Origin
Penitas, TX
Morning in Penitas on Monday
Local time
11:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Penitas, TX to Arlington, TX
Drive Time
8h 16m
Distance
540.1 mi
869 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$83
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 9m
★
6 AM
8h 17m
8 AM
8h 32m
10 AM
8h 22m
12 PM
8h 20m
3 PM
8h 23m
5 PM
8h 31m
8 PM
8h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Penitas, TX to Arlington, TX covers 540.1 miles and takes about 8h 16m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Penitas Street, East Expressway 83, I 69C North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $82.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
270 miles from Penitas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 540.1 miles and 8h 16m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Penitas Street and East Expressway 83.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Penitas Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 8h 16m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 16m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Penitas, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Penitas Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Expressway 83 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 69C North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nueces Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| King David Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Helena Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Penitas Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penitas, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on the route
194 ft
·
16 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Penitas Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Penitas Street
3
Turn right onto East Expressway 83
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Expressway 83
4
Take the ramp straight
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
5
Merge slight left
15 mi
·
17 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
7
Continue straight
22 mi
·
23 min
8
Continue straight
57 mi
·
1 hr
9
Keep slight right
70 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
10
Keep slight left to continue on Nueces Street
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Nueces Street
11
Turn right onto King David Drive
32 mi
·
39 min
·
King David Drive
12
Continue on West Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
13
Keep slight left to continue on East Main Street
233 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Main Street
14
Continue on Helena Road
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
15
Turn straight onto State Highway 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
16
Continue on South Nixon Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
17
Continue on State Highway 80 North
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
18
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
19
Continue on South Colorado Street
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
20
Continue on United States Highway 183
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
United States Highway 183
21
Keep slight left to continue on TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
22
Merge slight left onto Pickle Parkway
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
23
Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Waco
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 35 North: Waco
24
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
25
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
26
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
27
Keep slight left to continue on I 35W: Fort Worth
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W: Fort Worth
28
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Dallas
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 20 East: Dallas
29
Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East: Dallas
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 20 East: Dallas
30
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
31
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
32
Take the exit slight right toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
33
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Interstate 20
34
Turn left onto South Cooper Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
35
Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
36
Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
37
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
38
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
39
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
40
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 270 miles from Penitas, TX, or about 4h 8m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 119 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 270 miles or 4h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 270 miles or 4h 8m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 21m
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 Penitas, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Penitas, TX
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Penitas, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 270 mi from Penitas, TX · 4h 8m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
178 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
356 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Killeen, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
270 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 270 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 270 miles from Penitas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Arlington, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$82.50 one way
$165.01 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
189 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $90.41 | $180.83 |
| premium | $4.59 | $97.62 | $195.24 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $119.99 | $239.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$83
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$213–$323
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 189 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 162 | 2 | $56.71 | $25.92 |
| Efficient EV | 135 | 1 | $47.26 | $21.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 216 | 2 | $75.61 | $34.57 |
Gas CO2
189 kg
EV CO2
63 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning in Arlington on Monday
Local time
11:40 AM
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
3 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
8h 16m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Penitas, TX to Arlington, TX covers 540.1 miles and takes about 8h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Penitas Street, East Expressway 83, I 69C North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 270 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 270 miles from Penitas, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $82.50 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 16m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Penitas, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Penitas, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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