Trip from Dallas, TX to Queen City, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 21m

Distance

173.7 mi

279 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 9m ★

6 AM

3h 21m

8 AM

3h 45m

10 AM

3h 29m

12 PM

3h 27m

3 PM

3h 31m

5 PM

3h 44m

8 PM

3h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Queen City, TX

Arian Fernandez

Trip Overview

This 173.7-mile drive from Dallas, TX to Queen City, TX is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes. With 90% of the journey on highways, it offers a straightforward travel experience. The estimated fuel cost is around $26, making it an economical choice. You'll primarily be on East R L Thornton Freeway and State Highway 49 as you traverse the Great Plains region of Texas. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this route is ideal for a direct journey without the need for an overnight stop.

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

86.8 miles from Dallas, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 173.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a drive that is predominantly highway-focused, with 90% of the miles on faster roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 113.1 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway, offering a chance to settle in. The route transitions to State Highway 49 and TX 11, likely providing a change in scenery and pace as you move away from the initial freeway. This isn't a winding country road experience, but rather a consistent journey primarily on well-maintained highways.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 19 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 173.7 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 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 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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

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

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

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.

7.8 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 Queen City, 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	14.9 mi	22m
US 59	12.2 mi	13m
West William Marvin Watson Boulevard	7.8 mi	11m
West Ferguson Road	3.6 mi	6m
Loop 59	2.2 mi	2m
Commerce Street	0.9 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 Queen City, TX.

Start on North Lamar Street

0.3 mi · 53 sec · North Lamar Street

Turn left onto Commerce Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Commerce Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward I 45 South Use the straight / left lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward I 30 Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward I 30 East

Merge onto I 30; US 67

5.9 mi · 7 min · East R L Thornton Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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: Texarkana Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward US 271 to US 67, SH 49, FM 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg

Turn right onto US 271

0.4 mi · 50 sec · West Ferguson Road

Continue on TX 49

3.2 mi · 5 min · West Ferguson Road

Continue on TX 49

16 mi · 18 min · State Highway 49

At end of road, turn left onto US 259; TX 11; TX 49

7.8 mi · 11 min · West William Marvin Watson Boulevard

Turn left onto TX 11

15 mi · 22 min · TX 11

Turn left onto US 59

12 mi · 13 min · US 59

Turn left onto US 59

2.2 mi · 2 min · Loop 59

Continue on US 59

0.7 mi · 48 sec · North Louise Street

Turn right onto Loop 236

0.5 mi · 59 sec · Loop 236

Turn right onto FM 74

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Houston Street

Arrive at destination

FM 74

Trip Plan

With a total duration of just over 3 hours, this route is perfect for a morning departure, allowing you to reach Queen City by midday. You'll have one designated stop, but with the drive being so manageable, you can be flexible with additional brief pauses as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 113.1-mile stretch on East R L Thornton Freeway, as services might be more spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $26 suggests you won't need to break the bank on gas, but it's always wise to start with a full tank from Dallas.

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 86.8 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 1h 32m 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 38 miles or 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 86.8 miles or 1h 32m 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 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queen 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 173.7 miles and 3h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 86.8 mi from Dallas, TX · 1h 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sulphur Springs, TX

87 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

Nevada, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sulphur Springs, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86.8 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 Queen City, TX

The final approach into Queen 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 Queen 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

$26.25 one way

$52.49 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$28.73	$57.46
premium	$4.54	$31.01	$62.03
diesel	$5.61	$38.35	$76.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	52.1	$18.24	$8.34
Efficient EV	43.4	$15.20	$6.95
EV Truck/SUV	69.5	$24.32	$11.12

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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 15, 2026

Origin

Dallas, TX

Morning in Dallas on Thursday

Local time

11:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Queen City, TX

Morning in Queen City on Thursday

Local time

11:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Sulphur Springs, TX

87 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

4 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 21m 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 Queen City, TX covers 173.7 miles and takes about 3h 21m 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 86.8 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 $26.25 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.