM 455 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
65.7 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|FM 3164
Turn right onto FM 3164
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dallas North Tollway
30.6 mi
34m
South US Highway 377
11.6 mi
17m
South Dallas Parkway
11 mi
17m
FM 455 East
6.8 mi
12m
Farm-to-Market Road 902
3.9 mi
6m
FM 3164
1.9 mi
4m
County Road 2134
1 mi
4m
Kiowa Drive East
0.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dallas North Tollway
— 30.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Lake Kiowa, 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 right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward DNT: Dallas North TollwayUse the slight right lane.
5
Continue on DNT
31 mi·34 min·Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto South Dallas Parkway
11 mi·17 min·South Dallas Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto FM 455
6.8 mi·12 min·FM 455 East
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto US 377
12 mi·17 min·South US Highway 377
9
Turn left onto FM 902
0.3 mi·28 sec·West Locust Street
10
Continue on FM 902
3.9 mi·6 min·Farm-to-Market Road 902
11
Turn right onto FM 3164
1.9 mi·4 min·FM 3164
12
Turn left onto County Road 2134
1.0 mi·4 min·County Road 2134
13
Turn left onto County Road 211
167 ft·8 sec·County Road 211
14
Turn right
311 ft·23 sec
15
Turn right onto Commanche Drive
0.1 mi·23 sec·Commanche Drive
16
Continue on Kiowa Drive East
0.9 mi·3 min·Kiowa Drive East
17
Turn left onto Blackfoot Trail
0.5 mi·1 min·Blackfoot Trail
18
Arrive at destination
Blackfoot Trail
Trip Plan
With a drive of just over an hour and a half, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You can depart at your convenience, but leaving mid-morning could help you avoid the peak rush hour traffic leaving Dallas. While you don't necessarily need to stop, there are plenty of opportunities along the way if you wish to stretch your legs or grab a quick refreshment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $11 estimated cost suggests a relatively efficient drive, but it's always wise to top off before setting out from Dallas to ensure a smooth arrival in Lake Kiowa.
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 35.1 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.6 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 15 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.1 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Kiowa, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dallas, TX
This is one driving day of about 70.1 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dallas North Tollway for about 30.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.1 mi from Dallas, TX
· 42m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.59 one way
$21.18 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$11.59
$23.19
premium
$4.54
$12.52
$25.03
diesel
$5.61
$15.48
$30.95
Estimated Tolls: $2.45
Dallas North Tollway
(30.6 mi)$2.45
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21
0
$7.36
$3.36
Efficient EV
17.5
0
$6.13
$2.80
EV Truck/SUV
28
0
$9.81
$4.49
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon
in Dallas on Saturday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lake Kiowa, TX
Afternoon
in Lake Kiowa on Saturday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
2 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
1h 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 Lake Kiowa, TX covers 70.1 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dallas North Tollway, South US Highway 377, South Dallas Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.1 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 $10.59 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dallas, TX to Lake Kiowa, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
