Origin
Friendswood, TX
Evening in Friendswood on Sunday
Local time
6:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Friendswood, TX to Arlington, TX
Drive Time
4h 16m
Distance
281.2 mi
452 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 3m
★
6 AM
4h 17m
8 AM
4h 43m
10 AM
4h 26m
12 PM
4h 23m
3 PM
4h 27m
5 PM
4h 42m
8 PM
4h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Friendswood, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Arlington, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Friendswood, TX to Arlington, TX covers 281.2 miles and takes about 4h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Friendswood Drive, East Edgewood Avenue, Friendswood Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
140.6 miles from Friendswood, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 16m drive with frequent turns across 281.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Friendswood Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 16m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Friendswood, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Friendswood Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Edgewood Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Friendswood Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Clear Lake City Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gulf Freeway Frontage Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 45 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gulf Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Friendswood Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Friendswood, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on South Friendswood Drive
33 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Friendswood Drive
2
Continue on South Friendswood Drive
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Friendswood Drive
3
Turn right onto East Edgewood Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Edgewood Avenue
4
Continue on Friendswood Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Friendswood Road
5
Continue on Clear Lake City Boulevard
312 ft
·
12 sec
·
Clear Lake City Boulevard
6
Turn left onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
7
Take the ramp straight toward I 45 North
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 45 North
8
Merge slight left onto Gulf Freeway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Gulf Freeway
9
Continue on North Freeway
227 mi
·
3 hr 57 min
·
North Freeway
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 20 West: Fort Worth
11
Merge slight left onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
12
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward Collins Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Collins Street
14
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Interstate 20
15
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South Collins Street
16
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Abram Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 140.6 miles from Friendswood, TX, or about 2h 8m 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 80 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.6 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 30m
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 Friendswood, 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 Friendswood, TX
This is one driving day of about 281.2 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Friendswood, 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 140.6 mi from Friendswood, TX · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.6 miles from Friendswood, 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
$42.95 one way
$85.91 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $47.07 | $94.15 |
| premium | $4.59 | $50.83 | $101.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $62.47 | $124.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.4 | 1 | $29.53 | $13.50 |
| Efficient EV | 70.3 | 0 | $24.60 | $11.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.5 | 1 | $39.37 | $18.00 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
6:24 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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 16m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Friendswood, TX to Arlington, TX covers 281.2 miles and takes about 4h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Friendswood Drive, East Edgewood Avenue, Friendswood Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140.6 miles from Friendswood, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.95 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 16m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Friendswood, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Friendswood, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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