Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
149.6 mi
241 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
Photo: Jeff Stapleton
The drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Henderson, TX covers 149.6 miles and takes about 2h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, US 80, South Henderson Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.7 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.85 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.8 miles from Grand Prairie, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
This is a 2h 43m highway drive covering 149.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and US 80. The longest continuous stretch is about 83.7 miles on I 20.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Small Hill Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 149.6 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: at 0.2 miles (Small Hill Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Belt Line Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Small Hill Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto North Belt Line Road
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 toward US 80 East: Terrell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Henderson, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Gladewater along the way.
Gladewater
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 83.7 mi | 1h 23m |
| US 80 | 19.2 mi | 20m |
| South Henderson Boulevard | 12 mi | 13m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| Spur 557 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 135 North | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| FM 2276 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Prairie, TX and Henderson, TX.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Northeast 5th Street
Turn right onto Small Hill Street
Turn left onto North Belt Line Road
Turn right
Turn straight onto East Interstate 30
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 30
Continue on I 30; US 67
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80
Continue on Spur 557
Merge onto I 20
Take the exit
Continue on I 20 Frontage Road
Turn right onto TX 135
Keep slight left at fork
Enter roundabout onto Houston Street
Continue on Houston Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 259 Business; TX 42
Turn right onto FM 2276
Turn left onto TX 323
Turn left onto TX 64 Business
Turn right onto TX 64 Business
Turn left onto US 79 Business; TX 64 Business
Arrive at destination
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.
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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.8 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Henderson, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Grand Prairie, 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 Grand Prairie, TX
This is one driving day of about 149.6 miles and 2h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.8 mi from Grand Prairie, TX · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 74.8 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.7 miles.
The final approach into Henderson, 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 Henderson, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$22.85 one way
$45.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $25.04 | $50.09 |
| premium | $4.59 | $27.04 | $54.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.24 | $66.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.71 | $7.18 |
| Efficient EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.09 | $5.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.94 | $9.57 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Grand Prairie on Sunday
Local time
2:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Henderson on Sunday
Local time
2:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Plano, TX
75 mi in
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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