This 296.6-mile journey from Markham to Fort Worth, Texas, is a manageable one-day drive, estimated to take about 5 hours and 49 minutes. You'll be spending about 52% of your time on highways, with the remainder on other types of roads. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $45, making it an economical option. This route traverses the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout. Given the duration, it's definitely doable in a single day, but planning for a mid-trip stop might enhance your comfort.
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
148.3 miles from Markham, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 296.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive presents a mixed bag, with a significant portion on highways and a substantial 52% share of your travel time spent on these faster roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 79.2 miles on TX 71, offering a good opportunity to settle in. The transition between TX 71, I-35W, and North Travis Avenue suggests a progression from potentially more open highways to more localized road segments as you approach your destination. Expect a varied driving experience that balances efficient travel with more local road navigation.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TX 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 79.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.9 miles in near TX 71.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 296.6 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 9.9 miles (TX 71): Navigation decision point; at 64.8 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.7 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
9.9 mi into trip|~17m in|TX 71
At end of road, turn right onto TX 71
Navigation decision point
5
64.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|TX 71
Take the exit onto TX 71 toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
6
160.7 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Turn right onto US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
246.9 mi into trip|~4h 56m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
296.1 mi into trip|~5h 47m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Markham, TX and Fort Worth, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Schulenburg.
Austin
64.8 mi in|~1h 30m|via TX 71
Schulenburg
90.4 mi in|~1h 57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TX 71
79.2 mi
1h 38m
I 35W
49.2 mi
51m
North Travis Avenue
48.6 mi
55m
South Main Street
48 mi
57m
Purple Heart Trail
33 mi
33m
North US Highway 77
17.3 mi
19m
Broadway
9.9 mi
17m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
3.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
TX 71
— 79.2 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on FM 1468
9.9 mi·17 min·Broadway
2
At end of road, turn right onto TX 71
53 mi·1 hr 11 min·TX 71
3
Turn left onto TX 71
446 ft·8 sec·I-10 Service Road
4
Take the ramp onto TX 71
0.3 mi·32 sec·TX 71
5
Merge onto I 10; TX 71
1.3 mi·1 min·I 10; TX 71
6
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi·33 sec·TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
7
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
25 mi·25 min·TX 71
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
9
Turn straight onto East State Highway 71 Bypass
0.4 mi·49 sec·East State Highway 71 Bypass
10
Turn right onto US 77
0.7 mi·47 sec·North Jefferson Street
11
Continue on US 77
17 mi·19 min·North US Highway 77
12
Continue on US 77
48 mi·57 min·South Main Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
3.6 mi·4 min·US 77; US 190; TX 36
14
Turn right onto US 77
49 mi·55 min·North Travis Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Enter roundabout onto Circle Road
215 ft·11 sec·Circle Road
16
Continue on Circle Road
0.4 mi·54 sec·Circle Road
17
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.5 mi·58 sec·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
18
Take the ramp
444 ft·10 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
19
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 77
20
Merge onto I 35; US 77
3.3 mi·3 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
49 mi·51 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 49AToward Allen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Freeway
25
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft·12 sec·East Allen Avenue
26
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft·5 sec·South Freeway
27
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour and 49-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Markham to maximize your daylight hours. With a total distance of 296.6 miles, breaking it up with one planned stop is a good idea, perhaps around the midpoint or where the road type shifts significantly. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 79.2-mile stretch on TX 71, as services might be less frequent. The $45 fuel cost is a helpful budget marker for planning your expenditures along the way.
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 148.3 miles from Markham, TX, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.2 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 65 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.3 miles or 3h 5m 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 52m
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 Markham, 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 Markham, TX
This is one driving day of about 296.6 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Markham, 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 TX 71 for about 79.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.3 mi from Markham, TX
· 3h 5m into the drive
The midpoint is around 148.3 miles from Markham, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before TX 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.2 miles.
Arriving in Fort Worth, TX
The final approach into Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 214.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.82 one way
$89.63 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$49.06
$98.11
premium
$4.54
$52.96
$105.91
diesel
$5.61
$65.49
$130.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89
1
$31.14
$14.24
Efficient EV
74.2
0
$25.95
$11.86
EV Truck/SUV
118.6
1
$41.52
$18.98
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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
Markham, TX
Evening
in Markham on Thursday
Local time
5:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
Evening
in Fort Worth on Thursday
Local time
5:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Taylor, TX
148 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
3 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 49m 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 Markham, TX to Fort Worth, TX covers 296.6 miles and takes about 5h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 71, I 35W, North Travis Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.3 miles from Markham, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.82 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 17 significant decision points across 296.6 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 9.9 miles (TX 71): Navigation decision point; at 64.8 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.7 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Markham, TX and Fort Worth, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Schulenburg.
