If you are looking to head southeast from Dallas to Malakoff, expect a journey covering 80.9 miles that typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $12 for fuel should comfortably cover your transportation costs for the round trip. Both your starting point and destination sit within the Great Plains region of Texas, keeping the landscape consistent throughout your travels. Since there are no scheduled stops required, you have the flexibility to make this a quick transition or a leisurely local drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.4 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 80.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint. You will navigate through city infrastructure using McKinney Avenue, US 75 North, and the Woodall Rodgers Freeway to get underway. With a 0% highway share, you should anticipate a more interactive experience behind the wheel that demands your full attention. The route lacks long, monotonous stretches, instead favoring a series of local transitions as you move away from the metropolitan center. Expect the road's personality to feel consistently technical as you maneuver toward Malakoff.
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.
C F Hawn Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 67.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on C F Hawn Freeway and State Highway 31 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near McKinney Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 80.9 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 0.1 miles (McKinney Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|McKinney Avenue
Turn right onto McKinney Avenue
Navigation decision point
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 straight / right lanes.
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
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
C F Hawn Freeway
67.3 mi
1h 12m
State Highway 31 West
4 mi
4m
Julius Schepps Freeway
3.1 mi
3m
East Royall Boulevard
2.2 mi
2m
Jed Robinson Loop
2.1 mi
2m
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
0.4 mi
<1m
McKinney Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
North Lamar Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
C F Hawn Freeway
— 67.3 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Malakoff, 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
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 45 South: HoustonUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi·3 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·C F Hawn Freeway
Toward US 175 South: KaufmanUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
9
Merge onto TX 31; Loop 7
2.1 mi·2 min·Jed Robinson Loop
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft·14 sec
12
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 31 West
13
Continue on TX 31
2.2 mi·2 min·East Royall Boulevard
14
Turn left onto FM 3441
430 ft·8 sec·South Terry Street
15
Arrive at destination
FM 3441
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours when navigating the initial urban sections of Dallas. Because this is a relatively short 1 hour and 30 minute trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your schedule. While you don't need to plan for lengthy rest breaks, keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route requires more active driving than a standard highway cruise. Since the total fuel cost is estimated at $12, it is a budget-friendly way to reach your destination. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by double-checking your route map before leaving, as navigating local roads requires more frequent directional adjustments.
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 40.4 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 45m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Malakoff, 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 80.9 miles and 1h 30m.
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 67.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.4 mi from Dallas, TX
· 45m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.22 one way
$24.45 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$13.38
$26.76
premium
$4.54
$14.44
$28.89
diesel
$5.61
$17.86
$35.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.3
0
$8.49
$3.88
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.08
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.33
$5.18
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 13, 2026
Origin
Dallas, TX
Night
in Dallas on Thursday
Local time
9:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Malakoff, TX
Night
in Malakoff on Thursday
Local time
9:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
31 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 30m 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 Malakoff, TX covers 80.9 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are C F Hawn Freeway, State Highway 31 West, Julius Schepps Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.4 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 $12.22 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 12 significant decision points across 80.9 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 0.1 miles (McKinney Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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 Malakoff, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
