Trip from Dallas, TX to Scissors, TX

Drive Time

9h 11m

Distance

528.6 mi

851 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$81

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
9h 3m ★
6 AM
9h 12m
8 AM
9h 28m
10 AM
9h 17m
12 PM
9h 16m
3 PM
9h 18m
5 PM
9h 27m
8 PM
9h 7m

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

Downtown Dallas, TX, TX

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Scissors, TX, TX

Scissors, TX

Boys in Bristol Photography

Trip Overview

The drive from Dallas, TX to Scissors, TX covers 528.6 miles and takes about 9h 11m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Elm Street, I 30, I 30 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $80.75 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

264.3 miles from Dallas, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 528.6 miles and 9h 11m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Elm Street and I 30.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Elm Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 9h 11m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 11m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dallas, TX to Scissors, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Elm Street Unavailable Refreshing
I 30 Unavailable Refreshing
I 30 West Unavailable Refreshing
I 35E South Unavailable Refreshing
South Stemmons Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
South R L Thornton Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
North Jack Kultgen Expressway Unavailable Refreshing
Purple Heart Trail Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Elm Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Lamar Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · North Lamar Street
2

Turn right onto Elm Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Elm Street
3

Continue on Elm Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Elm Street
4

Take the ramp straight toward I 30, I 35E

328 ft · 8 sec · I 30, I 35E
5

Keep slight left to continue on I 30 West, I 35E South

0.2 mi · 20 sec · I 30 West, I 35E South
6

Keep slight right to continue on I 35E South

331 ft · 8 sec · I 35E South
7

Merge slight right onto South Stemmons Freeway

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Stemmons Freeway
8

Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway
9

Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
10

Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
11

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
12

Keep slight left

26 mi · 26 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

0.7 mi · 56 sec · TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
14

Continue straight

86 mi · 1 hr 19 min
15

Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: San Antonio

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 10 West: San Antonio
16

Merge slight left

11 mi · 11 min
17

Continue straight

9.4 mi · 9 min
18

Keep slight left

12 mi · 12 min
19

Keep slight right to continue on Connally Loop

1.4 mi · 1 min · Connally Loop
20

Merge slight left onto Connally Loop

6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop
21

Take the exit slight right toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

0.2 mi · 29 sec · I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
22

Keep slight left to continue on I 37 South: Corpus Christi

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 37 South: Corpus Christi
23

Merge slight left

60 mi · 1 hr 1 min
24

Take the exit slight right toward US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South
25

Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street
26

Keep slight left

9.5 mi · 10 min
27

Keep slight left to continue on Falfurrias Expressway

56 mi · 58 min · Falfurrias Expressway
28

Keep slight left

18 mi · 20 min
29

Merge slight left

0.5 mi · 34 sec
30

Continue straight

7.4 mi · 8 min
31

Take the exit slight right toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard

0.2 mi · 32 sec · FM 493: Salinas Boulevard
32

Turn straight onto Expressway 83

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Expressway 83
33

Turn right onto North Salinas Boulevard

2.8 mi · 4 min · North Salinas Boulevard
34

Turn right onto Lott Road

0.2 mi · 57 sec · Lott Road
35

Turn left onto Grande Street

361 ft · 18 sec · Grande Street
36

Turn right onto Cortez Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Cortez Street
37

Arrive at your destination

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 264.3 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 4h 35m into the drive.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 116 miles or 2h 1m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 264.3 miles or 4h 35m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 264.3 miles or 4h 35m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 8m

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

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Dallas, TX

Aim for roughly 264 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Scissors, TX

Aim for roughly 264 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 116 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 264.3 mi from Dallas, TX · 4h 35m into the drive

Downtown Killeen, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Killeen, TX

174 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

349 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to Scissors, TX

246.3 mi · 4h 28m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Austin, TX

264 mi · about 4.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 264 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Killeen, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 116 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 264.3 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 264 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.

Arriving in Scissors, TX

The final approach into Scissors, 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 Scissors, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Scissors, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$80.75 one way

$161.49 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 185 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $88.49 $176.98
premium $4.59 $95.54 $191.09
diesel $5.64 $117.44 $234.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$81

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$211–$321

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 184.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 158.6 1 $55.50 $25.37
Efficient EV 132.2 1 $46.25 $21.14
EV Truck/SUV 211.4 2 $74.00 $33.83

Gas CO2

185 kg

EV CO2

62 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Dallas, TX

Evening in Dallas on Sunday

Local time

5:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scissors, TX

Evening in Scissors on Sunday

Local time

5:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

11 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

9h 11m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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 Scissors, TX covers 528.6 miles and takes about 9h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Elm Street, I 30, I 30 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 264 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 264.3 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 $80.75 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 11m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dallas, TX to Scissors, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dallas, TX to Scissors, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Scissors, TX to Dallas, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

506.7 mi 9h 17m

Explore more options from Dallas, TX or browse trips ending in Scissors, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Explore maps for Dallas, TX or Scissors, TX on MapSof.net.