Trip from Terrell, TX to Dallas, TX

Q: How long is the trip from Terrell, TX to Dallas, TX?

The drive from Terrell, TX to Dallas, TX covers 32.7 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are US 80, East R L Thornton Freeway, West US Highway 80. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 16.4 miles from Terrell, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.94 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

39m

Distance

32.7 mi

53 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min

4 AM

0h 36m ★

6 AM

0h 40m

8 AM

0h 46m

10 AM

0h 42m

12 PM

0h 41m

3 PM

0h 42m

5 PM

0h 46m

8 PM

0h 38m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

If you are planning to head from Terrell into the heart of Dallas, you are looking at a quick 37.4-mile journey across the Great Plains. This straightforward trip typically takes about 40 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of roughly $6, it is an incredibly affordable commute between these two Texas locations. You will navigate primarily through local streets like South Adelaide Street and East Moore Avenue before transitioning to Highway 80. Because the route is short and direct, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to easily complete the drive in a single afternoon.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 32.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway share. You will spend your time navigating through town layouts, which demands more focus than a monotonous highway slog. Because the drive is relatively short at 37.4 miles, you will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches of road. Instead, the character of the journey remains consistent, keeping you engaged with the local infrastructure as you move between Terrell and Dallas. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that prioritizes direct connectivity over scenic, high-speed travel.

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.

US 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 80 and East R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near US 80.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 32.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles (US 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6

5.6 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 80

Take the exit onto US 80 toward US 80 West: Dallas

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 80 West: Dallas

8

30.8 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinney

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 47B Toward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinn...

7

31 mi into trip | ~36m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 75 North: McKinney

8

31.3 mi into trip | ~36m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Main Street West, Elm Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward Main Street West, Elm Street

8

31.5 mi into trip | ~37m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Elm Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Elm Street

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Terrell, TX to Dallas, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Mckinney along the way.

Mckinney

30.8 mi in | ~35m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 80	19.2 mi	21m
East R L Thornton Freeway	6 mi	7m
West US Highway 80	3 mi	3m
East Moore Avenue	2.6 mi	3m
Elm Street	0.9 mi	1m
North Lamar Street	0.2 mi	<1m
South Adelaide Street	<0.1 mi	<1m
South Virginia Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: US 80 — 19.2 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Spur 226

148 ft · 5 sec · South Virginia Street

2

Turn right

322 ft · 15 sec

3

Turn right onto South Adelaide Street

189 ft · 9 sec · South Adelaide Street

4

Turn left onto US 80

2.6 mi · 3 min · East Moore Avenue

5

Continue on US 80

3.0 mi · 3 min · West US Highway 80

6

Take the exit onto US 80

19 mi · 21 min · US 80

Toward US 80 West: Dallas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Merge onto I 30; US 67

6.0 mi · 7 min · East R L Thornton Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Exit 47B Toward I 45 South, US 75 North: Houston, McKinney Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

10

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward Main Street West, Elm Street Use the slight left lane.

11

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward Elm Street Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

12

Turn straight onto Elm Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Elm Street

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

13

Turn right onto North Lamar Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · North Lamar Street

14

Arrive at destination

North Lamar Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.94 one way

$9.88 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$5.41	$10.82
premium	$4.54	$5.84	$11.68
diesel	$5.61	$7.22	$14.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	9.8	$3.43	$1.57
Efficient EV	8.2	$2.86	$1.31
EV Truck/SUV	13.1	$4.58	$2.09

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Terrell, TX

Night in Terrell on Thursday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dallas, TX

Night in Dallas on Thursday

Local time

9:45 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

11 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

39m 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