Longview, TX to Fort Worth, TX is 162.3 miles and takes about 2h 51m via I 20, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily follows I 20, connecting two points within the Great Plains region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's easy to complete in a single day. You’ll spend most of your time on well-maintained interstate, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to travel between these Texas cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.2 miles from Longview, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Longview is a city in the Piney Woods region of Texas. At one time a major headquarters of the vast East Texas Oil Field, petroleum remains a large part of the city's economy. Founded in 1871, the city earned its name when surveyors for the Southern Pacific Railroad noted what a "long view" they could see from a hill near the center of the new town. Longview is now home to more than 75,000 residents and has grown to be an important center of commerce and industry for the Piney Woods region of Texas.
Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 162.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is an 83% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll be on major interstates for the vast majority of your journey. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 108.9 miles on I 20, offering a significant period of consistent driving. Expect a steady pace with minimal interruptions, characteristic of a primary interstate route. The Lyndon B Johnson Freeway and Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway are also part of this interstate-centric path. This drive offers a predictable and efficient experience for those prioritizing speed and directness.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 108.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63.
Driving Effort9/10
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 12 significant decision points across 162.3 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 0.6 miles (TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63
Turn left onto TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
96.9 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
8
157.9 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
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 437
Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
7
158.1 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W North: Denton
7
161.9 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
108.9 mi
1h 50m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
22 mi
23m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
19.7 mi
21m
North Spur 63
6.2 mi
7m
South Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
West Marshall Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
East Allen Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 108.9 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longview, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on US 80
0.6 mi·1 min·West Marshall Avenue
2
Turn left onto TX 31; Spur 63
6.2 mi·7 min·North Spur 63
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
4
Merge onto I 20
90 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
19 mi·20 min·I 20
Toward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 20
22 mi·23 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 20
20 mi·21 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 437Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 35W North: DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35W North: Fort Worth
11
Merge onto I 35W
3.2 mi·3 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 49AToward Allen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Freeway
14
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft·12 sec·East Allen Avenue
15
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft·5 sec·South Freeway
16
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours and 51 minutes, this is a perfect one-day trip. You have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, but an early morning departure will help you avoid potential midday traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can decide if you want to break up the 108.9-mile stretch on I 20 or push through. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $25; planning a fill-up before you depart Longview or as you approach Fort Worth is a good idea. The straightforward nature of this route means you can focus on enjoying the drive rather than navigating complex turns.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.2 miles from Longview, TX, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.9 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 36 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.2 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Worth, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Longview, 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 Longview, TX
This is one driving day of about 162.3 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Longview, 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 I 20 for about 108.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.2 mi from Longview, TX
· 1h 23m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.52 one way
$49.05 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$26.84
$53.69
premium
$4.54
$28.98
$57.96
diesel
$5.61
$35.83
$71.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.7
0
$17.04
$7.79
Efficient EV
40.6
0
$14.20
$6.49
EV Truck/SUV
64.9
0
$22.72
$10.39
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Longview, TX
Morning
in Longview on Saturday
Local time
8:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Morning
in Fort Worth on Saturday
Local time
8:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 17 at 5:31PM CDT until April 18 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 2:03PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
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
19 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
2h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Longview, TX to Fort Worth, TX covers 162.3 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.2 miles from Longview, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.52 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 162.3 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 0.6 miles (TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Longview, TX to Fort Worth, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
