Origin
Waco, TX
Late night in Waco on Friday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waco, TX to Irving, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
103.6 mi
167 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waco, TX
Tomás Asurmendi
Trip Overview
This 103.6-mile drive from Waco, TX to Irving, TX is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 54 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I 35E and the Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, with a significant 56% share of the journey on highways. Expect a mixed driving experience as you travel within the Great Plains region. With an estimated fuel cost of around $16, this is a budget-friendly excursion. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward path, you won't need to plan for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.8 miles from Waco, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 103.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is largely defined by its 56% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the 103.6 miles on faster-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.3 miles on I 35E. This route offers a mixed drive experience, blending efficient highway travel with potential for local road interactions. You'll likely find the journey to be a practical transition rather than a winding adventure.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35E is the longest continuous segment at about 47.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near North Interstate 35.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 103.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
North Interstate 35
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
36.6 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
83.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m 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
91.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m 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
6
101.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
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 Waco, TX to Irving, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 408 along the way.
Spur 408
91.4 mi in
|
~1h 38m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 47.3 mi | 48m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 32.8 mi | 32m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Walton Walker Boulevard | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| Patriot Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| West Waco Drive | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| East Irving Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East State Highway 356 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 47.3 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waco, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on US 84
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
West Waco Drive
2
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
4
Merge onto I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
32 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
47 mi
·
48 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 418A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 20
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 460
Toward Spur 408
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto Spur 408
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Patriot Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto Loop 12
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
492 ft
·
12 sec
Toward TX 356: Irving Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Loop 12
13
Turn left onto TX 356
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
East State Highway 356
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Irving Boulevard
15
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Irving Boulevard
16
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Ohio Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 54-minute drive, leaving during off-peak hours can help you avoid congestion, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Since it's a shorter trip with an estimated fuel cost of $16, you have flexibility with timing and don't need to meticulously plan stops. Keep an eye on traffic conditions through navigation apps as you get closer to Irving. A good tip for this route is to ensure your vehicle is adequately fueled before leaving Waco, as the longest stretch on I 35E is over 47 miles.
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 51.8 miles from Waco, TX, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.3 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.8 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
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 Waco, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waco, TX
This is one driving day of about 103.6 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Waco, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35E for about 47.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.8 mi from Waco, TX · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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
Arriving in Irving, TX
The final approach into Irving, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.65 one way
$31.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $17.13 | $34.27 |
| premium | $4.54 | $18.50 | $36.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.87 | $45.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.88 | $4.97 |
| Efficient EV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.07 | $4.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.4 | 0 | $14.50 | $6.63 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Irving, TX
Late night in Irving on Friday
Local time
3:57 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 54m 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 Waco, TX to Irving, TX covers 103.6 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35E, Purple Heart Trail, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.8 miles from Waco, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.65 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 103.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Waco, TX to Irving, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 408 along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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