How far is Dallas, TX from Galveston, TX?

The driving distance from Dallas, TX to Galveston, TX is about 290.1 miles (466.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 268.3 miles (431.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
290.1 mi
05h 14m
Flight
268.34 mi
431.85 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dallas.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
268.34 mi
Kilometers
431.85 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
290.1 mi
Kilometers
466.87 km
Drive Time
05h 14m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Galveston
Thu, May 7, 3:18 PM CDT
Return by in Dallas
Thu, May 7, 8:33 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dallas
2026-05-07T10:04
Arrive Galveston
Thu, May 7, 3:18 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:14 AM to 1:14 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:32 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dallas
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Madisonville
TX

City in Texas, USA

From Dallas
145.3 mi
02h 37m
To Galveston
144.8 mi
02h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph N
Destination
73°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, May 7 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dallas and Galveston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dallas and Galveston.

  1. 1

    Start on North Lamar Street

    132 m · 16 sec · North Lamar Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto McKinney Avenue

    1118 ft · 25 sec · McKinney Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 North

    1229 ft · 30 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway

    2170 ft · 37 sec · Woodall Rodgers Freeway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 45 South: Houston

    2537 ft · 49 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    234.2 mi · 4 hr 6 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Gulf Freeway

    48.8 mi · 58 min · Gulf Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Broadway - Avenue J

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Broadway - Avenue J

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Martin Luther King Boulevard - 29th Street

    738 ft · 19 sec · Martin Luther King Boulevard - 29th Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Ball Street - Avenue H

    762 ft · 26 sec · Ball Street - Avenue H

  12. 12

    Turn left onto 27th Street

    79 m · 11 sec · 27th Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 27th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dallas and Galveston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
237 mi · 82%
Gulf Freeway
48.8 mi · 17%
Broadway - Avenue J
2.27 mi · 1%
I 45 South
0.48 mi
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
0.41 mi
US 75 North
0.23 mi
Longest Stretch

Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

234 mi · 04h 06m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.8 mi
268.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Madisonville
02h 37m from Dallas
Leave By
6:32 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Dallas and Mostly Cloudy near Galveston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dallas to Galveston?

The road trip is about 290.1 miles (466.9 km) and usually takes 05h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Madisonville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 145.3 miles from Dallas and 144.8 miles from Galveston.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 268.3 miles (431.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:32 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.70 one way or $77.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Dallas and Mostly Cloudy near Galveston.

Stop Ideas Near Madisonville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Madisonville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Madisonville.

BUS

Bryan, TX

54 mi away
301 East 26th Street
BUS

Prairie View, TX

98 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dallas and Galveston. Straight-line distance: 268.34 mi (431.85 km).

Dallas

#1 Dallas

The ninth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Population1,343,266
Coordinates32.7830600, -96.8066700
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Galveston

#2 Galveston

A city in Galveston County, Texas.

Population50,085
Coordinates29.3013500, -94.7977000
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: Dallas (-96.80667, 32.78306)
End: Galveston (-94.7977, 29.30135)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 467 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.24 gal
38.75 L · about $38.70
Round trip
$77.39
20.48 gal · 77.5 L
Estimated CO2
91 kg one way
Round trip: 182 kg / 401 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $38.70 $77.39
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.54 $87.08
Premium $4.59 $47.01 $94.02
Diesel $3.99 $40.89 $81.78

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · May 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Dallas and Galveston. The current time is 10:04:32.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.