Origin
Decatur, TX
Morning in Decatur on Saturday
Local time
8:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, TX to Arlington, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.3 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, TX
Thomas balabaud
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 53.3-mile drive from Decatur, TX to Arlington, TX is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 6 minutes. You'll primarily be on South US Highway 287, with segments of Tom Landry Freeway and I 820 TEXpress. The route is heavily highway-focused, with 84% of it on major roadways, making for efficient travel. With an estimated fuel cost of around $8, this journey through the Great Plains region of Texas is budget-friendly. It's a practical choice for a quick relocation or a day trip without the need for an overnight stop.
About the Cities
Arriving in Arlington, TX
Full guide →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.
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 1h 6m. Total distance: 53.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 53.3-mile stretch. You'll spend a significant 84% of your time on major roads, including South US Highway 287, which features the longest uninterrupted section at 30.2 miles. While it's largely a fast-paced journey, the transition onto the Tom Landry Freeway and I 820 TEXpress will keep you moving efficiently. The road's personality is consistent, emphasizing speed and direct travel through the Texas landscape.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South US Highway 287 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South US Highway 287 and Tom Landry Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.9 miles (I 820): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
33.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 820
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57
Toward I 820
7
33.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 820 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 820 East
7
41.9 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 820
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 toward I 820 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 820 South
7
44.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
8
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
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 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South US Highway 287 | 30.2 mi | 33m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| I 820 | 3 mi | 3m |
| Northeast Loop | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| North Freeway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| North Center Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Airport Freeway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South US Highway 287
— 30.2 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on North Market Street
70 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
163 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto FM 730
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Trinity Street
4
Turn right onto West Hale Avenue
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Hale Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on FM 51
367 ft
·
10 sec
·
South FM 51
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp onto South Highway 287
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Highway 287
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Merge onto US 81; US 287
30 mi
·
33 min
·
South US Highway 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35W; US 287
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 57
Toward I 820
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 820 East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 820
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
Northeast Loop
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
Toward I 820 Express East Toll
13
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 820 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 820
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 820; TX 121; TX 183
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 820
Toward I 820 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Exit 28A
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 30
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cooper Street
22
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Center Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
25
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.7 mi from Decatur, TX · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from Decatur, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.05 one way
$16.11 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.82 | $17.63 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
8:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 6m 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 Decatur, TX to Arlington, TX covers 53.3 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South US Highway 287, Tom Landry Freeway, I 820 TEXpress. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.7 miles from Decatur, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.05 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 53.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.9 miles (I 820): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Decatur, TX to Arlington, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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