The drive from Lakeside, TX to Arlington, TX covers 265.8 miles and takes about 5h 3m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Travis Avenue, South Main Street, I 35W for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 48.6 miles on North Travis Avenue.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.16 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
132.9 miles from Lakeside, 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 3m. Total distance: 265.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lakeside, TX to Arlington, TX covers 265.8 miles and takes about 5h 3m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Travis Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 48.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 117.6 miles in near US 77 / North Travis Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
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 25 significant decision points across 265.8 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 117.6 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 203.9 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 249 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
117.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Turn right onto US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
203.9 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
249 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
7
249.3 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
8
260 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
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 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakeside, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Schulenburg.
Austin
21.7 mi in|~27m|via TX 71
Schulenburg
47.3 mi in|~53m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Travis Avenue
48.6 mi
55m
South Main Street
48 mi
57m
I 35W
45.1 mi
47m
Purple Heart Trail
33 mi
33m
TX 71
25.9 mi
26m
North US Highway 77
17.3 mi
19m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi
11m
State Highway 71
9.8 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
North Travis Avenue
— 48.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeside, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on FM 102
1.3 mi·3 min·Lakeside Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 90 Alt; FM 102
0.4 mi·55 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn slight left onto US 90 Alt
0.3 mi·52 sec·Boothe Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 90 Alt
0.8 mi·1 min·South McCarty Avenue
5
Continue on US 90 Alt
7.4 mi·8 min·US Highway 90A
6
Turn right onto TX 71
9.8 mi·10 min·State Highway 71
7
Turn left onto TX 71
446 ft·8 sec·I-10 Service Road
8
Take the ramp onto TX 71
0.3 mi·32 sec·TX 71
9
Merge onto I 10; TX 71
1.3 mi·1 min·I 10; TX 71
10
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi·33 sec·TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
11
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
25 mi·25 min·TX 71
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
13
Turn straight onto East State Highway 71 Bypass
0.4 mi·49 sec·East State Highway 71 Bypass
14
Turn right onto US 77
0.7 mi·47 sec·North Jefferson Street
15
Continue on US 77
17 mi·19 min·North US Highway 77
16
Continue on US 77
48 mi·57 min·South Main Street
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
3.6 mi·4 min·US 77; US 190; TX 36
18
Turn right onto US 77
49 mi·55 min·North Travis Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Enter roundabout onto Circle Road
215 ft·11 sec·Circle Road
20
Continue on Circle Road
0.4 mi·54 sec·Circle Road
21
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.5 mi·58 sec·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
22
Take the ramp
444 ft·10 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
23
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 77
24
Merge onto I 35; US 77
3.3 mi·3 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
29
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
33
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
36
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
37
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
38
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
39
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
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 132.9 miles from Lakeside, TX, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.6 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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.9 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 Lakeside, 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 Lakeside, TX
This is one driving day of about 265.8 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Lakeside, 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 Travis Avenue for about 48.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 132.9 mi from Lakeside, TX
· 2h 34m into the drive
The midpoint is around 132.9 miles from Lakeside, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 174.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.16 one way
$80.33 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$43.96
$87.92
premium
$4.54
$47.46
$94.91
diesel
$5.61
$58.69
$117.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.7
0
$27.91
$12.76
Efficient EV
66.5
0
$23.26
$10.63
EV Truck/SUV
106.3
1
$37.21
$17.01
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Lakeside, TX
Afternoon
in Lakeside on Friday
Local time
12:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Afternoon
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
12:00 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
8 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 3m 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 Lakeside, TX to Arlington, TX covers 265.8 miles and takes about 5h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Travis Avenue, South Main Street, I 35W. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 132.9 miles from Lakeside, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.16 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 25 significant decision points across 265.8 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 117.6 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 203.9 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 249 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lakeside, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Schulenburg.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Waco Mammoth National Monument.
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.
