Origin
Elsa, TX
Morning in Elsa on Monday
Local time
9:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elsa, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Drive Time
7h 19m
Distance
510.9 mi
822 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 9m
★
6 AM
7h 19m
8 AM
7h 41m
10 AM
7h 27m
12 PM
7h 25m
3 PM
7h 28m
5 PM
7h 39m
8 PM
7h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elsa, TX
Thomas balabaud
Fort Worth, TX
Talena Reese
Trip Overview
The drive from Elsa, TX to Fort Worth, TX covers 510.9 miles and takes about 7h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Richardson Road, East Schunior Street, East Richardson Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $78.04 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
255.4 miles from Elsa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 510.9 miles and 7h 19m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Richardson Road and East Schunior Street.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Richardson Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 7h 19m, 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 7h 19m, 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 Elsa, TX to Fort Worth, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richardson Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Schunior Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Richardson Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Richardson Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Expressway 281 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 69C North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nueces Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| King David Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Richardson Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elsa, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on Edinburg Avenue
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Edinburg Avenue
2
Turn right onto Richardson Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Richardson Road
3
Continue on East Schunior Street
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Schunior Street
4
Continue on East Richardson Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Richardson Street
5
Continue on East Richardson Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Richardson Road
6
Turn right onto North Expressway 281
180 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Expressway 281
7
Take the ramp slight left toward I 69C North, US 281 North
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 69C North, US 281 North
8
Merge slight left
71 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
9
Keep slight right
70 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
10
Keep slight left to continue on Nueces Street
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Nueces Street
11
Turn right onto King David Drive
32 mi
·
39 min
·
King David Drive
12
Continue on West Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
13
Keep slight left to continue on East Main Street
233 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Main Street
14
Continue on Helena Road
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
15
Turn straight onto State Highway 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
16
Continue on South Nixon Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
17
Continue on State Highway 80 North
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
18
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
19
Continue on South Colorado Street
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
20
Continue on United States Highway 183
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
United States Highway 183
21
Keep slight left to continue on TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
22
Merge slight left onto Pickle Parkway
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
23
Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Waco
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 35 North: Waco
24
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
25
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
26
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
27
Keep slight left to continue on I 35W: Fort Worth
49 mi
·
51 min
·
I 35W: Fort Worth
28
Take the exit slight right toward Allen Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Allen Avenue
29
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Freeway
30
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
31
Turn left onto South Freeway
259 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Freeway
32
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 255.4 miles from Elsa, TX, or about 3h 39m into the drive.
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 112 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 255.4 miles or 3h 39m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elsa, 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 Elsa, TX
This is one driving day of about 510.9 miles and 7h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Elsa, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 255.4 mi from Elsa, TX · 3h 39m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
169 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.
Second major stop
Meal stop
337 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 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 255.4 miles from Elsa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Worth, TX
The final approach into Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.04 one way
$156.09 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
179 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $85.53 | $171.05 |
| premium | $4.59 | $92.34 | $184.69 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $113.50 | $227.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 178.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 153.3 | 1 | $53.64 | $24.52 |
| Efficient EV | 127.7 | 1 | $44.70 | $20.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 204.4 | 2 | $71.53 | $32.70 |
Gas CO2
179 kg
EV CO2
60 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
Fort Worth, TX
Morning in Fort Worth on Monday
Local time
9:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
1 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 19m 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 Elsa, TX to Fort Worth, TX covers 510.9 miles and takes about 7h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Richardson Road, East Schunior Street, East Richardson Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 255.4 miles from Elsa, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $78.04 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 7h 19m, 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 Elsa, TX to Fort Worth, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elsa, TX to Fort Worth, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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