Origin
Dallas, TX
Evening in Dallas on Wednesday
Local time
6:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Waxahachie, TX
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
35m
Distance
30.1 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Waxahachie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to head south from Dallas to Waxahachie, you are in for a quick 30.1-mile journey that typically takes about 35 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will find a consistent landscape throughout the entire trip. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you do not need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an incredibly cost-effective excursion for a morning or afternoon escape. Because this route involves zero highway driving, it serves as a straightforward local transit rather than a long-haul haul. It is an ideal choice if you prefer a short, manageable trip over a high-speed interstate commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
15.1 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed cruise, as this route relies entirely on city streets like Ross Avenue, North Houston Street, and Elm Street. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a slower pace that requires your full attention at intersections and turns. Because the roads are local, there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch to settle into, making the drive feel active and engaging. The character of the road remains consistent from start to finish, keeping you within the urban and suburban grid of the Great Plains. You will navigate city infrastructure for the duration of the 35-minute trip, so keep your hands on the wheel and be ready for frequent navigating.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 26.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and West Main Street. 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
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 30.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 30, I 35E
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30, I 35E
9
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
8
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
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Merge onto I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
28 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Brookside Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 401A
Toward Brookside Road
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 Waxahachie, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas Zoo along the way.
Dallas Zoo
2.3 mi in
|
~3m
|
via I 35E
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 26.3 mi | 28m |
| West Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Brookside Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West US 287 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Interstate 35E | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 26.3 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Waxahachie, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Lamar Street
2
Turn right onto Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Elm Street
3
Continue on Elm Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Elm Street
4
Take the ramp
327 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 30, I 35E
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 30 West, I 35E South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
330 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 35E South
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 35E
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
9
Continue on I 35E
26 mi
·
27 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 401A
Toward Brookside Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35E
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
South Interstate 35E
12
Turn left onto Brookside Road
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Brookside Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 287 Bus
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West US 287 Business
14
Continue on US 287 Bus
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
15
Turn left onto US 77
128 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Elm Street
16
Turn right
97 ft
·
7 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 30.1-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak local traffic hours will make your transit much smoother. You won't need to plan for any formal stops given the short duration, but keep your fuel levels in mind before you head out to ensure you stay within your $4 budget. Because the route is entirely local, pay close attention to navigation prompts as you transition between Ross Avenue, North Houston Street, and Elm Street. Taking this trip as a day excursion allows you to spend your time exploring the destination rather than worrying about road fatigue. Remember that because you are staying off the highways, your actual travel time may fluctuate slightly based on local light cycles and city traffic patterns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 15.1 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.3 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.1 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waxahachie, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Dallas, TX.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dallas, TX
This is one driving day of about 30.1 miles and 35m.
At 30.1 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on South R L Thornton Freeway for about 26.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.1 mi from Dallas, TX · 17m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waxahachie, TX
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Waxahachie, TX if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.55 one way
$9.10 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.98 | $9.96 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.37 | $10.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.65 | $13.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Waxahachie, TX
Evening in Waxahachie on Wednesday
Local time
6:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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
35m 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 Waxahachie, TX covers 30.1 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South R L Thornton Freeway, West Main Street, South Stemmons Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.1 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 $4.55 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 30.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
On the drive from Dallas, TX to Waxahachie, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas Zoo along the way.
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