Getting to Gun Barrel City: Directions

Gun Barrel City sits in Henderson County on the eastern shore of Cedar Creek Lake, roughly 55 miles southeast of Dallas. It's an easy drive from the Dallas–Fort Worth metro, and the town's location along two state highways makes it simple to find once you know the corridors.

Drive times below are general estimates that vary with traffic, weather, and your exact starting point. Confirm your route with a live mapping app before you travel.

From Dallas (about 55 miles)

From central Dallas, the most common approach heads southeast on US-175 toward Kaufman, then connects to State Highway 334 east, which becomes the main retail strip through Gun Barrel City. Depending on where you start and how heavy traffic is, plan on roughly an hour to an hour and a quarter.

State Highway 334 delivers you straight into the commercial heart of town, so it's a convenient arrival route whether you're checking into lodging, stocking up on supplies, or heading to a marina.

From other directions

• From the north (Kaufman area): Come down US-175, then take State Highway 334 east into town. Kaufman is a common waypoint on the Dallas route.
• From the south (Athens / Corsicana): Athens, the Henderson County seat, is only about 15 miles away and connects to the lake area via regional highways. Corsicana lies to the southwest.
• Via State Highway 198: Highway 198 — the original "Gun Barrel Lane" that gave the town its name — runs through the area and links Gun Barrel City with neighboring lake communities such as Mabank, Seven Points, Tool, and Payne Springs.

Because Gun Barrel City is the retail and commercial hub for the whole Cedar Creek Lake area, roads from the surrounding towns naturally funnel toward its highways, so you'll rarely be far from services.

Nearest airports

If you're flying in, the two closest major airports are both in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro:

Major airports serving the Cedar Creek Lake area

Airport	Location	Approx. drive
Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW)	Between Dallas and Fort Worth	Around 1.5 hours
Dallas Love Field (DAL)	Near central Dallas	Around 1 to 1.5 hours

Both airports offer the full range of rental-car options, which you'll want since there's no direct transit link to the lake. Love Field is generally a bit closer to the US-175 corridor out of Dallas, while DFW offers the widest range of flights. Actual drive time depends heavily on metro traffic, so build in a buffer.

Getting around

Cedar Creek Lake country is spread out, and there's no fixed-route public transportation, so a personal vehicle is essential. The good news is that the road network is simple: State Highway 334 handles most retail and dining trips, while State Highway 198 connects you to the neighboring lake towns.

A few practical notes for getting around:

• Fill up and stock up in Gun Barrel City — it has the area's densest concentration of stores and services.
• Distances that look short on a map can take longer than expected because roads follow the lake's irregular, 220-plus-mile shoreline rather than running in straight lines.
• During the busy Memorial Day–to–Labor Day season, expect heavier traffic on SH 334 and near boat ramps and marinas, especially on weekends.

Ready to plan the rest of your trip? Check where to stay, explore Cedar Creek Lake, and browse things to do. For maps of the city, see our maps page, and if you're new to the area, the local guide pulls the whole region together.