The drive from Little River-Academy, TX to Arlington, TX covers 141.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, I 35W, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.2 miles on Purple Heart Trail.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.40 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
70.8 miles from Little River-Academy, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 141.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Little River-Academy, TX to Arlington, TX covers 141.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m, 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 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 59.2 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 79.6 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 141.6 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 79.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
79.6 mi into trip|~1h 25m 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
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
125.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m 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
135.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
6
137.3 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Trail
59.2 mi
59m
I 35W
45.1 mi
47m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi
11m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
7m
Southeast H K Dodgen Loop
6.5 mi
8m
TX 95
5.2 mi
6m
South Cooper Street
2.7 mi
4m
South Center Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 59.2 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little River-Academy, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on FM 436
1.1 mi·1 min·West Main Street
2
Turn left onto TX 95
5.2 mi·6 min·TX 95
3
Continue on Loop 363
6.5 mi·8 min·Southeast H K Dodgen Loop
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto North General Bruce Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·North General Bruce Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 35 North
6
Merge onto I 35
26 mi·26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
16
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
21
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
22
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.8 miles from Little River-Academy, TX, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.2 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 31 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.8 miles or 1h 16m 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 3m
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 Little River-Academy, 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 Little River-Academy, TX
This is one driving day of about 141.6 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Little River-Academy, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 59.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.8 mi from Little River-Academy, TX
· 1h 16m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 48.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.40 one way
$42.79 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$23.42
$46.84
premium
$4.54
$25.28
$50.56
diesel
$5.61
$31.26
$62.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
Efficient EV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
EV Truck/SUV
56.6
0
$19.82
$9.06
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Little River-Academy, TX
Afternoon
in Little River-Academy on Friday
Local time
12:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Afternoon
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
12:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Hillsboro, TX
71 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
2h 36m 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 Little River-Academy, TX to Arlington, TX covers 141.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, I 35W, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.8 miles from Little River-Academy, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.40 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 141.6 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 79.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Little River-Academy, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
