Origin
Belton, TX
Night in Belton on Wednesday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belton, TX to Arlington, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
139.5 mi
224 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 139.5 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this route from Belton to Arlington typically takes about 2 hours and 32 minutes to complete. It is an ideal day trip, allowing you to easily manage the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $21 for fuel, making this a budget-friendly transit between the two cities. The drive utilizes a combination of the Purple Heart Trail, I-35W, and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Because both the origin and destination sit within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional landscape throughout your travels.
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
69.7 miles from Belton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between major thoroughfares and arterial highways. While 38% of your journey is spent on designated highways, you will encounter varied road conditions as you navigate the transition from Belton to Arlington. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 69.7 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, providing a significant portion of the route where you can settle into a steady pace. The road personality shifts from regional corridors to more structured highway travel as you approach the destination. Overall, the drive offers a straightforward, functional transit rather than a technical or winding mountain pass.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Central Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
775 ft
438 ft
Total Climb
626 ft
Total Descent
538 ft
Highest Point
775 ft
~109.6 mi in
Elevation Range
337 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Belton, TX to Arlington, TX is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Belton, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Central Avenue | — | — |
| I-35 | — | — |
| I 35 North | — | — |
| Purple Heart Trail | — | — |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | — | — |
| I 35W | — | — |
| I 20 East | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Central Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belton, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on South Main Street
217 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto North I-35 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
North I-35 Frontage Road
4
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, US 190 East
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 35 North, US 190 East
5
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
37 mi
·
37 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
6
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
7
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 35W: Fort Worth
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W: Fort Worth
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Dallas
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 20 East: Dallas
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East: Dallas
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 20 East: Dallas
11
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
14
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Interstate 20
15
Turn left onto South Cooper Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
16
Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
17
Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
18
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
19
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
20
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. You are only required to make one stop to complete the journey comfortably, though you can adjust this based on your own pace. Keep a close eye on the transition between the Purple Heart Trail and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway to ensure you stay on the most efficient path. With a fuel cost of just $21, it is wise to fill up before you leave Belton to avoid fluctuating prices along the highway. Taking advantage of the single planned stop will help keep you refreshed for the final stretch into Arlington.
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 69.7 miles from Belton, TX, or about 1h 16m 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 31 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.7 miles or 1h 16m 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 4m
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 Belton, 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 Belton, TX
This is one driving day of about 139.5 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Belton, 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 69.7 mi from Belton, TX · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.7 miles from Belton, 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
$21.08 one way
$42.16 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $23.07 | $46.14 |
| premium | $4.54 | $24.91 | $49.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.80 | $61.60 |
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: 48.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.65 | $6.70 |
| Efficient EV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.21 | $5.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.53 | $8.93 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Arlington, TX
Night in Arlington on Wednesday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
5 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
2h 32m 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 Belton, TX to Arlington, TX covers 139.5 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Central Avenue, I-35, I 35 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.7 miles from Belton, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.08 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Belton, TX to Arlington, TX is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Belton, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Belton, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 438 ft to 775 ft elevation with about 626 ft of total climbing.
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