Origin
Irving, TX
Late night in Irving on Monday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irving, TX to Elsa, TX
Drive Time
9h 11m
Distance
524.8 mi
845 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 3m
★
6 AM
9h 12m
8 AM
9h 28m
10 AM
9h 17m
12 PM
9h 16m
3 PM
9h 18m
5 PM
9h 27m
8 PM
9h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elsa, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
The drive from Irving, TX to Elsa, TX covers 524.8 miles and takes about 9h 11m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on TX 130 Toll, South R L Thornton Freeway, South Nueces Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. At current regular gas prices, budget about $80.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
262.4 miles from Irving, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 524.8 miles and 9h 11m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are TX 130 Toll and South 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 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TX 130 Toll is the longest continuous segment at about 86.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 miles in near Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 524.8 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 7.2 miles (Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
7.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard toward Loop 12 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Loop 12 South
7
16.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward I 35E South: Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 467B
Toward I 35E South: Waco
7
168.8 mi into trip
|
~3h in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
8
296.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
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.
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
8
514.2 mi into trip
|
~8h 55m in
Take the exit toward FM 2128: Chapin Road, Schunior Road, Richardson Road
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.
Exit 7
Toward FM 2128: Chapin Road, Schunior Road, Ric...
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Irving, TX to Elsa, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
Corpus Christi
296.8 mi in
|
~5h 3m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 130 Toll | 86.1 mi | 1h 19m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 80.5 mi | 1h 22m |
| South Nueces Street | 66.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 37 | 60.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| Falfurrias Expressway | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| I 10 | 32.5 mi | 33m |
| I 35 | 26.5 mi | 26m |
Longest stretch:
TX 130 Toll
— 86.1 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irving, TX and Elsa, TX.
1
Start on North Ohio Street
436 ft
·
25 sec
·
North Ohio Street
2
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 2nd Street
3
Turn straight onto East Irving Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Irving Boulevard
4
Turn slight right
394 ft
·
17 sec
5
Turn slight right onto South Loop 12
187 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Loop 12
6
Take the ramp slight left toward Loop 12 South
410 ft
·
10 sec
·
Loop 12 South
7
Merge slight left onto South Walton Walker Boulevard
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South Walton Walker Boulevard
8
Keep slight left to continue on South Walton Walker Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Walton Walker Boulevard
9
Turn slight right onto Duncanville Road
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Duncanville Road
10
Turn left onto West Interstate 20
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Interstate 20
11
Take the ramp slight left toward I 20 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 20 East
12
Merge slight left onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 35E South: Waco
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 35E South: Waco
14
Merge slight left onto South R L Thornton Freeway
81 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
15
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
16
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
17
Keep slight left
26 mi
·
26 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
19
Continue straight
86 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
20
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: San Antonio
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 West: San Antonio
21
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
11 min
22
Continue straight
9.4 mi
·
9 min
23
Keep slight left
12 mi
·
12 min
24
Keep slight right to continue on Connally Loop
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Connally Loop
25
Merge slight left onto Connally Loop
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Connally Loop
26
Take the exit slight right toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
27
Keep slight left to continue on I 37 South: Corpus Christi
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 37 South: Corpus Christi
28
Merge slight left
60 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
29
Take the exit slight right toward US 281 South
15 mi
·
19 min
·
US 281 South
30
Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
South Nueces Street
31
Keep slight left
9.5 mi
·
10 min
32
Keep slight left to continue on Falfurrias Expressway
56 mi
·
58 min
·
Falfurrias Expressway
33
Keep slight left
9.6 mi
·
10 min
34
Take the exit slight right toward FM 2128: Chapin Road, Schunior Road, Richardson Road
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
FM 2128: Chapin Road, Schunior Road, Richardson Road
35
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Expressway 281
36
Turn left onto East Schunior Street
381 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Schunior Street
37
Continue on East Richardson Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Richardson Road
38
Continue on East Richardson Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Richardson Street
39
Continue on East Schunior Street
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
East Schunior Street
40
Continue on Richardson Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Richardson Road
41
At the end of the road, turn left
6.1 mi
·
9 min
42
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 262.4 miles from Irving, TX, or about 4h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 115 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 262.4 miles or 4h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 262.4 miles or 4h 27m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elsa, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Irving, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Elsa, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 miles from Irving, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 262.4 mi from Irving, TX · 4h 27m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
173 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
346 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in San Antonio, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
262 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 262 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 115 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 262.4 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 130 Toll if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 262 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in Elsa, TX
The final approach into Elsa, 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 Elsa, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Elsa, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.17 one way
$160.33 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
184 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $87.85 | $175.70 |
| premium | $4.59 | $94.86 | $189.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $116.59 | $233.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 183.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 157.4 | 1 | $55.10 | $25.19 |
| Efficient EV | 131.2 | 1 | $45.92 | $20.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 209.9 | 2 | $73.47 | $33.59 |
Gas CO2
184 kg
EV CO2
61 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.
Destination
Elsa, TX
Late night in Elsa on Monday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
9h 11m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Elsa, TX covers 524.8 miles and takes about 9h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 130 Toll, South R L Thornton Freeway, South Nueces Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 262 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 262.4 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 $80.17 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 524.8 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 7.2 miles (Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Irving, TX to Elsa, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
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