Origin
Elgin, TX
Night in Elgin on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elgin, TX to Arlington, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
187 mi
301 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 2m
10 AM
3h 46m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 1m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elgin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Elgin to Arlington covers 187 miles through the heart of the Texas Great Plains. You can expect to spend about 3 hours and 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable day trip that fits well into a single day of travel. With an estimated fuel cost of $29, it is an affordable trek across the state. You will primarily navigate via State Highway 95 North, the Purple Heart Trail, and I-35W. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Great Plains region, the landscape remains consistent throughout the journey. It is a straightforward route, perfect for those looking to reach their destination without the need for an overnight stay.
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
93.5 miles from Elgin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing local roads with major interstate travel. Approximately 54% of your journey is spent on highways, providing a consistent pace as you transition between road types. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 59.2-mile run along the Purple Heart Trail, which allows for some steady cruising. Expect the road personality to shift as you move from the quieter local connections of State Highway 95 North onto the more structured flow of I-35W. Overall, the drive feels practical and efficient, moving you steadily across the region without requiring complex navigation.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
752 ft
473 ft
Total Climb
482 ft
Total Descent
460 ft
Highest Point
752 ft
~160.3 mi in
Elevation Range
279 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 Elgin, TX to Arlington, TX is easy. At 3h 37m 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 Elgin, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Main Street | — | — |
| Taylor Road | — | — |
| Highway 95 North | — | — |
| TX 95 | — | — |
| Highway 95 | — | — |
| South Franklin Street | — | — |
| Southeast H K Dodgen Loop | — | — |
| North General Bruce Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on East 2nd Street
285 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn right onto Taylor Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Taylor Road
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 95 North
26 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 95 North
5
Continue on TX 95
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
TX 95
6
Continue on State Highway 95
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 95
7
Continue on South Franklin Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Franklin Street
8
Continue on State Highway 95
12 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 95
9
Continue on Southeast H K Dodgen Loop
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Southeast H K Dodgen Loop
10
Turn right onto North General Bruce Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North General Bruce Drive
11
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 35 North
12
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
26 mi
·
26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
13
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
14
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 35W: Fort Worth
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W: Fort Worth
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Dallas
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 20 East: Dallas
17
Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East: Dallas
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 20 East: Dallas
18
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
19
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit slight right toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
21
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Interstate 20
22
Turn left onto South Cooper Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
23
Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
24
Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
25
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
26
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
27
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To keep your trip stress-free, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 3-hour and 37-minute duration. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though checking traffic patterns on I-35W before you leave is a smart move. Keep your budget around $29 for fuel to ensure you have enough to cover the full 187 miles comfortably. Because you are navigating a mix of highway and local roads, stay alert when transitioning from the rural stretches of State Highway 95 North to the denser traffic flow of the interstate. Use your single planned stop strategically to stretch your legs after completing the longest 59.2-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 93.5 miles from Elgin, TX, or about 1h 48m 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 41 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.5 miles or 1h 48m 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 58m
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 Elgin, 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 Elgin, TX
This is one driving day of about 187 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Elgin, 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 93.5 mi from Elgin, TX · 1h 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.5 miles from Elgin, 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
$28.26 one way
$56.51 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $30.93 | $61.86 |
| premium | $4.54 | $33.39 | $66.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.29 | $82.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.1 | 0 | $19.63 | $8.98 |
| Efficient EV | 46.8 | 0 | $16.36 | $7.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.8 | 0 | $26.18 | $11.97 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Arlington, TX
Night in Arlington on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 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
6 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
3h 37m 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 Elgin, TX to Arlington, TX covers 187 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Main Street, Taylor Road, Highway 95 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.5 miles from Elgin, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.26 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 Elgin, TX to Arlington, TX is easy. At 3h 37m 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 Elgin, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elgin, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 473 ft to 752 ft elevation with about 482 ft of total climbing.
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