Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Afternoon in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
1:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Arlington, TX
Drive Time
24m
Distance
15.9 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Photo: Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Fort Worth and Arlington, you are looking at a quick 16.5-mile trip that typically takes about 20 minutes. This route is entirely local, staying off the highways to navigate through the Great Plains landscape. Because of the short distance, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting for your travel is straightforward, as you will likely only spend around $2 on fuel. It serves as a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Texas cities, perfect for those who prefer surface streets over the interstate.
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
8 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed highway cruise. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, relying instead on local roads like Elmwood Avenue, Epps Street, and East Maddox Avenue. Since this is an entirely local route, there is no long, uninterrupted stretch of road to settle into. Instead, you should prepare for a series of turns that keep you engaged with the local infrastructure. The personality of this drive is functional and steady, requiring you to stay alert through the various segments of the route.
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.
Tom Landry Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Tom Landry Freeway and South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Epps Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 15.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Epps Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (South Freeway): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (East Allen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Epps Street
At end of road, turn right onto Epps Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Freeway
At end of road, turn right onto South Freeway
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Allen Avenue
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m 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 51C
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
8
13.6 mi into trip
|
~19m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Landry Freeway | 11.2 mi | 14m |
| South Freeway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Center Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Cooper Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Randol Mill Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 287 Bus | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Epps Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Elmwood Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tom Landry Freeway
— 11.2 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on South Freeway
54 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Freeway
2
Turn right onto Elmwood Avenue
475 ft
·
23 sec
·
Elmwood Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto Epps Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Epps Street
4
Continue on East Maddox Avenue
412 ft
·
20 sec
·
East Maddox Avenue
5
At end of road, turn right onto South Freeway
321 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Freeway
6
Turn left onto East Allen Avenue
210 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Allen Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn left onto South Freeway
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the ramp onto US 287 Bus
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 287 Bus
Toward I 35W North
9
Merge onto I 35W; US 287 Bus
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 51C
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 30
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cooper Street
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Center Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
17
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Since this is such a short, 20-minute journey, you have total flexibility in your departure timing. You won't need to plan for any stops along the way, making it an efficient trip regardless of when you head out. Keep in mind that because this route relies on local streets rather than highways, traffic patterns on Elmwood Avenue or Epps Street can fluctuate, so check your navigation app for real-time updates. Prioritize a full tank before you leave if you want to keep your costs near that $2 estimate. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your arrival time precisely around your destination schedule.
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 8 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.2 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 15.9 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19m
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 Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX
This is one driving day of about 15.9 miles and 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fort Worth, 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 Tom Landry Freeway for about 11.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8 mi from Fort Worth, TX · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 15.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8 miles from Fort Worth, 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
$2.43 one way
$4.86 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.66 | $5.32 |
| premium | $4.59 | $2.87 | $5.75 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.53 | $7.06 |
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: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.39 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
1:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
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
24m 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 Fort Worth, TX to Arlington, TX covers 15.9 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tom Landry Freeway, South Freeway, North Center 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 8 miles from Fort Worth, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.43 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 15.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Epps Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (South Freeway): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (East Allen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Worth, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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