Trip from Amarillo, TX to Arlington, TX

Drive Time

6h 23m

Distance

351.4 mi

566 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

6h 11m ★

6 AM

6h 24m

8 AM

6h 49m

10 AM

6h 33m

12 PM

6h 30m

3 PM

6h 34m

5 PM

6h 48m

8 PM

6h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Amarillo, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Arlington, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

The drive from Amarillo, TX to Arlington, TX covers 351.4 miles and takes about 6h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Central East Freeway, US Highway 287, US 287 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.2 miles on Central East Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.68 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

175.7 miles from Amarillo, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 23m highway drive covering 351.4 miles, with most of the trip on Central East Freeway and US Highway 287. The longest continuous stretch is about 99.2 miles on Central East Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Central East Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 99.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 331.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 351.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 331.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 332 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 340 miles (I 820): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 27 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

331.5 mi into trip | ~5h 56m in

Take the exit toward I 820

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 57 Toward I 820

332 mi into trip | ~5h 56m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 820 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 820 East

340 mi into trip | ~6h 6m in | I 820

Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 toward I 820 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 820 South

343 mi into trip | ~6h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 30 East: Dallas

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 28A Toward I 30 East: Dallas

349 mi into trip | ~6h 18m in

Take the exit toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street

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 27A Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Central East Freeway	99.2 mi	1h 46m
US Highway 287	81.8 mi	1h 27m
US 287	77.2 mi	1h 21m
US Highway 287 East	40.5 mi	42m
Northwest Freeway	5.2 mi	5m
East Amarillo Boulevard	5.1 mi	6m
Tom Landry Freeway	4.8 mi	6m
US 81	4.6 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Central East Freeway — 99.2 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Amarillo, TX and Arlington, TX.

Start on I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

5.1 mi · 6 min · East Amarillo Boulevard

Turn right

194 ft · 5 sec

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Merge onto Loop 335

1.9 mi · 2 min · North Lakeside Drive

Turn left onto East Interstate Drive

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East Interstate Drive

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Merge onto I 40; US 287

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 40; US 287

Take the exit onto US 287

77 mi · 1 hr 21 min · US 287

Exit 78 Toward US 287 South: Fort Worth

Turn slight right onto US 287

14 mi · 13 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Burnett Street

Continue on US 287

14 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northwest

Continue on US 287

54 mi · 58 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287

41 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 287

4.6 mi · 4 min · Northwest Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Northwest Freeway

Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls

Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287

2.5 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

1.8 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

97 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Central East Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 81; US 287

4.6 mi · 4 min · US 81; US 287

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35W; US 287

2.3 mi · 2 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 24 sec

Exit 57 Toward I 820 Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min

Toward I 820 East Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Northeast Loop

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 7 sec

Toward I 820 Express East Toll

Merge onto I 820 TEXpress

3.3 mi · 3 min · I 820 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

2.3 mi · 2 min · Northeast Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820; TX 121; TX 183

0.8 mi · 56 sec · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 820

3.0 mi · 3 min · I 820

Toward I 820 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 2 min

Exit 28A Toward I 30 East: Dallas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 30

4.8 mi · 6 min · Tom Landry Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Exit 27A Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto North Cooper Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Cooper Street

Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road

0.4 mi · 49 sec · West Randol Mill Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Center Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Center Street

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto West Abram Street

297 ft · 8 sec · West Abram Street

Arrive at destination

West Abram Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 175.7 miles from Amarillo, TX, or about 3h 9m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 miles.

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 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 175.7 miles or 3h 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 351.4 miles and 6h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Amarillo, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Central East Freeway for about 99.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 175.7 mi from Amarillo, TX · 3h 9m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Altus, OK

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Altus, OK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Altus, OK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 175.7 miles from Amarillo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Central East Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 miles.

Arriving in Arlington, TX

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$53.68 one way

$107.36 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 123 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$58.82	$117.65
premium	$4.59	$63.51	$127.03
diesel	$5.64	$78.07	$156.14

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: 122.9 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	105.4	1	$36.90	$16.87
Efficient EV	87.9	1	$30.75	$14.06
EV Truck/SUV	140.6	1	$49.20	$22.49

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Amarillo, TX

Afternoon in Amarillo on Sunday

Local time

3:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, TX

Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

3:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

34 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

6h 23m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Amarillo, TX to Arlington, TX covers 351.4 miles and takes about 6h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Central East Freeway, US Highway 287, US 287. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 175.7 miles from Amarillo, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route from Amarillo, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Amarillo, TX to Arlington, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Arlington, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Amarillo, TX

Arlington, TX

Same local time

34 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 23m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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