Origin
Arlington, TX
Afternoon in Arlington on Friday
Local time
12:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, TX to Karnes City, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 25m
Distance
302 mi
486 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 12m
★
6 AM
5h 26m
8 AM
5h 53m
10 AM
5h 35m
12 PM
5h 33m
3 PM
5h 37m
5 PM
5h 51m
8 PM
5h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Karnes City, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arlington, TX to Karnes City, TX covers 302 miles and takes about 5h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Abram Street, South Center Street, West Pioneer Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.63 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
151 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 302 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 25m drive with frequent turns across 302 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Abram Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 25m 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 Arlington, TX to Karnes City, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Abram Street | — | — |
| South Center Street | — | — |
| West Pioneer Parkway | — | — |
| South Cooper Street | — | — |
| I 20 West | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | — | — |
| I 35W South | — | — |
| South Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Abram Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Karnes City, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
92 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
417 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Abram Street
3
Turn right onto South Center Street
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Center Street
4
Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
5
Turn left onto South Cooper Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
6
Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
7
Take the ramp straight toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20 West: Fort Worth
8
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 35W South: Waco
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W South: Waco
11
Merge slight left onto South Freeway
78 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
South Freeway
12
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
13
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
14
Keep slight left
26 mi
·
26 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
16
Continue straight
59 mi
·
54 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 183 South: Lockhart
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
US 183 South: Lockhart
18
Continue on United States Highway 183
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
United States Highway 183
19
Continue on North Colorado Street
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
North Colorado Street
20
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
21
Continue on North Magnolia Avenue
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Magnolia Avenue
22
Continue straight
56 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
23
Turn left onto North Badger Drive
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Badger Drive
24
Turn right onto Weir Street
46 ft
·
4 sec
·
Weir Street
25
Turn left onto Badgerette Drive
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Badgerette Drive
26
Turn straight onto East Calvert Avenue
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Calvert Avenue
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 151 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
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 66 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151 miles or 2h 42m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Karnes City, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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 Arlington, TX
This is one driving day of about 302 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Arlington, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 151 mi from Arlington, TX · 2h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
151 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 151 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Karnes City, TX
The final approach into Karnes City, 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 Karnes City, 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
$45.63 one way
$91.27 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $49.95 | $99.90 |
| premium | $4.54 | $53.92 | $107.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $66.68 | $133.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.6 | 1 | $31.71 | $14.50 |
| Efficient EV | 75.5 | 0 | $26.42 | $12.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.8 | 1 | $42.28 | $19.33 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Destination
Karnes City, TX
Afternoon in Karnes City on Friday
Local time
12:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
9 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
5h 25m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arlington, TX to Karnes City, TX covers 302 miles and takes about 5h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Abram Street, South Center Street, West Pioneer Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 151 miles from Arlington, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
This is a straightforward 5h 25m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arlington, TX to Karnes City, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Arlington, TX to Karnes City, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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