Origin
La Paloma, TX
Afternoon in La Paloma on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Paloma, TX to Dallas, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 41m
Distance
516.2 mi
831 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 33m
★
6 AM
9h 42m
8 AM
9h 59m
10 AM
9h 48m
12 PM
9h 46m
3 PM
9h 49m
5 PM
9h 58m
8 PM
9h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Paloma, TX
Andrew Patrick Photo
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 516.2-mile journey from La Paloma, Texas, to Dallas, Texas, is a significant undertaking, requiring an estimated 9 hours and 41 minutes of driving time. Given its length, it's best split over two days to avoid fatigue. The route primarily utilizes U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with 74% of the drive on highways. Your estimated fuel cost for this long-distance drive is around $78. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for the entire trip, traversing the vast Texas landscape.
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
258.1 miles from La Paloma, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 120.9 mi | 2h 13m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| Pickle Parkway | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| I 35E | 58.1 mi | 1h |
| US Highway 181 South | 40.2 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 80 North | 30.8 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| I 37 | 19.7 mi | 19m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Highway 77
— 120.9 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Paloma, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on Old Military Highway
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Old Military Highway
2
Turn left onto FM 732
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Narlisco Martinez Highway
3
Turn left onto East Expressway 83
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Expressway 83
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
5
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
96 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
7
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 69E; US 77
8
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
12 mi
·
12 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
10
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
485 ft
·
17 sec
·
US Highway 77 Frontage Road
11
Turn right onto County Road 10
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road 10
12
Turn left onto County Road 79
4.0 mi
·
15 min
·
County Road 79
13
Turn left onto County Road 18
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
County Road 18
14
Turn sharp right
1.1 mi
·
2 min
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
16
Merge onto US 77
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Driscoll Bypass
17
Continue on US 77
13 mi
·
14 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
18
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
19
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
1 min
20
Continue on I 37
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
22
Turn right onto TX 359
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 359
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 181
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 8th Street
24
Continue on US 181
40 mi
·
45 min
·
US Highway 181 South
25
Continue on US 181
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sunset Strip Drive
26
Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
27
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
28
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
29
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
30
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
31
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
32
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
33
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
34
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
United States Highway 183
35
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
36
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
38
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
58 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
42
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 429A
Toward Continental Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
43
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Continental Avenue
Use the right lane.
44
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Lamar Street
45
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 9-hour and 41-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 516.2 miles effectively, especially if splitting the journey over two days. The longest stretch of 120.9 miles on U.S. Highway 77 is a good indicator of where you might want to plan your next fuel or rest break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly before entering longer stretches where services might be less frequent, and budget approximately $78 for gas.
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 258.1 miles from La Paloma, TX, or about 5h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.9 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 114 miles or 2h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 258.1 miles or 5h 11m 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 258.1 miles or 5h 11m
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 38m
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 La Paloma, 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 La Paloma, TX
Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Dallas, TX
Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from La Paloma, 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 U.S. Highway 77 for about 120.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
170 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
341 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 Round Rock, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
258 mi · about 4.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 258 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 114 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 258.1 miles from La Paloma, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 258 miles or 4.8 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 decision points cluster between mile 293.9 and 515.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
293.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 56m 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
7
352.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 51m 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
7
457.6 mi into trip
|
~8h 39m 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
7
515.6 mi into trip
|
~9h 40m 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
6
515.9 mi into trip
|
~9h 41m in
|
Continental Avenue
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.00 one way
$156.00 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
181 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $85.38 | $170.75 |
| premium | $4.54 | $92.16 | $184.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $113.97 | $227.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$208–$318
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 180.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 154.9 | 1 | $54.20 | $24.78 |
| Efficient EV | 129.1 | 1 | $45.17 | $20.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 206.5 | 2 | $72.27 | $33.04 |
Gas CO2
181 kg
EV CO2
60 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
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Saturday
Local time
3:54 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.
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
30 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
9h 41m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that's mostly highway, with 74% of the 516.2 miles on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 120.9 miles along U.S. Highway 77. While much of this route is on well-maintained highways, it's not a constant interstate grind. The transition between U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway offers some variation, keeping the experience engaging enough for a two-day trip. You'll likely experience open Texas terrain for most of the drive.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.9 mi on U.S. Highway 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 293.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 516.2 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 293.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 352.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 457.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Paloma, TX and Dallas, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.
Skidmore
159.1 mi in
|
~3h 15m
Waco
293.9 mi in
|
~5h 56m
About the Cities
Arriving in Dallas, TX
Full guide →“Big D” · Founded 1841
Dallas, with a population of more than 1.3 million residents, is the ninth largest city in the United States and the third largest in the state of Texas. It is an impressive melting pot of culture and character. Boasting high-end luxury hotels, innumerable fine dining spots, and one of the busiest airports in the world, Dallas maintains an upscale ethos reflected by an affluent population, world-class museums, and a shimmering modern skyline. Its history was marred by the infamous assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, but there is more historic and contemporary heritage to be discovered in the city. As a center of the oil and cotton industries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dallas was a classic American boom town and remains one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.
Top landmarks
- • Dallas Museum of Art — art museum in Dallas, Texas
- • Texas School Book Depository — building in Dallas, Texas, United States
- • George W. Bush Presidential Center — Presidential library and museum for U.S. President George W. Bush, located in Da...
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 120.9 miles on U.S. Highway 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 258 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dallas, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 293.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 352.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 457.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.7 hours each way, a round trip means 19.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dallas, TX before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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