Lake Kiowa to Dallas is 80.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes via I 35, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, transitioning from the Great Plains region around Lake Kiowa to the more urban Great Plains environment as you approach Dallas. Expect a straightforward highway-focused trip, making it a convenient option for a quick transition between these two points. With no planned stops and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a same-day journey, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.4 miles from Lake Kiowa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
28.6 mi
29m
South Stemmons Freeway
20.5 mi
22m
I 35E
9.8 mi
10m
North Stemmons Freeway
8.4 mi
10m
Farm-to-Market Road 902
5.4 mi
9m
East California Street
1.1 mi
2m
South Grand Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Kiowa Drive West
0.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 28.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Kiowa, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on Blackfoot Trail
0.5 mi·1 min·Blackfoot Trail
2
Turn left onto Kiowa Drive North
0.3 mi·1 min·Kiowa Drive North
3
Continue on Kiowa Drive North
0.3 mi·1 min·Kiowa Drive North
4
Continue on Kiowa Drive West
0.7 mi·2 min·Kiowa Drive West
5
Turn right onto Navajo Trail
0.4 mi·1 min·Navajo Trail
6
Turn right onto San Chez Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·San Chez Drive
7
Turn right onto Kiowa Drive West
0.1 mi·33 sec·Kiowa Drive West
8
Turn right
0.1 mi·43 sec
9
Turn straight onto County Road 224
0.7 mi·2 min·County Road 224
10
Turn left onto County Road 219
267 ft·17 sec·County Road 219
11
Turn sharp right onto FM 902
5.4 mi·9 min·Farm-to-Market Road 902
12
At end of road, turn right onto FM 372
0.6 mi·59 sec·Farm-to-Market Road 372
13
Continue on FM 372
0.4 mi·51 sec·Burns City Road
14
Turn left onto FM 372
0.4 mi·43 sec·Anthony Street
15
Turn right onto FM 372
1.1 mi·2 min·South Grand Avenue
16
Turn left onto FM 51
1.1 mi·2 min·East California Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left
351 ft·9 sec
18
Continue on South Interstate 35
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Interstate 35
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
20
Merge onto I 35
29 mi·29 min·I 35
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on I 35E; US 77
9.8 mi·10 min·I 35E; US 77
Toward I 35E South: DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
20 mi·22 min·South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
8.3 mi·10 min·North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·22 sec
Exit 429BToward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street WestUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·North Stemmons Freeway
26
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
0.3 mi·48 sec·Continental Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft·10 sec·North Lamar Street
28
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 1 hour 45 minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time from Lake Kiowa. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential early commuter traffic heading into Dallas. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, you'll likely only need one fill-up, so plan accordingly before you leave Lake Kiowa. Since the longest stretch on I 35 is 28.6 miles, you won't need to worry about frequent fuel stops, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge. This is a drive where you can easily make it to Dallas and have the rest of the day to explore.
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 40.4 miles from Lake Kiowa, TX, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 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 18 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
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 Lake Kiowa, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Kiowa, TX
This is one driving day of about 80.8 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lake Kiowa, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 28.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 80.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.6 mi into trip|~14m in|FM 902 / Farm-to-Market Road 902
Turn sharp right onto FM 902 / Farm-to-Market Road 902
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
11.4 mi into trip|~28m in|FM 51 / East California Street
Turn left onto FM 51 / East California Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
51.3 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
80.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 429B
Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.21 one way
$24.42 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$13.36
$26.73
premium
$4.54
$14.43
$28.85
diesel
$5.61
$17.84
$35.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.48
$3.88
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.07
$3.23
EV Truck/SUV
32.3
0
$11.31
$5.17
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lake Kiowa, TX
Afternoon
in Lake Kiowa on Saturday
Local time
1:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dallas, TX
Afternoon
in Dallas on Saturday
Local time
1:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Denton, TX
40 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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
1h 45m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 35, including a stretch of 28.6 miles on I 35 without needing to exit. The main roads guiding you are I 35, South Stemmons Freeway, and I 35E, indicating a predominantly high-speed travel experience. The character of the road is consistent, offering a direct and efficient path to Dallas.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.6 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and South Stemmons Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in near FM 902 / Farm-to-Market Road 902.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.8 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles (FM 902 / Farm-to-Market Road 902): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 11.4 miles (FM 51 / East California Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.3 miles (I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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...
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 80.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.6 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles (FM 902 / Farm-to-Market Road 902): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 11.4 miles (FM 51 / East California Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.3 miles (I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dallas, TX before heading back.
