Trip from Dallas, TX to Ricardo, TX

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

7h 26m

Distance

412.5 mi

664 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$62

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

7h 17m ★

6 AM

7h 27m

8 AM

7h 47m

10 AM

7h 34m

12 PM

7h 32m

3 PM

7h 35m

5 PM

7h 46m

8 PM

7h 21m

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

Ricardo, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

The drive from Dallas, TX to Ricardo, TX covers 412.5 miles and takes about 7h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South R L Thornton Freeway, TX 130 Toll, TX 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.33 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

206.3 miles from Dallas, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 30m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 7h 26m highway drive covering 412.5 miles, with most of the trip on South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway.

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

There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 89.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 412.5 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 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 West, I 35E South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 30 West, I 35E South

0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 35E South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E South

162.6 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

221.8 mi into trip | ~3h 45m in

Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart

376.8 mi into trip | ~6h 48m in | I 69E; US 77

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

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. Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Dallas, TX to Ricardo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Brownsville along the way.

Brownsville

376.8 mi in | ~6h 48m | via I 69E; US 77

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
TX 130 Toll	58.5 mi	54m
TX 80	51.2 mi	56m
South US Highway 181	40.2 mi	45m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
I 69E	31.3 mi	33m
I 35	26.5 mi	26m
US Highway 181 South	16.1 mi	18m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Ricardo, TX.

Start on North Lamar Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · North Lamar Street

Turn right onto Elm Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Elm Street

Continue on Elm Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Elm Street

Take the ramp

327 ft · 7 sec

Toward I 30, I 35E

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward I 30 West, I 35E South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

330 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 35E South Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South

Take the exit onto US 181

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 181

Keep slight right at fork onto US 181

213 ft · 5 sec · US Route 181

Turn straight onto US 181

0.7 mi · 1 min · US Highway 181

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec

Merge onto US 77

12 mi · 13 min · US 77

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77

Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77

31 mi · 33 min · I 69E; US 77

Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 77

4.4 mi · 4 min · U.S. Highway 77

Turn left onto FM 1118

75 ft · 2 sec · Farm to Market Road 1118

Arrive at destination

FM 1118

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 206.3 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 3h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 91 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 206.3 miles or 3h 30m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ricardo, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Dallas, TX

This is one driving day of about 412.5 miles and 7h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Dallas, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 206.3 mi from Dallas, TX · 3h 30m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Austin, TX

206 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

Killeen, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 206.3 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 South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.

Arriving in Ricardo, TX

The final approach into Ricardo, 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 Ricardo, TX.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

7 mi from route ~16 min detour Free near mile 85.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$62.33 one way

$124.66 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 144 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$68.22	$136.45
premium	$4.54	$73.65	$147.30
diesel	$5.61	$91.07	$182.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$62

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$87–$112

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 144.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	123.8	1	$43.31	$19.80
Efficient EV	103.1	1	$36.09	$16.50
EV Truck/SUV	165	2	$57.75	$26.40

Gas CO2

144 kg

EV CO2

48 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Dallas, TX

Night in Dallas on Tuesday

Local time

11:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ricardo, TX

Night in Ricardo on Tuesday

Local time

11:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

87°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

26 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

7h 26m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Ricardo, TX covers 412.5 miles and takes about 7h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South R L Thornton Freeway, TX 130 Toll, TX 80. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 206.3 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 $62.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from Dallas, TX to Ricardo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Brownsville along the way.

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