This 280.1-mile drive from Greatwood, TX, to Arlington, TX, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 5 minutes. You'll spend about 85% of your journey on highways, making it a straightforward, highway-focused trip across the Great Plains region of Texas. With an estimated fuel cost of $42, this route is an economical option for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. Considering the duration and distance, it's comfortably manageable as a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
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 miles from Greatwood, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 280.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 85% of your drive utilizing major freeways. The North Freeway accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 213.7 miles, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. While primarily highway-focused, the initial and final segments might involve navigating some local roads as you enter and exit the urban areas of Greatwood and Arlington. This highway-centric profile means you'll likely encounter steady traffic flow for most of the journey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 213.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 280.1 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 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
10.4 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward Sam Houston Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 115
Toward Sam Houston Tollway
7
37.7 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
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.
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
7
37.9 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
7
253 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
275.1 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward Collins Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Greatwood, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
37.7 mi in|~47m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Freeway
213.7 mi
3h 40m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.1 mi
16m
West Sam Houston Tollway South
12.2 mi
14m
West Sam Houston Tollway North
10.2 mi
11m
Southwest Freeway
7.5 mi
8m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
6.1 mi
6m
South Collins Street
3.9 mi
7m
North Sam Houston Tollway West
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 213.7 mi, about 3h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greatwood, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Greatwood Lake Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·Greatwood Lake Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Shadow Bend Drive
501 ft·22 sec·Shadow Bend Drive
3
Continue on Hunters Point Drive
467 ft·25 sec·Hunters Point Drive
4
Turn left onto Shannondale Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·Shannondale Drive
5
Turn right onto Brook Chase Drive
205 ft·10 sec·Brook Chase Drive
6
Turn right onto Riverbrook Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Riverbrook Drive
7
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 59 North, I 69 North
9
Merge onto I 69; US 59
7.5 mi·8 min·Southwest Freeway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 115Toward Sam Houston TollwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto BW 8
0.6 mi·42 sec·West Sam Houston Parkway South
13
Continue on SHT
12 mi·14 min·West Sam Houston Tollway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto SHT
0.4 mi·27 sec·West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto SHT
9.8 mi·11 min·West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto SHT
2.6 mi·3 min·North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on BW 8
0.8 mi·53 sec·North Sam Houston Parkway West
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi·3 min
Toward I 45 North: DallasUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 45
214 mi·3 hr 40 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 276AToward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 20
15 mi·16 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 451Toward Collins StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Interstate 20
26
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi·7 min·South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
27
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Greatwood, TX, to maximize daylight and potentially avoid peak traffic. You'll only need one planned stop for this 280.1-mile journey, so choose a convenient point along the North Freeway. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without significant exits is over 200 miles. With a $42 fuel estimate, it's a budget-friendly trip, but always double-check your gas before embarking on that long segment on the North Freeway.
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 miles from Greatwood, TX, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.7 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 62 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
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 Greatwood, 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 Greatwood, TX
This is one driving day of about 280.1 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Greatwood, 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.
The longest stretch is on North Freeway for about 213.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140 mi from Greatwood, TX
· 2h 34m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.32 one way
$84.65 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$46.33
$92.65
premium
$4.54
$50.01
$100.02
diesel
$5.61
$61.84
$123.69
Estimated Tolls: $2.00
Sam Houston Tollway
(25 mi)$2.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84
1
$29.41
$13.44
Efficient EV
70
0
$24.51
$11.20
EV Truck/SUV
112
1
$39.21
$17.93
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Greatwood, TX
Night
in Greatwood on Friday
Local time
11:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Night
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
11:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Madisonville, TX
140 mi in
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
10 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
5h 5m 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 Greatwood, TX to Arlington, TX covers 280.1 miles and takes about 5h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, West Sam Houston Tollway South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140 miles from Greatwood, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.32 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 demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 280.1 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 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Greatwood, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
