Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Missouri City, TX
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
258.1 mi
415 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 4m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 44m
3 PM
4h 48m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Missouri City, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
Traveling from Dallas to Missouri City covers 258.1 miles and typically requires about 4 hours and 36 minutes of driving time. Because this journey stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting approximately $38 for fuel will cover your transit costs for the journey. Since the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should prepare for a drive that demands more focus than a simple highway cruise. This is a straightforward, practical route for those heading south, but be aware that it functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed transit corridor.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
129 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a very different experience than your typical interstate road trip, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating through McKinney Avenue, US 75 North, and the Woodall Rodgers Freeway, which creates a stop-and-go environment. Because of this configuration, there is no "longest stretch" of uninterrupted driving; instead, you will face constant turns and local traffic patterns. The personality of this drive is technical and localized, requiring you to stay alert at every intersection. It is a departure from monotonous highway miles, offering a route that keeps you engaged with the local road network throughout the entire duration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Julius Schepps Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 224.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and North Sam Houston Tollway West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 258.1 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 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
225.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 60B
Toward BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinent...
7
226.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
6
229.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
|
SHT / North Sam Houston Tollway West
Keep slight left at fork onto SHT / North Sam Houston Tollway West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between Dallas, TX and Missouri City, TX, road signs point toward Bw 8 East, Sht West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West and Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway.
Bw 8 East
225.8 mi in
|
~3h 55m
Sht West: Bush Intercontinental Airport
225.8 mi in
|
~3h 55m
Sam Houston Tollway West
225.8 mi in
|
~3h 55m
Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway
226.4 mi in
|
~3h 57m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 224.4 mi | 3h 53m |
| North Sam Houston Tollway West | 20.1 mi | 23m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway South | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| West Sam Houston Parkway South | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Gessner Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| BW 8 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| McKinney Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 3h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Missouri City, 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: Houston
Use 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 left at fork onto I 45
221 mi
·
3 hr 49 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 60B
Toward BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto BW 8
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Sam Houston Parkway West
11
Continue on SHT
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto SHT
18 mi
·
20 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto SHT
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on BW 8
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Sam Houston Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto BW 8
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
BW 8
Toward Stafford
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto South Gessner Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gessner Road
17
Turn left
351 ft
·
8 sec
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto Orchard Street
215 ft
·
11 sec
·
Orchard Street
19
Turn right onto 3rd Street
273 ft
·
14 sec
·
3rd Street
20
Turn right onto FM 2234
224 ft
·
4 sec
·
Texas Parkway
21
Take the ramp
76 ft
·
3 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To keep your travel time as close to the 4-hour and 36-minute estimate as possible, try to avoid peak rush hour traffic when navigating these local roads. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the turns and keep your energy levels steady. Since fuel costs are estimated at $38, it is wise to fill your tank before you leave the Dallas area to avoid searching for stations in unfamiliar zones. Because this is a turn-heavy route, having a reliable GPS mount is essential to keep your eyes on the road while following the complex directions through McKinney Avenue and the surrounding freeways. Embracing the flexibility of a single-day trip means you can pace your stops according to your own 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 129 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Missouri City, 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 258.1 miles and 4h 36m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Julius Schepps Freeway for about 224.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129 mi from Dallas, TX · 2h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.4 miles.
Arriving in Missouri City, TX
The final approach into Missouri City, 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 Missouri City, 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
$39.43 one way
$78.85 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $43.21 | $86.41 |
| premium | $4.59 | $46.65 | $93.30 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $57.34 | $114.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.05
Sam Houston Tollway
(25.6 mi)
$2.05
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
$39
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.4 | 0 | $27.10 | $12.39 |
| Efficient EV | 64.5 | 0 | $22.58 | $10.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.2 | 1 | $36.13 | $16.52 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Missouri City, TX
Afternoon in Missouri City on Sunday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
9 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
4h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Missouri City, TX covers 258.1 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Julius Schepps Freeway, North Sam Houston Tollway West, West Sam Houston Tollway South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129 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 $39.43 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 258.1 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 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Dallas, TX and Missouri City, TX, road signs point toward Bw 8 East, Sht West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West and Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway.
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