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Trip from Arlington, TX to Forest Hill, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

115.3 mi

185 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 8m ★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m

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 Forest Hill, TX, TX

Forest Hill, TX

Eddie O.

Trip Overview

The drive from Arlington, TX to Forest Hill, TX covers 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Central Expressway, US 82, South State Highway 121 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.3 miles on North Central Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.42 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.

Midpoint

57.6 miles from Arlington, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 115.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 17m highway drive covering 115.3 miles, with most of the trip on North Central Expressway and US 82. The longest continuous stretch is about 25.3 miles on North Central Expressway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Central Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 25.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Central Expressway and US 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 115.3 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 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

8
5.5 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward PGBT North, TX 161: President George Bush Turnpike

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 32A Toward PGBT North, TX 161: President George Bus...
7
5.8 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight left at fork toward PGBT North: President George Bush Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward PGBT North: President George Bush Turnpi...
8
28.6 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dallas

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 19A Toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dall...
7
28.9 mi into trip | ~36m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 75 North: McKinney
7
55.1 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Take the exit toward TX 121 North: Bonham

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 44 Toward TX 121 North: Bonham

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Arlington, TX and Forest Hill, TX, road signs point toward Pgbt North: President George Bush Turnpike and Dallas.

Pgbt North: President George Bush Turnpike

5.8 mi in | ~10m

Dallas

28.6 mi in | ~36m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Central Expressway 25.3 mi 27m
US 82 21.1 mi 23m
South State Highway 121 16.9 mi 18m
Sam Rayburn Highway 15.3 mi 17m
President George Bush Turnpike 11.5 mi 12m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway 6.8 mi 7m
FM 38 3.5 mi 8m
Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway 2.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: North Central Expressway — 25.3 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Abram Street

93 ft · 8 sec · West Abram Street
2

Continue on West Abram Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · West Abram Street
3

Turn left onto South Mesquite Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Mesquite Street
Use the left lane.
4

Turn straight onto North Center Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Center Street
5

Turn slight right

218 ft · 9 sec
Use the right lane.
6

Turn straight onto East Interstate 30

0.2 mi · 45 sec · East Interstate 30
7

Continue on East Copeland Road

0.5 mi · 55 sec · East Copeland Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
8

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 30 East Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Merge onto I 30

2.5 mi · 3 min · Tom Landry Freeway
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 27 sec
Exit 32A Toward PGBT North, TX 161: President George Bush Turnpike Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward PGBT North: President George Bush Turnpike Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto PGBT

11 mi · 12 min · President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 1 min
Toward I 635 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Merge onto I 635

6.8 mi · 7 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the right lane.
15

Continue on I 635

2.6 mi · 2 min · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
Use the right lane.
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec
Exit 19A Toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dallas Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Merge onto US 75

25 mi · 27 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 44 Toward TX 121 North: Bonham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on TX 121

15 mi · 17 min · Sam Rayburn Highway
Toward TX 121 North: Bonham
21

Continue on TX 121

17 mi · 18 min · South State Highway 121
22

Turn right onto TX 56; TX 121

0.5 mi · 42 sec · West Sam Rayburn Drive
23

Turn left onto TX 121

1.9 mi · 2 min · North State Highway 121
24

Take the exit

204 ft · 5 sec
25

Turn straight onto West US Highway 82

0.2 mi · 21 sec · West US Highway 82
26

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
27

Merge onto US 82

21 mi · 23 min · US 82
28

Turn left onto FM 38

3.5 mi · 8 min · FM 38
29

Turn right onto County Road 35050

231 ft · 10 sec · County Road 35050
30

Arrive at destination

County Road 35050

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.6 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.3 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 25 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.6 miles or 1h 8m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest Hill, 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 115.3 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Arlington, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Central Expressway for about 25.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.6 mi from Arlington, TX · 1h 8m into the drive

city in Collin County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

McKinney, TX

58 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

Carrollton, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Melissa, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.6 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Forest Hill, TX

The final approach into Forest Hill, 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 Forest Hill, TX.

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.

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 8.2

Grand Prairie, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19722632391

Visit website

Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 8.2

Grand Prairie, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19722632391

Visit website

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 49.4

McKinney, Texas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+19725625566

Visit website

Dark Hour Haunted House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 32.9

Plano, Texas

+14692980556

Visit website

11th Hour Escape

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 32.9

Plano, Texas

Hours: 12–5:30 pm

+14692095978

Visit website

Heritage Farmstead Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 32.9

Plano, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19728810140

Visit website

Historic Downtown Carrollton

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 24.7

Carrollton, Texas

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+19728809855

Visit website

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.42 one way

$34.84 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $19.07 $38.14
premium $4.54 $20.59 $41.17
diesel $5.61 $25.46 $50.91

Estimated Tolls: $2.94

Central Expressway (25.3 mi) $2.02
President George Bush Turnpike (11.5 mi) $0.92

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.6 0 $12.11 $5.53
Efficient EV 28.8 0 $10.09 $4.61
EV Truck/SUV 46.1 0 $16.14 $7.38

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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

Evening in Arlington on Thursday

Local time

8:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Forest Hill, TX

Evening in Forest Hill on Thursday

Local time

8:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°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

3 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 17m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Arlington, TX to Forest Hill, TX covers 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Central Expressway, US 82, South State Highway 121. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.6 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 $17.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 115.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Arlington, TX and Forest Hill, TX, road signs point toward Pgbt North: President George Bush Turnpike and Dallas.

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