Origin
Sparks, TX
Afternoon in Sparks on Thursday
Local time
12:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sparks, TX to Arlington, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
10h 2m
Distance
601.1 mi
967 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$91
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 54m
★
6 AM
10h 3m
8 AM
10h 21m
10 AM
10h 9m
12 PM
10h 7m
3 PM
10h 10m
5 PM
10h 20m
8 PM
9h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sparks, TX
cottonbro studio
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sparks, TX to Arlington, TX covers 601.1 miles and takes about 10h 2m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 20, I 10, West Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 421.1 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $90.83 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
300.5 miles from Sparks, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
At 601.1 miles and 10h 2m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 20 and I 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 421.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 10. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 150.1 miles in near I 20.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 601.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 150.1 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 571.2 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 598.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
150.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
571.2 mi into trip
|
~9h 24m in
|
I 30 / West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 421
Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
8
598.7 mi into trip
|
~9h 57m in
Take the exit toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
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 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
6
599.6 mi into trip
|
~9h 59m in
|
West Randol Mill Road
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
600 mi into trip
|
~10h in
|
North Center Street
Turn right onto North Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 421.1 mi | 6h 59m |
| I 10 | 148.2 mi | 2h 20m |
| West Freeway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| North Center Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Peyton Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Cooper Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Gateway Boulevard East | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 421.1 mi, about 6h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sparks, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Wake Forest Lane
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Wake Forest Lane
2
Turn right onto Grand River Drive
392 ft
·
16 sec
·
Grand River Drive
3
Turn left onto Peyton Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Peyton Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto FM 1281
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Horizon Boulevard
5
Turn left onto Gateway Boulevard East
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gateway Boulevard East
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 10 East
7
Merge onto I 10
148 mi
·
2 hr 20 min
·
I 10
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
421 mi
·
6 hr 59 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
15 mi
·
17 min
·
West Freeway
Exit 421
Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 30
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cooper Street
13
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Center Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
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 300.5 miles from Sparks, TX, or about 4h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 421.1 miles.
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 132 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 300.5 miles or 4h 54m 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 300.5 miles or 4h 54m
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 8h 54m
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 Sparks, 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 Sparks, TX
Aim for roughly 301 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 301 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 132 miles from Sparks, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 421.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 300.5 mi from Sparks, TX · 4h 54m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
198 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
397 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 Brownwood, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
301 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Big Spring, TX after about 301 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 132 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 300.5 miles from Sparks, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 421.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 301 miles or 5 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$90.83 one way
$181.66 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
210 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $99.42 | $198.84 |
| premium | $4.54 | $107.32 | $214.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $132.72 | $265.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$91
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$221–$331
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 210.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 180.3 | 2 | $63.12 | $28.85 |
| Efficient EV | 150.3 | 1 | $52.60 | $24.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 240.4 | 3 | $84.15 | $38.47 |
Gas CO2
210 kg
EV CO2
70 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
Afternoon in Arlington on Thursday
Local time
1:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Brownwood, TX
397 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.
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
28 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
10h 2m 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 Sparks, TX to Arlington, TX covers 601.1 miles and takes about 10h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, I 10, West Freeway. 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 301 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 300.5 miles from Sparks, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $90.83 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 601.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 150.1 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 571.2 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 598.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Sparks, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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