If you are planning to head from Dallas to Linden, you are looking at a 157.2-mile trek through the heart of the Texas Great Plains. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 1 minute behind the wheel, making this a very manageable day trip. You will navigate a route that transitions from the urban pulse of Commerce Street onto I-45 South and I-30. With a fuel budget of approximately $23, it is an affordable excursion for a weekend getaway or a quick change of scenery. Because the drive is relatively short, there is no need to split this into an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Keep in mind that this is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for more navigation than a simple point-to-point interstate cruise.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.6 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 157.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Prepare for a drive that shifts significantly in personality as you leave the city limits. While you begin on major arteries, the route is defined by its turn-heavy local nature rather than a monotonous interstate grind. With 0% of the trip classified as highway-share, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads that demand your full attention. This configuration creates a more engaging, hands-on experience behind the wheel compared to cruising on open freeways. You should anticipate a dynamic journey where the road conditions change frequently, keeping the drive feeling active from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 113.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and State Highway 49. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 157.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 45 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 45 South
8
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 30
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 30 East
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Merge onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.8 mi into trip|~11m in|I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dallas, TX and Linden, TX, road signs point toward Sh 49, Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris and Pittsburg.
Sh 49
115.1 mi in|~2h 2m
Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant
115.1 mi in|~2h 2m
Paris
115.1 mi in|~2h 2m
Pittsburg
115.1 mi in|~2h 2m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway
113.1 mi
1h 57m
State Highway 49
16.1 mi
18m
TX 11
14.1 mi
21m
West William Marvin Watson Boulevard
7.8 mi
11m
West Ferguson Road
3.6 mi
6m
Commerce Street
0.9 mi
1m
North Lamar Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 113.1 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Linden, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
0.3 mi·53 sec·North Lamar Street
2
Turn left onto Commerce Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Commerce Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 45 SouthUse the straight / left lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 30Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 30 East
6
Merge onto I 30; US 67
5.9 mi·7 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
107 mi·1 hr 50 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 271 to US 67, SH 49, FM 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg
9
Turn right onto US 271
0.4 mi·50 sec·West Ferguson Road
10
Continue on TX 49
3.2 mi·5 min·West Ferguson Road
11
Continue on TX 49
16 mi·18 min·State Highway 49
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 259; TX 11; TX 49
7.8 mi·11 min·West William Marvin Watson Boulevard
13
Turn left onto TX 11
14 mi·21 min·TX 11
14
Turn left onto FM 125
279 ft·5 sec·North Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
FM 125
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 157.2-mile journey, try to depart Dallas during off-peak hours to avoid the initial congestion on Commerce Street and the major interstates. Since the drive takes just over three hours, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh your focus. Keep that $23 fuel estimate in mind when budgeting, and ensure your tank is topped off before leaving the urban sprawl. Because this is a turn-heavy route, having a reliable GPS or map handy is essential to navigate the transitions between local roads smoothly. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the short duration allows you to easily adjust your departure or arrival times to suit your schedule.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.6 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.1 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.6 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Linden, 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 157.2 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on East R L Thornton Freeway for about 113.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.6 mi from Dallas, TX
· 1h 24m into the drive
The midpoint is around 78.6 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before East R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.1 miles.
Arriving in Linden, TX
The final approach into Linden, 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 Linden, TX.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.75 one way
$47.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$26.00
$52.00
premium
$4.54
$28.07
$56.13
diesel
$5.61
$34.71
$69.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.2
0
$16.51
$7.55
Efficient EV
39.3
0
$13.75
$6.29
EV Truck/SUV
62.9
0
$22.01
$10.06
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Evening
in Dallas on Thursday
Local time
7:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 to 15 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 6:56PM CDT until April 13 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 6:54PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Linden, TX
Evening
in Linden on Thursday
Local time
7:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Sulphur Springs, TX
79 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
13 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
3h 1m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dallas, TX to Linden, TX covers 157.2 miles and takes about 3h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East R L Thornton Freeway, State Highway 49, TX 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.6 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 $23.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 157.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 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.
Between Dallas, TX and Linden, TX, road signs point toward Sh 49, Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris and Pittsburg.
