Origin
Richardson, TX
Night in Richardson on Thursday
Local time
10:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richardson, TX to Dallas, TX
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
17m
Distance
13.3 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richardson, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 13.3-mile drive from Richardson to Dallas, Texas, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 17 minutes to complete. With a highway share of 88%, you'll primarily be on high-speed roads, making it a straightforward commute. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $2, reflecting the short distance. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape. This route is ideal for those needing to get from point A to point B efficiently without extensive planning.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 13.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 13.3-mile journey, with 88% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter stretches like the 11.3-mile segment on South Central Expressway, offering a continuous high-speed experience. The main roads you'll navigate include South Central Expressway, Woodall Rodgers Freeway, and West Main Street, indicating a transition to more urban arteries as you approach Dallas. This isn't a winding scenic route, but rather a direct and efficient path designed for quick travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Central Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Central Expressway and Woodall Rodgers Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 13.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (South Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Main Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Central Expressway
Turn left onto South Central Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
11.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward Waco, Denton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward Waco, Denton
7
12.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Saint Paul Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Saint Paul Street
6
12.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward Field Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Field Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richardson, TX and Dallas, TX, road signs point toward Waco and Denton.
Waco
11.9 mi in
|
~14m
Denton
11.9 mi in
|
~14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Central Expressway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broom Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Central Expressway
— 11.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richardson, TX and Dallas, TX.
1
Start on this road
99 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Continue on West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Turn left onto South Central Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Central Expressway
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 South
6
Merge onto US 75
11 mi
·
11 min
·
South Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Waco, Denton
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Saint Paul Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Spur 366
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Field Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on Broom Street
170 ft
·
3 sec
·
Broom Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on Broom Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Broom Street
13
Turn slight left
173 ft
·
7 sec
Toward Lamar Street, Continental Avenue
14
Turn straight
136 ft
·
6 sec
15
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft
·
15 sec
16
Turn left onto North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Lamar Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Lamar Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.01 one way
$4.02 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $2.20 | $4.40 |
| premium | $4.54 | $2.37 | $4.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.94 | $5.87 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.90
Central Expressway
(11.3 mi)
$0.90
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$1
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.16 | $0.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Night in Dallas on Thursday
Local time
10:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
17m 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 Richardson, TX to Dallas, TX covers 13.3 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Central Expressway, Woodall Rodgers Freeway, West Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.7 miles from Richardson, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.01 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 short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 13.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (South Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Richardson, TX and Dallas, TX, road signs point toward Waco and Denton.
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