Origin
Waxahachie, TX
Late night in Waxahachie on Saturday
Local time
1:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waxahachie, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
41.7 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waxahachie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Waxahachie to Fort Worth is 41.7 miles and takes about 50m via US 287, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey between two Texas cities. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, making it a quick and efficient trip. With no designated stops in the data, you'll likely find ample services along the main roads. This route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
About the Cities
Starting in Waxahachie, TX
Full guide →Waxahachie is a city in Blackland Prairie region of Texas.
Arriving in Fort Worth, TX
Full guide →Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 41.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the route taking place on major roads. You'll spend most of your time on US 287, experiencing a consistent driving pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.7 miles on US 287, indicating long periods of steady travel. The South Freeway and West US 287 Business are also part of this efficient path. Overall, the character of this drive is one of directness and speed, minimizing complexity.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 287 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 287 and South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near US 287.
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 41.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (US 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 287
Merge onto US 287
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
37.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
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 437
Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
7
37.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W North: Denton
5
37.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W North: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 35W North: Fort Worth
7
41.3 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Allen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
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 Waxahachie, TX to Fort Worth, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Denton along the way.
Denton
37.3 mi in
|
~43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 287 | 32.7 mi | 36m |
| South Freeway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| West US 287 Business | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| West US Highway 287 Business | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Allen Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Rogers Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 287
— 32.7 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waxahachie, TX and Fort Worth, TX.
1
Start on this road
159 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Rogers Street
132 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Rogers Street
3
Turn right onto US 287 Bus
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
4
Turn straight onto US 287 Bus
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West US 287 Business
5
Continue on US 287 Bus
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West US Highway 287 Business
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 287 Business North
7
Merge onto US 287
33 mi
·
36 min
·
US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 437
Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 35W North: Denton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35W North: Fort Worth
11
Merge onto I 35W
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 49A
Toward Allen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Freeway
14
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
15
Turn left onto South Freeway
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Freeway
16
Arrive at destination
South Freeway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.9 mi from Waxahachie, TX · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Waxahachie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Worth, TX
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Fort Worth, TX if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.30 one way
$12.60 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $6.90 | $13.79 |
| premium | $4.54 | $7.45 | $14.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.21 | $18.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Fort Worth, TX
Late night in Fort Worth on Saturday
Local time
1:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 to 15 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 7:31AM CDT until April 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 7:25AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
73°F
Mansfield, TX
21 mi in
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
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Waxahachie, TX to Fort Worth, TX covers 41.7 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 287, South Freeway, West US 287 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.9 miles from Waxahachie, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.30 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 41.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (US 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Waxahachie, TX to Fort Worth, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Denton along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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