Trip from Bedford, TX to Arlington, TX

Drive Time

19m

Distance

10.4 mi

17 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 18m ★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Bedford, TX, TX

Bedford, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Downtown Arlington, TX, TX

Arlington, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick transit between Bedford and Arlington, you are looking at a short, 10.4-mile commute. You can expect to reach your destination in about 19 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, the geography remains consistent throughout your journey. With a fuel cost estimate of just $2, this is an incredibly budget-friendly drive. It functions best as a straightforward, no-fuss connection for travelers needing to move quickly between these two Texas hubs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

5.2 miles from Bedford, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While about 26% of your trip takes place on highways, the majority of your time will be spent navigating local streets like North Collins Street and North Center Street. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is a brief 3-mile segment on North Collins Street, which keeps the drive feeling active and requires your full attention. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, you will experience a constant shift in pace compared to high-speed transit. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Collins Street is the longest continuous segment at about 3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Airport Freeway.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 10.4 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 0.5 miles (Airport Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

6
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Airport Freeway

Turn left onto Airport Freeway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward TX 183 East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward TX 183 East
7
2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward FM 157: Industrial Boulevard, Ector Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward FM 157: Industrial Boulevard, Ector Driv...
6
8 mi into trip | ~14m in | East Lamar Boulevard

Turn right onto East Lamar Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
8.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | Lincoln Drive

Turn left onto Lincoln Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Collins Street 3 mi 5m
North Center Street 1.8 mi 4m
Airport Freeway 1.6 mi 2m
South Industrial Boulevard 1 mi 1m
Highway 157 0.9 mi 1m
Forest Ridge Drive 0.5 mi 1m
East Lamar Boulevard 0.3 mi <1m
Lincoln Drive 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Collins Street — 3 mi, about 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Forest Ridge Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Forest Ridge Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
2

Turn left onto Airport Freeway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Airport Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward TX 183 East Use the slight left lane.
4

Merge onto TX 183

0.7 mi · 46 sec · Airport Freeway
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward FM 157: Industrial Boulevard, Ector Drive Use the slight right lane.
6

Continue on West Airport Freeway

0.1 mi · 11 sec · West Airport Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
7

Turn right onto FM 157

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Industrial Boulevard
Use the right lane.
8

Continue on FM 157

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highway 157
Use the none lane.
9

Continue on FM 157

3.0 mi · 5 min · North Collins Street
Use the none lane.
10

Turn right onto East Lamar Boulevard

0.3 mi · 47 sec · East Lamar Boulevard
Use the right lane.
11

Turn left onto Lincoln Drive

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Lincoln Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Continue on North Center Street

1.8 mi · 4 min · North Center Street
Use the none lane.
13

Turn right onto West Abram Street

297 ft · 8 sec · West Abram Street
14

Arrive at destination

West Abram Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 19-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, as the entire route is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that because the route involves significant local navigation, it is wise to double-check your turn-by-turn directions before heading out. Budgeting $2 for fuel is more than sufficient for this short distance, allowing you to focus on the road ahead. Use the efficiency of this 10.4-mile trek to your advantage by planning your arrival to avoid peak local traffic hours on the primary streets.

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 5.2 miles from Bedford, TX, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 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 10.4 miles or 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 5.2 miles or 9m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bedford, 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 Bedford, TX

This is one driving day of about 10.4 miles and 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bedford, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on North Collins Street for about 3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.2 mi from Bedford, TX · 9m into the drive

Downtown Addison, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Addison, TX

5 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

Addison, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Addison, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.2 miles from Bedford, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Arlington, TX

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.59 one way

$3.18 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $1.74 $3.48
premium $4.59 $1.88 $3.76
diesel $5.64 $2.31 $4.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.1 0 $1.09 $0.50
Efficient EV 2.6 0 $0.91 $0.42
EV Truck/SUV 4.2 0 $1.46 $0.67

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Bedford, TX

Afternoon in Bedford on Sunday

Local time

3:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, TX

Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

3:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

65°F

Addison, TX

5 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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

19m 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 Bedford, TX to Arlington, TX covers 10.4 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Collins Street, North Center Street, Airport Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.2 miles from Bedford, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.59 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 10.4 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 0.5 miles (Airport Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Bedford, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Arlington, TX to Bedford, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

11 mi 20m

Explore more options from Bedford, TX or browse trips ending in Arlington, TX.

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