Trip from San Benito, TX to Dallas, TX

Drive Time

7h 41m

Distance

541.4 mi

871 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$83

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
7h 32m ★
6 AM
7h 42m
8 AM
8h 1m
10 AM
7h 48m
12 PM
7h 46m
3 PM
7h 49m
5 PM
8h 0m
8 PM
7h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Cameron County, Texas, United States

San Benito, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Dallas, TX, TX

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from San Benito, TX to Dallas, TX covers 541.4 miles and takes about 7h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Sam Houston Boulevard, West Expressway 83, Highway 77 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $82.70 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

270.7 miles from San Benito, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 541.4 miles and 7h 41m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are South Sam Houston Boulevard and West Expressway 83.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 45 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Sam Houston Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 7h 41m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 41m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Benito, TX to Dallas, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Sam Houston Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
West Expressway 83 Unavailable Refreshing
Highway 77 Unavailable Refreshing
County Road 10 Unavailable Refreshing
County Road 79 Unavailable Refreshing
County Road 18 Unavailable Refreshing
Driscoll Bypass Unavailable Refreshing
TX 359 Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: South Sam Houston Boulevard — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Benito, TX and Dallas, TX.

1

Start on East Stenger Street

13 ft · 8 sec · East Stenger Street
2

Turn left onto South Sam Houston Boulevard

0.5 mi · 59 sec · South Sam Houston Boulevard
3

Turn right onto West Expressway 83

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Expressway 83
4

Take the ramp straight

0.3 mi · 33 sec
5

Merge slight left onto U.S. Highway 77

95 mi · 1 hr 45 min · U.S. Highway 77
6

Keep slight left

0.2 mi · 14 sec
7

Merge slight right

1.2 mi · 1 min
8

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

12 mi · 12 min · U.S. Highway 77
9

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 34 sec
10

Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

486 ft · 18 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road
11

Turn right onto County Road 10

1.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 10
12

Turn left onto County Road 79

4.0 mi · 15 min · County Road 79
13

Turn left onto County Road 18

0.2 mi · 44 sec · County Road 18
14

Turn sharp right

1.1 mi · 2 min
15

Take the ramp straight

0.4 mi · 57 sec
16

Merge slight left onto Driscoll Bypass

2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass
17

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

13 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77
18

Merge slight left

1.4 mi · 1 min
19

Keep slight left

1.3 mi · 1 min
20

Continue straight

18 mi · 18 min
21

Take the exit slight right toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore

0.2 mi · 33 sec · TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
22

Turn right onto State Highway 359

12 mi · 16 min · State Highway 359
23

At the end of the road, turn left onto South 8th Street

0.8 mi · 56 sec · South 8th Street
24

Continue on US Highway 181 South

40 mi · 45 min · US Highway 181 South
25

Continue on South Sunset Strip Drive

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
26

Turn right onto West Main Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
27

Keep slight left to continue on East Main Street

233 ft · 4 sec · East Main Street
28

Continue on Helena Road

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road
29

Turn straight onto State Highway 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80
30

Continue on South Nixon Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
31

Continue on State Highway 80 North

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
32

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
33

Continue on South Colorado Street

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
34

Continue on United States Highway 183

0.2 mi · 17 sec · United States Highway 183
35

Keep slight left to continue on TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

0.5 mi · 35 sec · TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
36

Merge slight left onto Pickle Parkway

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway
37

Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Waco

0.4 mi · 50 sec · I 35 North: Waco
38

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
39

Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
40

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
41

Keep slight right to continue on I 35E: Dallas

58 mi · 1 hr · I 35E: Dallas
42

Take the exit slight right toward Continental Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Continental Avenue
43

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Continental Avenue
44

Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street

433 ft · 11 sec · North Lamar Street
45

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 270.7 miles from San Benito, TX, or about 3h 50m into the drive.

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 119 miles or 1h 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 270.7 miles or 3h 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 50m

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 San Benito, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Benito, TX

This is one driving day of about 541.4 miles and 7h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from San Benito, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 270.7 mi from San Benito, TX · 3h 50m into the drive

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

San Antonio, TX

179 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to Killeen, TX

145.6 mi · 2h 45m

Downtown Killeen, TX, TX

Second major stop

Meal stop

Killeen, TX

357 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.

Popular next leg

Killeen, TX to Dallas, TX

153 mi · 2h 44m

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 270.7 miles from San Benito, 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

$82.70 one way

$165.40 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 189 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $90.63 $181.26
premium $4.59 $97.86 $195.71
diesel $5.64 $120.28 $240.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$83

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$108–$133

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 189.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 162.4 2 $56.85 $25.99
Efficient EV 135.4 1 $47.37 $21.66
EV Truck/SUV 216.6 2 $75.80 $34.65

Gas CO2

189 kg

EV CO2

63 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 9 hours ago

Origin

San Benito, TX

Afternoon in San Benito on Monday

Local time

1:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dallas, TX

Afternoon in Dallas on Monday

Local time

1:14 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.

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

22 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

7h 41m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from San Benito, TX to Dallas, TX covers 541.4 miles and takes about 7h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Sam Houston Boulevard, West Expressway 83, Highway 77. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 270.7 miles from San Benito, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $82.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 41m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Benito, TX to Dallas, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Benito, TX to Dallas, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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