Drive Time
5h 20m
Distance
352 mi
566 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
Photo: Jeff Stapleton
The drive from Amarillo, TX to Arlington, TX covers 352 miles and takes about 5h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Lakeside Drive, East Interstate Drive, US 287 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
176 miles from Amarillo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 20m drive with frequent turns across 352 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 20m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Amarillo, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Lakeside Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Interstate Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 287 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 287 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Burnett Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue F Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 287 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Amarillo, TX and Arlington, TX.
Start on East Amarillo Boulevard
Turn right
Take the ramp slight left
Merge slight left onto North Lakeside Drive
Turn left onto East Interstate Drive
Take the ramp slight left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 287 South: Fort Worth
Turn slight right onto US Highway 287
Continue on Burnett Street
Continue on US Highway 287
Continue on Avenue F Northwest
Continue on US Highway 287
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Continue on US Highway 287 East
Continue on Northwest Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Northwest Freeway
Merge slight left onto Central Freeway
Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass
Continue on Central East Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway
Continue straight
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 820
Keep slight left to continue on I 820 East
Merge slight left onto Northeast Loop
Take the exit slight left toward I 820 Express East Toll
Merge slight left onto I 820 TEXpress
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight right onto Northeast Loop
Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on I 820 South
Take the exit slight right toward I 30 East: Dallas
Merge slight left onto Tom Landry Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
Turn right onto North Center Street
Turn right onto West Abram Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Amarillo, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Amarillo, TX
This is one driving day of about 352 miles and 5h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 176 mi from Amarillo, TX · 2h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
176 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.
The final approach into Arlington, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Arlington, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$53.77 one way
$107.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $58.93 | $117.85 |
| premium | $4.59 | $63.62 | $127.25 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $78.20 | $156.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 105.6 | 1 | $36.96 | $16.90 |
| Efficient EV | 88 | 1 | $30.80 | $14.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 140.8 | 1 | $49.28 | $22.53 |
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Amarillo on Saturday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
53°F
Altus, OK
176 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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