Origin
Plainview, TX
Afternoon in Plainview on Sunday
Local time
4:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plainview, TX to Dallas, TX
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
51.1 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainview, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Plainview to Dallas, you are looking at a quick 51.2-mile journey that typically takes about 58 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel needs. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Great Plains, you will remain in the same geographic region throughout your drive. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, this route offers a straightforward connection between the two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.6 miles from Plainview, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way toward your destination. You will primarily utilize Plainview Road and Interstate 35, or I-35 South, to complete the trip. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a route that prioritizes local roads over high-speed interstate cruising. The nature of these roads means you will be actively engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a long, monotonous highway grind. Keep in mind that the route's technical character requires your full attention as you transition between these local segments.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Stemmons Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Stemmons Freeway and I 35E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FM 1173.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 51.1 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: near the start (FM 1173): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 35; US 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
FM 1173
Turn right onto FM 1173
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 35; US 77
Merge onto I 35; US 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
6
42.1 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 429B
Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Stemmons Freeway | 20.5 mi | 22m |
| I 35E | 9.8 mi | 10m |
| FM 1173 | 8.5 mi | 17m |
| North Stemmons Freeway | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| I 35 | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Continental Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Stemmons Freeway
— 20.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainview, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on this road
70 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Plainview Road
138 ft
·
9 sec
·
Plainview Road
3
Turn right onto FM 1173
8.5 mi
·
17 min
·
FM 1173
Use the none lane.
4
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Interstate 35
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 South
6
Merge onto I 35; US 77
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35; US 77
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35E; US 77
9.8 mi
·
10 min
·
I 35E; US 77
Toward I 35E South: Dallas
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
20 mi
·
22 min
·
South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 429B
Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Stemmons Freeway
12
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Continental Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Lamar Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, sub-one-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning complex rest stops along the way, as the 51.2-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Before you head out, verify that your vehicle is ready for a turn-heavy drive, as the local road conditions may differ from standard interstate travel. Since you are budgeting $8 for fuel, it is wise to fill up before you leave to avoid searching for stations along the local stretches. Use the simplicity of this short drive to your advantage by focusing on a direct, efficient arrival in Dallas.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 25.6 miles from Plainview, TX, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 51.1 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.6 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 56m
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 Plainview, 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 Plainview, TX
This is one driving day of about 51.1 miles and 1h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Plainview, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on South Stemmons Freeway for about 20.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.6 mi from Plainview, TX · 36m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Plainview, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dallas, TX
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Dallas, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.81 one way
$15.61 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $8.55 | $17.11 |
| premium | $4.59 | $9.24 | $18.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.35 | $22.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.37 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
4:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
68°F
Lewisville, TX
26 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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 6m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Plainview, TX to Dallas, TX covers 51.1 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Stemmons Freeway, I 35E, FM 1173. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.6 miles from Plainview, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.81 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 51.1 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: near the start (FM 1173): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 35; US 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (I 35E / South Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Plainview, TX to Dallas, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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