This 296.3-mile drive from Texas City, TX to Arlington, TX is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 22 minutes. Primarily utilizing the North Freeway, Gulf Freeway, and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of it being interstate driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $45, it's an economical option for a quick transition between the Great Plains regions of Texas. One planned stop is suggested, and the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 226.9 miles. This journey offers a straightforward and efficient way to travel between these two Texas cities.
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
148.1 miles from Texas City, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Arlington is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex metropolitan area, in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of almost 400,000 (2019), it is Texas' seventh largest, and the third largest in the Metroplex. Arlington is south of the sprawling DFW International Airport.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 296.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 296.3-mile journey, with 95% of the drive being on interstates. The route unfolds along major freeways like the North Freeway, Gulf Freeway, and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, offering a consistent driving pace for most of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 226.9 miles, meaning you can cover substantial ground without frequent exits. This highway-centric profile suggests a drive characterized by efficiency and a steady progression towards your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 226.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and Gulf Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near 9th Avenue North.
Driving Effort5/10
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 296.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.7 miles (9th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|9th Avenue North
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
9.4 mi into trip|~13m in|I 45 / Gulf Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / Gulf Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
269.2 mi into trip|~4h 48m 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
5
270.2 mi into trip|~4h 50m in|I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
291.4 mi into trip|~5h 13m 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
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Freeway
226.9 mi
3h 57m
Gulf Freeway
33 mi
38m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.1 mi
16m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
6.1 mi
6m
Emmett F Lowry Expressway
5.8 mi
7m
South Collins Street
3.9 mi
7m
Palmer Highway
1.6 mi
2m
9th Avenue North
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 226.9 mi, about 3h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Texas City, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on this road
48 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Spur 197
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Street
3
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
1.4 mi·2 min·9th Avenue North
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on FM 1764
1.6 mi·2 min·Palmer Highway
5
Continue on FM 1764
5.8 mi·7 min·Emmett F Lowry Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 45
33 mi·38 min·Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 45
227 mi·3 hr 57 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 276AToward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 20
15 mi·16 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 451Toward Collins StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Interstate 20
13
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi·7 min·South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 22-minute duration, starting your drive from Texas City early in the morning is advisable to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a fuel cost estimated at $45, keeping your tank topped off is a good idea, though significant fuel stops are unlikely given the route's highway focus. The longest stretch without needing to exit is over 226 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly. While only one stop is officially recommended, feel free to take advantage of the flexibility a single-day trip offers to stretch your legs when needed.
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 148.1 miles from Texas City, TX, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.9 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 65 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.1 miles or 2h 41m 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 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 Texas City, 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 Texas City, TX
This is one driving day of about 296.3 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Texas City, 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 226.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.1 mi from Texas City, TX
· 2h 41m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.77 one way
$89.54 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$49.01
$98.01
premium
$4.54
$52.90
$105.80
diesel
$5.61
$65.42
$130.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.9
1
$31.11
$14.22
Efficient EV
74.1
0
$25.93
$11.85
EV Truck/SUV
118.5
1
$41.48
$18.96
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Dec 18, 2023
Origin
Texas City, TX
Morning
in Texas City on Saturday
Local time
9:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
9:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Palestine, TX
148 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
2 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 22m 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 Texas City, TX to Arlington, TX covers 296.3 miles and takes about 5h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Freeway, Gulf Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.1 miles from Texas City, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.77 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 296.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.7 miles (9th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Texas City, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
