Trip from Fulton, TX to Dallas, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 54m

Distance

385.5 mi

620 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$58

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

6h 43m ★

6 AM

6h 55m

8 AM

7h 18m

10 AM

7h 3m

12 PM

7h 0m

3 PM

7h 4m

5 PM

7h 17m

8 PM

6h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Fulton, TX

Thomas balabaud

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Fulton to Dallas covers approximately 360 miles and typically takes around 6 hours and 4 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on Highway 35 North, FM 3036, and Highway 35, it functions best as a focused, one-day journey rather than a multi-day expedition. You should set aside a fuel budget of about $54 for the trip. Both your starting point in Fulton and your destination in Dallas are situated within the Great Plains, keeping the regional landscape consistent throughout your transit. Since the route involves a significant amount of local driving, it is a practical choice for those who prefer a direct connection between the coast and North Texas.

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

192.7 miles from Fulton, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating secondary roads, which means your pace will be dictated by the local traffic and road geometry rather than high-speed highway travel. Because the longest stretch on Highway 35 North is effectively broken up by these local segments, you should prepare for a more engaged driving experience. The road character remains consistent as you transition away from the coast, requiring you to stay alert through the various turns along the way. This is a hands-on drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 97.7 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

832 ft 11 ft

Total Climb

990 ft

Total Descent

572 ft

Highest Point

832 ft

~330.4 mi in

Elevation Range

821 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and Pickle Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 35; FM 3036 / FM 3036.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 385.5 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 (TX 35; FM 3036 / FM 3036): Lane positioning matters here; at 163.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | TX 35; FM 3036 / FM 3036

Turn left onto TX 35; FM 3036 / FM 3036

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

163.2 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

222.2 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North: Waco

326.9 mi into trip | ~5h 52m in | I 35E

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 35E: Dallas

384.9 mi into trip | ~6h 53m in

Take the exit toward Continental Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 429A Toward Continental Avenue

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 Fulton, TX to Dallas, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.

Waco

163.2 mi in | ~3h 9m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	97.7 mi	1h 39m
Pickle Parkway	58.5 mi	54m
I 35E	58.1 mi	1h
North US Highway 183	51.4 mi	56m
US 183	35.9 mi	41m
US Highway 183	22.6 mi	24m
Farm to Market Road 136	10 mi	11m
FM 2678	9.6 mi	9m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fulton, TX and Dallas, TX.

Start on TX 35 Bus

27 ft · 7 sec · State Highway 35 North

Turn left onto TX 35; FM 3036

1.4 mi · 2 min · TX 35; FM 3036

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto TX 35

3.3 mi · 3 min · State Highway 35 Bypass

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 35

3.7 mi · 4 min · State Highway 35 Bypass

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward TX 188

Turn right onto TX 188

8.3 mi · 8 min · State Highway 188

Turn right onto FM 136

10.0 mi · 11 min · Farm to Market Road 136

Continue on FM 2678

9.6 mi · 9 min · FM 2678

At end of road, turn left onto FM 774

1.5 mi · 2 min · FM 774

Turn right onto US 77

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Alamo Street

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Alamo Street

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

23 mi · 24 min · US Highway 183

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183; TX 239

3.7 mi · 5 min · South Jefferson Street

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

29 mi · 31 min · North US Highway 183

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 87; US 183

2.8 mi · 3 min · South Esplanade Street

Continue on US 77 Alt; US 183

23 mi · 24 min · North US Highway 183

Continue on US 183; TX 111

6.0 mi · 6 min · US 183; TX 111

Continue on US 183; TX 97

20 mi · 23 min · US 183; TX 97

Turn right onto US 183; TX 80

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Magnolia Avenue

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

58 mi · 1 hr · I 35E

Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 429A Toward Continental Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Continental Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street

433 ft · 10 sec · North Lamar Street

Arrive at destination

North Lamar Street

Trip Plan

To manage the 360-mile trek efficiently, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive and stretch your legs. Given the nature of these local roads, leaving early in the day is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Dallas before late-evening traffic patterns emerge. Keep your $54 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before departing Fulton to avoid searching for stations along the more rural stretches. Since this is a one-day trip, the lack of mandatory overnight stops gives you the flexibility to adjust your pace based on how you feel throughout the journey. Focus on staying consistent on the turns, as the road surface and local traffic density can shift as you move further north.

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 192.7 miles from Fulton, TX, or about 3h 37m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 85 miles or 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 192.7 miles or 3h 37m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallas, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Fulton, 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 Fulton, TX

This is one driving day of about 385.5 miles and 6h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Fulton, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 192.7 mi from Fulton, TX · 3h 37m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Austin, TX

193 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.

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Dallas, TX

195.4 mi · 3h 26m

Pacing Suggestions

Yoakum, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 192.7 miles from Fulton, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.7 miles.

Arriving in Dallas, TX

The final approach into Dallas, 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 Dallas, 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

$58.25 one way

$116.50 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 135 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$63.76	$127.52
premium	$4.54	$68.83	$137.66
diesel	$5.61	$85.11	$170.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$58

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$83–$108

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 134.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	115.6	1	$40.48	$18.50
Efficient EV	96.4	1	$33.73	$15.42
EV Truck/SUV	154.2	1	$53.97	$24.67

Gas CO2

135 kg

EV CO2

45 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fulton, TX

Late night in Fulton on Thursday

Local time

12:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dallas, TX

Late night in Dallas on Thursday

Local time

12:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°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

17 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

6h 54m 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 Fulton, TX to Dallas, TX covers 385.5 miles and takes about 6h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway, I 35E. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 192.7 miles from Fulton, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $58.25 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.