Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Thursday
Local time
3:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Preston, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
87.7 mi
141 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Preston, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
The drive from Dallas, TX to Preston, TX covers 87.7 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Central Expressway, South Henry Hynds Expressway, Preston Bend Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.7 miles on North Central Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.25 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.8 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 87.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 44m highway drive covering 87.7 miles, with most of the trip on North Central Expressway and South Henry Hynds Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 44.7 miles on North Central Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Central Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 44.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Central Expressway and South Henry Hynds Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.7 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 75 / North Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney, Hall Street, Lemmon Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Hall Street, Lemm...
8
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 75 / North Central Expressway
Merge onto US 75 / North Central Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 82: Bonham, Gainesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82: Bonham, Gainesville
7
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
TX 289 / Preston Bend Road
At end of road, turn right onto TX 289 / Preston Bend Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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 Preston, TX, road signs point toward Gainesville, Pottsboro and Texas Regional Airport.
Gainesville
65 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Pottsboro
70.5 mi in
|
~1h 16m
Texas Regional Airport
70.5 mi in
|
~1h 16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Central Expressway | 44.7 mi | 48m |
| South Henry Hynds Expressway | 10.1 mi | 10m |
| Preston Bend Road | 9.9 mi | 17m |
| South Sam Rayburn Freeway | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 289 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| East Buck Owens Freeway | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Sam Rayburn Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Central Expressway
— 44.7 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Preston, 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 left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Hall Street, Lemmon Avenue
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 75
45 mi
·
48 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 75
10 mi
·
10 min
·
South Henry Hynds Expressway
9
Continue on US 75
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
South Sam Rayburn Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 82: Bonham, Gainesville
11
Turn straight onto North Sam Rayburn Freeway
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Sam Rayburn Freeway
12
Turn left onto East Highway 82
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Highway 82
13
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
14
Merge onto US 82
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East Buck Owens Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward TX 289: Dallas, Pottsboro, North Texas Regional Airport
16
Turn slight left
152 ft
·
6 sec
Toward TX 289 South: Dallas
17
Turn right onto TX 289
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 289
18
Turn right onto FM 120
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
West FM 120
19
Continue on FM 120
519 ft
·
18 sec
·
West FM 120
20
Turn right
457 ft
·
18 sec
21
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
22
At end of road, turn right onto TX 289
9.9 mi
·
17 min
·
Preston Bend Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
Preston Bend Road
Trip Plan
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 43.8 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.7 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 48m 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 Preston, 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 87.7 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Central Expressway for about 44.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.8 mi from Dallas, TX · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.8 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Preston, TX
The final approach into Preston, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.25 one way
$26.50 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $14.51 | $29.01 |
| premium | $4.54 | $15.66 | $31.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.36 | $38.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.58
Central Expressway
(44.7 mi)
$3.58
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
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.21 | $4.21 |
| Efficient EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.67 | $3.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.28 | $5.61 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Preston, TX
Afternoon in Preston on Thursday
Local time
3:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
1 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
1h 44m 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 Preston, TX covers 87.7 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Central Expressway, South Henry Hynds Expressway, Preston Bend Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.8 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 $13.25 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 87.7 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 75 / North Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Dallas, TX and Preston, TX, road signs point toward Gainesville, Pottsboro and Texas Regional Airport.
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