The drive from Arlington, TX to Sulphur Springs, TX covers 100.2 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East R L Thornton Freeway, Tom Landry Freeway, Gilmer Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.5 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.14 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
50.1 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
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.
Sulphur Springs was founded in 1854, though it was then known as "Bright Star", and is in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. Though the springs that brought about the name have more or less vanished, it is now known as "The Dairy Capital of Texas", with a museum cultured to that very point, even if the dairy industry has waned a bit around here in the early 21st century.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 100.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 52m highway drive covering 100.2 miles, with most of the trip on East R L Thornton Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.5 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 78.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Mesquite Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Mesquite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Mesquite Street
Turn left onto South Mesquite Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 30 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 30 East
5
3 mi into trip|~7m in|I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge onto I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
27 mi into trip|~35m in|I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
5
98 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward SH 154 , SH 11
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SH 154 , SH 11
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway
78.5 mi
1h 23m
Tom Landry Freeway
16.5 mi
18m
Gilmer Street
1.3 mi
1m
South Mesquite Street
1.2 mi
2m
East Copeland Road
0.5 mi
<1m
North Center Street
0.5 mi
1m
Shannon Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
South Broadway Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 78.5 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Sulphur Springs, 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 EastUse the straight / left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 30
16 mi·18 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
71 mi·1 hr 14 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward SH 154 , SH 11
13
Turn straight onto Shannon Road West
0.4 mi·47 sec·Shannon Road West
14
Turn left onto TX 154
0.4 mi·35 sec·South Broadway Street
15
Continue on Gilmer Street
1.3 mi·1 min·Gilmer Street
16
Turn right onto US 67 Bus; TX 154
116 ft·2 sec·Jefferson Street West
17
Arrive at destination
US 67 Bus; TX 154
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 50.1 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.5 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.1 miles or 59m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sulphur Springs, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, TX
This is one driving day of about 100.2 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Arlington, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East R L Thornton Freeway for about 78.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.1 mi from Arlington, TX
· 59m into the drive
The midpoint is around 50.1 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 East R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.5 miles.
Arriving in Sulphur Springs, TX
The final approach into Sulphur Springs, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.52
$4.81
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.77
$4.01
EV Truck/SUV
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 18, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Morning
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph64% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Sulphur Springs, TX
Morning
in Sulphur Springs on Saturday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph74% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
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
1h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Sulphur Springs, TX covers 100.2 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East R L Thornton Freeway, Tom Landry Freeway, Gilmer Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.1 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 $15.14 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Mesquite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Arlington, TX to Sulphur Springs, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
