Drive Time
7h 43m
Distance
534.6 mi
860 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$82
one way
Photo: Jeff Stapleton
The drive from Weslaco, TX to Arlington, TX covers 534.6 miles and takes about 7h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Texas Boulevard, West Expressway 83, I 2 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $81.66 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
267.3 miles from Weslaco, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 51m into the drive .
At 534.6 miles and 7h 43m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Texas Boulevard and West Expressway 83.
At 7h 43m, 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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 43m, 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 Weslaco, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Expressway 83 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 2 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| McAllen | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 69C North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nueces Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| King David Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Weslaco, TX and Arlington, TX.
Start on the route
Turn left onto Texas Boulevard
Turn left onto West Expressway 83
Take the ramp slight left toward I 2 West, US 83 West
Merge slight left onto McAllen
Take the exit slight right toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
Continue straight
Continue straight
Keep slight right
Keep slight left to continue on Nueces Street
Turn right onto King David Drive
Continue on West Main Street
Keep slight left to continue on East Main Street
Continue on Helena Road
Turn straight onto State Highway 80
Continue on South Nixon Avenue
Continue on State Highway 80 North
Continue on US 183
Continue on South Colorado Street
Continue on United States Highway 183
Keep slight left to continue on TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Merge slight left onto Pickle Parkway
Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Waco
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left to continue on I 35W: Fort Worth
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Dallas
Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East: Dallas
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Continue on West Interstate 20
Turn left onto South Cooper Street
Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street
Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway
Turn left onto South Center Street
Continue on South Mesquite Street
Turn left onto East Abram Street
Arrive at your destination
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 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 118 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 267.3 miles or 3h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Weslaco, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Weslaco, TX
This is one driving day of about 534.6 miles and 7h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 267.3 mi from Weslaco, TX · 3h 51m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
176 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
Meal stop
353 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 118 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 267.3 miles from Weslaco, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$81.66 one way
$163.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $89.49 | $178.99 |
| premium | $4.59 | $96.63 | $193.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $118.77 | $237.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$82
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 187 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 160.4 | 1 | $56.13 | $25.66 |
| Efficient EV | 133.7 | 1 | $46.78 | $21.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 213.8 | 2 | $74.84 | $34.21 |
Gas CO2
187 kg
EV CO2
63 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Weslaco on Sunday
Local time
6:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
6:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
81°F
San Antonio, TX
176 mi in
60°F
Killeen, TX
353 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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