Traveling from Lakehills to Dallas covers 328.6 miles and takes approximately 5 hours and 10 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you likely won't need to book an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting about $49 for fuel will cover your transit across the Great Plains region. Since you are staying within the state of Texas, you can expect a familiar landscape as you head north. This route is best suited for those who prefer local roads over high-speed interstate travel. Keep in mind that this is a direct, no-frills trip designed to get you from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
151.4 miles from Lakehills, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 302.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route avoids highways entirely, meaning 0% of your travel will be on high-speed freeways. You will navigate winding local roads that require constant steering adjustments throughout the 328.6-mile trek. Because there are no designated long, uninterrupted stretches, the drive feels active and involved rather than passive. Prepare for a steady, technical pace that changes significantly from the quiet surroundings of Lakehills to the bustling urban environment of Dallas.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 188.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.8 miles in near North Loop 1604 West.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 302.8 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 23.8 miles (North Loop 1604 West): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
23.8 mi into trip|~35m in|North Loop 1604 West
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
44.5 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
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 35: San Antonio, Austin
7
45 mi into trip|~58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 North: Austin
7
244.2 mi into trip|~4h 30m 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
302.3 mi into trip|~5h 31m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakehills, TX and Dallas, TX, road signs point toward Austin and San Antonio.
Step-by-step road directions between Lakehills, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on Upland Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Upland Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto PR 37
6.0 mi·9 min·Park Road 37
3
Continue on PR 37
4.0 mi·6 min·Park Road 37
4
Turn right onto TX 16
0.3 mi·18 sec·State Highway 16 South
5
Continue on TX 16
3.6 mi·4 min·Bandera Road
6
Continue on TX 16
7.1 mi·9 min·Bandera Road
7
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·29 sec
8
Continue on FM 1560
2.0 mi·3 min·FM 1560 North
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on West Hausman Road
0.1 mi·13 sec·West Hausman Road
10
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.3 mi·29 sec·North Loop 1604 West
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
12
Merge onto Loop 1604
20 mi·21 min·Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 35: San Antonio, AustinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35 North, I 35 South: Austin, San Antonio
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: AustinUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 35
1.6 mi·1 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 35
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi·1 hr 40 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
58 mi·1 hr·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 429AToward Continental AvenueUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn right onto Continental Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·Continental Avenue
Use the right lane.
26
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft·10 sec·North Lamar Street
27
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 10-minute journey, try to depart early in the morning to beat the worst of the traffic as you approach the Dallas area. Since there are zero scheduled stops in the current data, you should build your own breaks into the itinerary to keep your energy levels high on these winding local roads. Factor in the $49 fuel cost before you leave, as local routes may have fewer convenient service stations than major interstates. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here; since the route is strictly local, you can adjust your pace based on road conditions. Always keep your navigation system updated, as local road configurations can be more complex than main highway arteries.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 151.4 miles from Lakehills, TX, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 67 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.4 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
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 Lakehills, 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 Lakehills, TX
This is one driving day of about 302.8 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Lakehills, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 151.4 mi from Lakehills, TX
· 2h 53m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 208.9
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 41.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.75 one way
$91.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$50.08
$100.16
premium
$4.54
$54.06
$108.13
diesel
$5.61
$66.85
$133.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.8
1
$31.79
$14.53
Efficient EV
75.7
0
$26.50
$12.11
EV Truck/SUV
121.1
1
$42.39
$19.38
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lakehills, TX
Morning
in Lakehills on Saturday
Local time
8:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dallas, TX
Morning
in Dallas on Saturday
Local time
8:12 AM
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
5h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lakehills, TX to Dallas, TX covers 302.8 miles and takes about 5h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, I 35E, Anderson Loop. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 151.4 miles from Lakehills, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break 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 13 significant decision points across 302.8 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 23.8 miles (North Loop 1604 West): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lakehills, TX and Dallas, TX, road signs point toward Austin and San Antonio.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
