Origin
Raymondville, TX
Afternoon in Raymondville on Saturday
Local time
2:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Raymondville, TX to Irving, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 13m
Distance
489.8 mi
788 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 6m
★
6 AM
9h 14m
8 AM
9h 30m
10 AM
9h 20m
12 PM
9h 18m
3 PM
9h 20m
5 PM
9h 30m
8 PM
9h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raymondville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 489.8-mile drive from Raymondville, TX to Irving, TX is a substantial journey, realistically taking about 9 hours and 13 minutes of pure driving time. Given the duration, it's best tackled over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time to rest. The route primarily utilizes the Purple Heart Trail, U.S. Highway 77, and Pickle Parkway, offering a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $74 and two planned stops, this trip is a straightforward trek across Texas, remaining within the Great Plains region throughout. It's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between South Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
244.9 miles from Raymondville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| U.S. Highway 77 | 91.1 mi | 1h 42m |
| Pickle Parkway | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| I 35E | 47.3 mi | 48m |
| US Highway 181 South | 40.2 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 80 North | 30.8 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| I 37 | 19.7 mi | 19m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raymondville, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on this road
142 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 77 Business
149 ft
·
6 sec
·
South 7th Street
3
Turn right onto TX 186
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Hidalgo Avenue
4
Turn left onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Interstate 69E Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
6
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
66 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
8
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 69E; US 77
9
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
12 mi
·
12 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
11
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
485 ft
·
17 sec
·
US Highway 77 Frontage Road
12
Turn right onto County Road 10
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road 10
13
Turn left onto County Road 79
4.0 mi
·
15 min
·
County Road 79
14
Turn left onto County Road 18
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
County Road 18
15
Turn sharp right
1.1 mi
·
2 min
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
17
Merge onto US 77
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Driscoll Bypass
18
Continue on US 77
13 mi
·
14 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
19
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
20
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
1 min
21
Continue on I 37
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
23
Turn right onto TX 359
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 359
24
At end of road, turn left onto US 181
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 8th Street
25
Continue on US 181
40 mi
·
45 min
·
US Highway 181 South
26
Continue on US 181
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sunset Strip Drive
27
Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
28
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
29
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
30
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
31
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
32
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
33
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
34
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
35
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
United States Highway 183
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
37
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
39
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
47 mi
·
48 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
43
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the slight right lane.
44
Merge onto I 20
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
Use the slight right lane.
46
Merge onto Spur 408
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Patriot Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Merge onto Loop 12
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Take the exit
492 ft
·
12 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
49
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Loop 12
50
Turn left onto TX 356
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
East State Highway 356
Use the left / straight lanes.
51
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Irving Boulevard
52
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Irving Boulevard
53
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Ohio Street
54
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 9-hour and 13-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid heavier traffic, especially as you approach Irving. Splitting the drive over two days is highly recommended; plan your first day to cover approximately half the distance, ensuring you have ample time for fuel and rest stops. With only two recommended stops, be mindful of your fuel levels, particularly during the 97.7-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, where services might be less frequent. Budgeting around $74 for fuel should cover your needs for this 489.8-mile journey.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 244.9 miles from Raymondville, TX, or about 4h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 108 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 244.9 miles or 4h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 244.9 miles or 4h 56m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irving, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Raymondville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Raymondville, TX
Aim for roughly 245 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Irving, TX
Aim for roughly 245 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Raymondville, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
245 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Austin, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
245 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 245 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 244.9 miles from Raymondville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 245 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 325 decision points cluster between mile 259.1 and 477.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
259.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
7
318 mi into trip
|
~6h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
422.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 59m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
470 mi into trip
|
~8h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
477.6 mi into trip
|
~8h 57m in
Take the exit toward Spur 408
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.01 one way
$148.02 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
171 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $81.01 | $162.02 |
| premium | $4.54 | $87.45 | $174.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $108.14 | $216.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 171.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 146.9 | 1 | $51.43 | $23.51 |
| Efficient EV | 122.5 | 1 | $42.86 | $19.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 195.9 | 2 | $68.57 | $31.35 |
Gas CO2
171 kg
EV CO2
57 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Irving, TX
Afternoon in Irving on Saturday
Local time
2:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
30 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
9h 13m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 388.5
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$25
near mile 33.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this 489.8-mile trip, with 72% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Purple Heart Trail, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 97.7 miles. While much of the drive will be on well-maintained highways, the mix of roads means you'll experience varying speeds and traffic patterns. The transition from the open roads of South Texas to the busier corridors closer to Irving is noticeable as you progress northward. This route prioritizes efficient travel over extensive scenic detours.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
54 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and U.S. Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 259.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 32 significant decision points across 489.8 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 259.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 318 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 422.7 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Raymondville, TX and Irving, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.
Skidmore
124.2 mi in
|
~2h 34m
Waco
259.1 mi in
|
~5h 16m
About the Cities
Arriving in Irving, TX
Full guide →Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents. Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 245 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Irving, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 259.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 318 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 422.7 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Irving, TX before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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