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Trip from Arlington, TX to Little River-Academy, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 36m

Distance

141.6 mi

228 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 26m ★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m

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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suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Little River-Academy, TX, TX

Little River-Academy, TX

Eddie O.

Trip Overview

The drive from Arlington, TX to Little River-Academy, TX covers 141.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Freeway, Purple Heart Trail, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78 miles on South Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.40 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

70.8 miles from Arlington, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Freeway 78 mi 1h 20m
Purple Heart Trail 26.1 mi 26m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway 10.3 mi 11m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway 6.6 mi 7m
Northeast H K Dodgen Loop 6.5 mi 8m
State Highway 95 5.2 mi 6m
South Cooper Street 2.4 mi 4m
South Center Street 2 mi 4m
Longest stretch: South Freeway — 78 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Little River-Academy, TX.

1

Start on West Abram Street

93 ft · 8 sec · West Abram Street
2

Continue on West Abram Street

417 ft · 21 sec · West Abram Street
3

Turn right onto South Center Street

2.0 mi · 4 min · South Center Street
Use the right lane.
4

Turn right onto Spur 303

0.5 mi · 48 sec · West Pioneer Parkway
Use the left lane.
5

Turn left onto FM 157

1.5 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
8

Merge onto I 20

10 mi · 11 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 437 Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 35W South: Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 35W

78 mi · 1 hr 20 min · South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 35

26 mi · 26 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 304 Toward Loop 363: H.K. Dodgen Loop Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn straight onto North General Bruce Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · North General Bruce Drive
16

Turn left onto Loop 363

510 ft · 18 sec · Northwest H K Dodgen Loop
17

Continue on Loop 363

6.5 mi · 8 min · Northeast H K Dodgen Loop
18

Continue on TX 95

5.2 mi · 6 min · State Highway 95
19

Turn slight right

194 ft · 5 sec
20

Turn straight onto FM 436

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
21

Arrive at destination

FM 436

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.8 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78 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 31 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 70.8 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little River-Academy, 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 141.6 miles and 2h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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.
The longest stretch is on South Freeway for about 78 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Hill County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hillsboro, TX

71 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

Burleson, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.8 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 131.5

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

Bicentennial Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 20.2

Crowley, Texas

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18172972201

Visit website

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 101.2

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 127.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Center Street

Turn right onto South Center Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
4.1 mi into trip | ~7m in | FM 157 / South Cooper Street

Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
15.9 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton

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 437 Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
7
16.1 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35W South: Waco
7
127.7 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in

Take the exit toward Loop 363: H.K. Dodgen Loop

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 304 Toward Loop 363: H.K. Dodgen Loop

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.40 one way

$42.79 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $23.42 $46.84
premium $4.54 $25.28 $50.56
diesel $5.61 $31.26 $62.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.5 0 $14.87 $6.80
Efficient EV 35.4 0 $12.39 $5.66
EV Truck/SUV 56.6 0 $19.82 $9.06

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Arlington, TX

Afternoon in Arlington on Saturday

Local time

2:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Little River-Academy, TX

Afternoon in Little River-Academy on Saturday

Local time

2:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

70°F

Hillsboro, TX

71 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

Same local time

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

Temperature spread

10 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

2h 36m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

5 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 92.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

141.6 mi in 2h 36m, mostly highway — 78 mi of that is on South Freeway.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78 mi on South Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Center Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 141.6 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 0.1 miles (South Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Arlington, TX to Little River-Academy, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Denton along the way.

Denton

15.9 mi in | ~21m

About the Cities

Starting in Arlington, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1876

Arlington is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex metropolitan area, in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of almost 400,000 (2019), it is Texas' seventh largest, and the third largest in the Metroplex. Arlington is south of the sprawling DFW International Airport.

Top landmarks

  • • Six Flags Over Texas — amusement park
  • • Mini Mine Train — Steel roller coaster
  • • Arlington Museum of Art — art museum in Texas, United States

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 141.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 78 miles on South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Little River-Academy, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Little River-Academy, TX before heading back.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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