Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
4:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Texas City, TX
Drive Time
5h 3m
Distance
281.1 mi
452 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 50m
★
6 AM
5h 4m
8 AM
5h 31m
10 AM
5h 13m
12 PM
5h 10m
3 PM
5h 15m
5 PM
5h 29m
8 PM
4h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Texas City, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
Spanning 281.1 miles from Dallas to Texas City, this journey takes approximately 5 hours and 3 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively manageable, you can easily tackle this as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stop. Your route utilizes McKinney Avenue, US 75 North, and the Woodall Rodgers Freeway to navigate out of the city. Budgeting around $42 for fuel should cover your travel costs between these two Great Plains locations. Since the entire trip takes place within Texas, you will find the transition between the two cities straightforward and efficient for your schedule.
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
140.6 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through urban corridors. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend your time navigating local roads and city streets rather than cruising at high speeds. The path requires frequent adjustments, making it feel more like a technical series of maneuvers than a straight shot. You should anticipate a dynamic experience behind the wheel where the road environment shifts frequently, keeping you engaged as you transition from the heart of Dallas toward the coast.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Julius Schepps Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 237.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Gulf Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 281.1 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 0.5 miles (Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Merge onto Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 45 South: Houston
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
271.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 50m in
|
FM 1764 / Emmett F Lowry Expressway
Take the exit onto FM 1764 / Emmett F Lowry Expressway toward FM 1764: Texas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FM 1764: Texas City
6
280.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 2m in
|
Spur 197 / 6th Street
Turn right onto Spur 197 / 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 237.2 mi | 4h 9m |
| Gulf Freeway | 33 mi | 38m |
| Emmett F Lowry Expressway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Palmer Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 9th Avenue North | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 6th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| McKinney Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 237.2 mi, about 4h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Texas City, 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
Use the none lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 45 South: Houston
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45
234 mi
·
4 hr 5 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 45
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Take the exit onto FM 1764
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Emmett F Lowry Expressway
Toward FM 1764: Texas City
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on FM 1764
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Palmer Highway
11
Continue on FM 1764
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue North
12
Turn right onto Spur 197
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right
48 ft
·
3 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is key to managing the 5-hour drive time effectively, so try to avoid peak traffic hours when navigating the local roads in Dallas. Given the turn-heavy nature of this 281.1-mile path, factor in at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since you are not sticking to major highways, keep your GPS updated to handle the constant turns required by the local road profile. Keep your $42 fuel budget in mind as you plan your stops, ensuring you fill up at convenient intervals to avoid searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace to accommodate the local traffic patterns.
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 140.6 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.2 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.6 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Texas 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 281.1 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Julius Schepps Freeway for about 237.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140.6 mi from Dallas, TX · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.6 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 237.2 miles.
Arriving in Texas City, TX
The final approach into Texas 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 Texas 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
$42.94 one way
$85.88 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $47.06 | $94.11 |
| premium | $4.59 | $50.81 | $101.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $62.45 | $124.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.3 | 1 | $29.52 | $13.49 |
| Efficient EV | 70.3 | 0 | $24.60 | $11.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.4 | 1 | $39.35 | $17.99 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
Texas City, TX
Afternoon in Texas City on Sunday
Local time
4:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
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
5h 3m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dallas, TX to Texas City, TX covers 281.1 miles and takes about 5h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Julius Schepps Freeway, Gulf Freeway, Emmett F Lowry Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140.6 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 $42.94 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 281.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Spur 366 / Woodall Rodgers Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
The route from Dallas, TX to Texas City, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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