The drive from Fort Worth, TX to Little River-Academy, TX covers 129.2 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Freeway, Purple Heart Trail, North Jack Kultgen Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.3 miles on South Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64.6 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.
This is a 2h 18m highway drive covering 129.2 miles, with most of the trip on South Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. The longest continuous stretch is about 82.3 miles on South Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 82.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Worth, TX to Little River-Academy, TX is easy. At 2h 18m with 73% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (I 35W / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35W South
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|I 35W / South Freeway
Merge onto I 35W / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
115.3 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward Loop 363: H.K. Dodgen Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 304
Toward Loop 363: H.K. Dodgen Loop
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Freeway
82.3 mi
1h 25m
Purple Heart Trail
26.1 mi
26m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
7m
Northeast H K Dodgen Loop
6.5 mi
8m
State Highway 95
5.2 mi
6m
East Main Street
1.1 mi
1m
North General Bruce Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Northwest H K Dodgen Loop
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South Freeway
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Little River-Academy, TX.
1
Start on South Freeway
174 ft·3 sec·South Freeway
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35W SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Merge onto I 35W
82 mi·1 hr 25 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
26 mi·26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 304Toward Loop 363: H.K. Dodgen LoopUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto North General Bruce Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·North General Bruce Drive
8
Turn left onto Loop 363
510 ft·18 sec·Northwest H K Dodgen Loop
9
Continue on Loop 363
6.5 mi·8 min·Northeast H K Dodgen Loop
10
Continue on TX 95
5.2 mi·6 min·State Highway 95
11
Turn slight right
194 ft·5 sec
12
Turn straight onto FM 436
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
FM 436
Trip Plan
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 64.6 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 28 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.6 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little River-Academy, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX
This is one driving day of about 129.2 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Fort Worth, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Freeway for about 82.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.6 mi from Fort Worth, TX
· 1h 7m into the drive
The midpoint is around 64.6 miles from Fort Worth, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before South Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.3 miles.
Arriving in Little River-Academy, TX
The final approach into Little River-Academy, 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 Little River-Academy, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 80.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.52 one way
$39.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$21.37
$42.74
premium
$4.54
$23.07
$46.14
diesel
$5.61
$28.53
$57.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.8
0
$13.57
$6.20
Efficient EV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.17
EV Truck/SUV
51.7
0
$18.09
$8.27
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Evening
in Fort Worth on Friday
Local time
5:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little River-Academy, TX
Evening
in Little River-Academy on Friday
Local time
5:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
9 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
2h 18m 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 Fort Worth, TX to Little River-Academy, TX covers 129.2 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Freeway, Purple Heart Trail, North Jack Kultgen 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 64.6 miles from Fort Worth, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.52 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.
The drive from Fort Worth, TX to Little River-Academy, TX is easy. At 2h 18m with 73% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (I 35W / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Worth, TX to Little River-Academy, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Waco Mammoth National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
