Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Afternoon in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
5h 48m
Distance
320.5 mi
516 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
Fort Worth, TX
Talena Reese
Stowell, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Traveling from Fort Worth to Stowell covers 320.5 miles across the Great Plains, typically taking about 5 hours and 48 minutes of drive time. Because this route is primarily highway-focused, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $49 on fuel to make the trip. You will rely heavily on I-45, US-287, and the North Grand Parkway East to navigate your way toward the coast. This is a straightforward, functional drive that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing, making it a reliable choice if you need to reach your destination quickly.
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
160.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
Expect a high-speed journey, as 97% of this route consists of highway driving. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-45, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 173.9 miles. While the road remains consistent in its highway-heavy design, the transition between US-287 and the North Grand Parkway East provides a change in pace as you move toward the Stowell area. The drive feels like a standard interstate haul rather than a technical backroads excursion. Be prepared for sustained speeds and the typical flow of long-distance traffic found on major Texas corridors.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and US 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 320.5 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: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 35W South
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 toward US 287 South: Little Road, Waxahachie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Grand Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 173.9 mi | 2h 58m |
| US 287 | 50.7 mi | 56m |
| North Grand Parkway East | 50.2 mi | 53m |
| East Freeway | 27.9 mi | 32m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| South Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Gulfway Drive | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Interstate 45 North Frontage Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Stowell, TX.
Start on South Freeway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35W
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 45; US 287
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
Turn left onto North Grand Parkway West
Take the ramp
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 99 Toll
Turn left onto East Freeway Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit onto TX 73
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto State Highway 73
Turn right onto TX 124
Continue on TX 124
Arrive at destination
Since this is a nearly six-hour trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid the heaviest traffic congestion often associated with the major highways on this path. Because fuel costs are estimated at $49, keep an eye on your gauge during the long 173.9-mile stretch on I-45 to ensure you don't run low between major service centers. Flexibility is a key advantage of this one-day route, so don't hesitate to adjust your departure time if weather or local traffic reports suggest delays. Always check your tire pressure before heading out, as the sustained high-speed nature of this drive puts extra demand on your vehicle.
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.
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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.3 miles or 2h 51m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stowell, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 320.5 miles and 5h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 160.3 mi from Fort Worth, TX · 2h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
160 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 160.3 miles from Fort Worth, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 173.9 miles.
The final approach into Stowell, 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 Stowell, 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.
Regular Gas
$48.96 one way
$97.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $53.65 | $107.30 |
| premium | $4.59 | $57.93 | $115.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $71.20 | $142.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.1 | 1 | $33.65 | $15.38 |
| Efficient EV | 80.1 | 0 | $28.04 | $12.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.2 | 1 | $44.87 | $20.51 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Stowell on Sunday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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