Origin
Dallas, TX
Night in Dallas on Wednesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 50m
Distance
270.9 mi
436 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Richmond, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Dallas to Richmond covers 270.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 50 minutes of driving time. Because both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will stay within a consistent landscape for the duration of your trip. This route is perfectly manageable as a single-day journey, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budget approximately $40 for fuel to complete the trek comfortably. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel compared to a standard interstate cruise.
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
135.5 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Expect a very different experience than your typical high-speed highway commute, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will navigate via McKinney Avenue, US 75 North, and the Woodall Rodgers Freeway, keeping your focus on local traffic patterns rather than open lanes. With the longest uninterrupted stretch being zero miles on McKinney Avenue, you will find yourself frequently managing turns and intersections. This is a technical, local-focused drive that requires constant attention to your surroundings. It is a practical path that prioritizes navigation through the local grid over long, monotonous stretches of pavement.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
416 ft
Total Descent
753 ft
Highest Point
494 ft
~38.7 mi in
Elevation Range
402 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and North Grand Parkway 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 270.9 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 0.9 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 215.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward 99 Toll West: Grand Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto TX 99 toward West Bellfort Street, Mason Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 213.8 mi | 3h 40m |
| North Grand Parkway West | 47.4 mi | 52m |
| Mason Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| FM 359 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| TX 99 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East US Highway 90A | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Richmond, TX.
Start on North Lamar Street
Turn right onto McKinney Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto Spur 366
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 45
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
Take the exit onto TX 99
Turn right onto Mason Road
Continue on FM 359
At end of road, turn right
Turn straight onto US 90 Alt
Continue on US 90 Alt
Arrive at destination
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 270.9-mile journey, try to depart early in the day to avoid peak congestion on local streets. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, as the constant maneuvering can be more mentally taxing than cruising on a highway. Keep your navigation apps handy, as the reliance on local roads like McKinney Avenue means you will need to watch for frequent turns. Since you are staying within the Great Plains, fuel availability is generally reliable, but sticking to your $40 budget is easiest if you fill up before leaving the more dense urban areas. Flexibility is your biggest asset here, so don't hesitate to pull over for a break if the local traffic flow becomes tiring.
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.
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 60 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.5 miles or 2h 21m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 270.9 miles and 4h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 135.5 mi from Dallas, TX · 2h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
135 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.
A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 135.5 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 213.8 miles.
The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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.
Regular Gas
$40.93 one way
$81.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $44.81 | $89.61 |
| premium | $4.54 | $48.37 | $96.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.81 | $119.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.3 | 1 | $28.44 | $13.00 |
| Efficient EV | 67.7 | 0 | $23.70 | $10.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.4 | 1 | $37.93 | $17.34 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Dallas on Wednesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Richmond on Wednesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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