Origin
Irving, TX
Afternoon in Irving on Sunday
Local time
12:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irving, TX to Balch Springs, TX
Drive Time
36m
Distance
27.8 mi
45 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Photo: Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Irving, TX to Balch Springs, TX covers 27.8 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East R L Thornton Freeway, Tom Landry Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.5 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.25 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13.9 miles from Irving, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 36m highway drive covering 27.8 miles, with most of the trip on East R L Thornton Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.5 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 2nd Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 27.8 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 0.1 miles (West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
4.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 30: Dallas, Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 30: Dallas, Fort Worth
7
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
8
19.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 80
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 toward US 80 East: Terrell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 53B
Toward US 80 East: Terrell
7
26.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward Lake June Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward Lake June Road
Towns Along This Route
Between Irving, TX and Balch Springs, TX, road signs point toward Loop 12 South and Fort Worth.
Loop 12 South
1.8 mi in
|
~3m
Fort Worth
4.7 mi in
|
~6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 3.6 mi | 3m |
| US 80 | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| South Walton Walker Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| East Irving Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West 2nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Lake June Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 7.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irving, TX and Balch Springs, TX.
1
Start on North Ohio Street
436 ft
·
24 sec
·
North Ohio Street
2
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 2nd Street
Use the none lane.
3
Turn straight onto TX 356
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Irving Boulevard
Use the none lane.
4
Turn slight right
393 ft
·
17 sec
5
Turn slight right onto South Loop 12
187 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Loop 12
6
Take the ramp
410 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Loop 12 South
7
Merge onto Loop 12
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 30: Dallas, Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 30
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the none lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 80
Exit 53B
Toward US 80 East: Terrell
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 635 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 635
3.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the none lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 2
Toward Lake June Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Lake June Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake June Road
Use the none lane.
17
Turn left onto Hickory Tree Road
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Hickory Tree Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Terry Drive
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
Terry Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Terry Drive
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 13.9 miles from Irving, TX, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.5 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 27.8 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.9 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Balch Springs, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Irving, 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 Irving, TX
This is one driving day of about 27.8 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Irving, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East R L Thornton Freeway for about 7.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.9 mi from Irving, TX · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.9 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Balch Springs, TX
The final approach into Balch Springs, 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 Balch Springs, 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
$4.25 one way
$8.49 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.65 | $9.31 |
| premium | $4.59 | $5.02 | $10.05 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.18 | $12.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.92 | $1.33 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.43 | $1.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Balch Springs, TX
Afternoon in Balch Springs on Sunday
Local time
12:21 PM
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
1 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
36m 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 Irving, TX to Balch Springs, TX covers 27.8 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East R L Thornton Freeway, Tom Landry Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.9 miles from Irving, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.25 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 27.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Irving, TX and Balch Springs, TX, road signs point toward Loop 12 South and Fort Worth.
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