How far is Fort Worth, TX from South Padre Island, TX?
The driving distance from Fort Worth, TX to South Padre Island, TX is about 536.4 miles (863.2 km), with a travel time of about 09h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 457.6 miles (736.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 09h 50m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
37th President of the United States of America (1913-1994)
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Worth and South Padre Island.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth and South Padre Island.
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1
Start on South Freeway
53 m · 4 sec · South Freeway
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2
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35W South
1365 ft · 33 sec
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3
Merge slight left onto South Freeway
82.3 mi · 1 hr 25 min · South Freeway
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4
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
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5
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
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6
Keep slight left
26.5 mi · 27 min
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7
Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
1.1 km · 56 sec
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8
Continue straight
58.5 mi · 55 min
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9
Take the exit slight right toward US 183 South: Lockhart
1219 ft · 30 sec
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10
Continue on United States Highway 183
2699 ft · 35 sec · United States Highway 183
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11
Continue on North Colorado Street
4.9 mi · 9 min · North Colorado Street
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12
Continue on US 183
10.1 mi · 12 min · US 183
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13
Continue on North Magnolia Avenue
4.2 mi · 7 min · North Magnolia Avenue
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14
Continue straight
51.2 mi · 57 min
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15
Turn slight left onto Farm-to-Market Road 792
8.4 mi · 11 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792
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16
Continue on East Main Street
1.3 km · 1 min · East Main Street
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17
Turn left onto South Sunset Strip Drive
1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
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18
Continue on South US Highway 181
40.2 mi · 46 min · South US Highway 181
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19
Continue on North 8th Street
1.3 km · 56 sec · North 8th Street
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20
Continue on US Highway 181 South
16.1 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South
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21
Take the exit slight right
1648 ft · 45 sec
-
22
Keep slight right to continue on US Route 181
65 m · 6 sec · US Route 181
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23
Turn straight onto US Highway 181
1.1 km · 1 min · US Highway 181
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24
Take the ramp right
1926 ft · 47 sec
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25
Merge slight left
11.9 mi · 14 min
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26
Take the exit straight toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
538 ft · 13 sec
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27
Keep slight left
1965 ft · 48 sec
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28
Merge slight right
2.5 mi · 2 min
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29
Take the exit slight right toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
31.3 mi · 34 min
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30
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
61.3 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77
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31
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
43.7 mi · 47 min · U.S. Highway 77
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32
Continue on North Expressway
2.1 mi · 2 min · North Expressway
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33
Keep slight right to continue on Interstate 169
3.7 mi · 4 min · Interstate 169
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34
Continue on I-169, TX 550 Toll
1.3 km · 52 sec · I-169, TX 550 Toll
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35
Continue straight
2 mi · 2 min
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36
Continue on State Highway 550
3.7 mi · 4 min · State Highway 550
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37
Turn left
1123 ft · 27 sec
-
38
Merge slight left onto Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
14.1 mi · 16 min · Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
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39
Turn right onto State Highway 100
1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 100
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40
Turn slight right onto West Queen Isabella Boulevard
2460 ft · 1 min · West Queen Isabella Boulevard
-
41
Continue on Queen Isabella Causeway
2.7 mi · 5 min · Queen Isabella Causeway
-
42
Turn left onto Padre Boulevard
1.1 km · 2 min · Padre Boulevard
-
43
Turn right onto East Haas Street
155 m · 20 sec · East Haas Street
-
44
Turn left onto Gulf Boulevard
3129 ft · 2 min · Gulf Boulevard
-
45
Turn right
27 m · 12 sec
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46
Turn left
24 m · 6 sec
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47
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Worth and South Padre Island.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
South Freeway
Merge slight left onto South Freeway
82.3 mi · 01h 25m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fort Worth and Partly Sunny near South Padre Island.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Worth to South Padre Island?
The road trip is about 536.4 miles (863.2 km) and usually takes 09h 50m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Nixon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 268.8 miles from Fort Worth and 267.6 miles from South Padre Island.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 457.6 miles (736.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 78.8 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $71.54 one way or $143.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 168.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Fort Worth and Partly Sunny near South Padre Island.
Stop Ideas Near Nixon
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Nixon.
San Marcos Station
San Antonio Station
Austin
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Worth and South Padre Island. Straight-line distance: 457.61 mi (736.46 km).
#1 Fort Worth
The twelfth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
| Population | 927,720 |
| Coordinates | 32.7254100, -97.3208500 |
| Altitude | 199 |
| Country | United States |
#2 South Padre Island
Town in Texas, United States
| Population | 2,752 |
| Coordinates | 26.1036900, -97.1646900 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Padre Island (-97.16469, 26.10369)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 863 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 43m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 41m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $71.54 | $143.07 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $80.49 | $160.98 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $86.91 | $173.82 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $75.59 | $151.17 |
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 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.