Origin
Pelican Bay, TX
Late night in Pelican Bay on Saturday
Local time
1:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
52.6 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pelican Bay, TX
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to travel from Pelican Bay to Dallas, expect a straightforward 53-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes. This short trek is perfect for a quick day trip, meaning you certainly won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $8, it is a very economical trip that fits easily into a busy schedule. You will remain within the Great Plains region for the duration of the drive, keeping the cultural and geographical landscape consistent. It is a practical route for anyone needing to bridge the gap between these two Texas locations without the hassle of a long-distance haul.
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 52.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Since this route involves no major highway stretches, you should expect a more hands-on experience behind the wheel as you navigate local roads. The 0% highway share means you won't be dealing with the monotony of long, straight stretches of pavement. Instead, the road requires your full attention to manage the frequent turns and changing local conditions. It is a drive that prioritizes steady progress through the Texas landscape over sheer velocity.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SH 183 TEXpress and Jacksboro Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Long Circle.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.6 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 0.3 miles (Long Circle): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (TX 199 / Jacksboro Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (Merrett Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto Long Circle
Navigation decision point
Merge onto TX 199 / Jacksboro Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Merrett Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas Entrance
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SH 183 TEXpress | 15 mi | 14m |
| Jacksboro Highway | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 6.9 mi | 6m |
| Jim Wright Freeway | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| SH 121/183 TEXpress | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| North Stemmons Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| FM 730 | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Azle Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Pelican Bay, TX and Dallas, TX.
Start on Sheila Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Long Circle
Turn right onto Long Boulevard
Turn left onto Sandy Beach Road
Turn left onto FM 730
Turn left onto Northwest Parkway
Take the ramp
Merge onto TX 199
Continue on TX 199
Turn left onto Merrett Drive
Turn slight right onto Azle Avenue
Turn left onto Northwest Loop 820
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 820
Continue on I 820
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
Merge onto TX 183
Merge onto I 35E
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.3 mi from Pelican Bay, TX · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from Pelican Bay, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Dallas, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.95 one way
$15.90 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.39 | $18.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.61 | $23.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Pelican Bay on Saturday
Local time
1:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Dallas on Saturday
Local time
1:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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
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.
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.
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