Origin
Angleton, TX
Afternoon in Angleton on Wednesday
Local time
4:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
5h 26m
Distance
297.7 mi
479 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Angleton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
This 297.7-mile journey from Angleton, TX, to Arlington, TX, is a straightforward drive that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 26 minutes, making it ideal as a single-day trip. Primarily utilizing the North Freeway, Nolan Ryan Expressway, and Brazoria County Expressway, the route is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of it being on major roadways. With an estimated fuel cost of $45, this drive through the Great Plains region offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two Texas locations. You'll find this route to be a direct and uncomplicated option for your travel plans.
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
148.8 miles from Angleton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this 297.7-mile trip, with 95% of your travel on major roads. The route unfolds primarily on the North Freeway, Nolan Ryan Expressway, and Brazoria County Expressway, offering a consistent driving experience. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 226.9 miles on the North Freeway, meaning extended periods of steady travel are likely. This profile suggests a direct and efficient path, minimizing the need for navigation on slower local roads, and maintaining a consistent pace for most of the journey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and Nolan Ryan Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.8 miles in near TX 288 Toll / Brazoria County Expressway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 297.7 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 24.8 miles (TX 288 Toll / Brazoria County Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll / Brazoria County Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 45 / Gulf Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Collins Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 226.9 mi | 3h 57m |
| Nolan Ryan Expressway | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| Brazoria County Expressway | 16.1 mi | 19m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.1 mi | 16m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| South Collins Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| North Velasco Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| North Business State Highway 288 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Angleton, TX and Arlington, TX.
Start on TX 288 Bus
At end of road, turn left onto TX 288 Bus
Continue on TX 288 Bus
Take the ramp
Merge onto TX 288
Continue on TX 288
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 45
Continue on I 45
Take the exit
Merge onto I 20
Continue on I 20
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
Turn right onto South Collins Street
Turn left onto East Abram Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 5 hour and 26 minute duration, departing Angleton, TX, in the early morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic congestion as you approach Arlington, TX. With only one recommended stop and a significant 226.9-mile stretch on the North Freeway, plan your breaks strategically. Consider stopping around the halfway point or slightly after this long stretch to refuel and stretch your legs. The estimated fuel cost of $45 is a good budget to keep in mind, and since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time as needed.
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 65 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.8 miles or 2h 44m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Angleton, 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 Angleton, TX
This is one driving day of about 297.7 miles and 5h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.8 mi from Angleton, TX · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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.
A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 148.8 miles from Angleton, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 226.9 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$44.98 one way
$89.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $49.24 | $98.48 |
| premium | $4.54 | $53.15 | $106.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.73 | $131.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.3 | 1 | $31.26 | $14.29 |
| Efficient EV | 74.4 | 0 | $26.05 | $11.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.1 | 1 | $41.68 | $19.05 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Angleton on Wednesday
Local time
4:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Arlington on Wednesday
Local time
4:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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