Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 23m
Distance
344 mi
554 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pampa, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Grand Prairie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
This 344-mile drive from Pampa, Texas, to Grand Prairie, Texas, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 6 hours and 23 minutes on the road, with an estimated fuel cost of $52. You'll primarily be on US Highway 287 East for most of the trip, which makes up 88% of the total mileage. The drive is entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, so you can anticipate a consistent landscape. Given its manageable duration, this route is ideal for a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
172 miles from Pampa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 16m into the drive .
Grand Prairie is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 344 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the journey taking place on major roadways like US Highway 287 East. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including one segment of 99.2 miles on the Central East Freeway. The character of the road is largely about efficient travel, rather than winding scenic byways. Expect a smooth and direct experience for the majority of the 344 miles, making it easy to maintain a steady pace.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 317.7 miles in.
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 27 significant decision points across 344 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 317.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 318.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 335.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 820
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 820 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PGBT, TX 161: President George Bush Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward PGBT South: President George Bush Turnpike South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward TX 180: Main Street, Jefferson Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pampa, TX to Grand Prairie, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Texas 70 South: Clarendon along the way.
Texas 70 South: Clarendon
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central East Freeway | 99.2 mi | 1h 46m |
| US Highway 287 | 81.8 mi | 1h 27m |
| US Highway 287 East | 40.5 mi | 42m |
| State Highway 70 | 40.1 mi | 52m |
| West 2nd Street | 27.8 mi | 30m |
| President George Bush Turnpike | 6 mi | 6m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 5.5 mi | 5m |
| Northwest Freeway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Pampa, TX and Grand Prairie, TX.
Start on South Ballard Street
Turn right onto East Atchison Avenue
Turn left onto South Cuyler Street
Turn right onto US 60; TX 152
Turn left onto TX 70
Continue on SH 70
Continue on TX 70
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40; TX 70
Take the exit onto TX 70
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto TX 70
At end of road, turn left onto US 287; TX 70
Turn slight right onto US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
Continue on US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
Continue on US 281; US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
Continue on US 81; US 287
Merge onto I 35W; US 287
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 820
Take the exit
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
Take the exit
Merge onto TX 183
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PGBT
Take the exit
Turn straight onto TX 161
Turn left onto Dalworth Street
Turn slight left onto TX 180
Continue on TX 180
Turn left
Arrive at destination
For this 6-hour and 23-minute drive, departing from Pampa, Texas, early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive in Grand Prairie with time to spare. While only one stop is indicated, it's wise to plan for a break around the halfway point, especially given the longest stretch is nearly 100 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $52, and ensure you have enough for the 344-mile journey. A key tip for this route is to confirm your GPS is set to avoid tolls, as US Highway 287 is generally a toll-free corridor for this segment.
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 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 76 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Prairie, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pampa, 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 Pampa, TX
This is one driving day of about 344 miles and 6h 23m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 172 mi from Pampa, TX · 3h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 172 miles from Pampa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Central East Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 miles.
The final approach into Grand Prairie, 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 Grand Prairie, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the start, right off the route
Pampa, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19499452000
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteNear the end, ~11 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Regular Gas
$51.98 one way
$103.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $56.90 | $113.79 |
| premium | $4.54 | $61.42 | $122.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.95 | $151.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.48
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.2 | 1 | $36.12 | $16.51 |
| Efficient EV | 86 | 0 | $30.10 | $13.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.6 | 1 | $48.16 | $22.02 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Pampa on Friday
Local time
7:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Grand Prairie on Friday
Local time
7:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Pampa, TX or browse trips ending in Grand Prairie, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
