Origin
West University Place, TX
Evening in West University Place on Friday
Local time
6:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West University Place, TX to Arlington, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 44m
Distance
260.9 mi
420 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 31m
★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 54m
12 PM
4h 51m
3 PM
4h 55m
5 PM
5h 10m
8 PM
4h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West University Place, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 260.9-mile drive from West University Place, TX to Arlington, TX is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 44 minutes. You'll primarily be on major highways, with 94% of the journey on the North Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, and Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $39. Given the highway-focused profile and the distance, it's a straightforward drive that fits comfortably within a day, allowing for flexibility. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so expect expansive, open landscapes throughout your journey.
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
130.5 miles from West University Place, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Arlington, TX
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 260.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 94% of your drive utilizing major freeways. The main roads you'll encounter are the North Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, and Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is an impressive 226.9 miles, primarily on the North Freeway. This suggests a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip, minimizing the need for frequent exits or changes in road type. The character of the drive remains largely consistent as a high-speed, efficient transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 260.9 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles (Pierce Elevated): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana...
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Pierce Elevated
Take the ramp onto Pierce Elevated
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
7
233.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 10m 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
7
256 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m 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 |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.1 mi | 16m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| South Collins Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Southwest Freeway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Gulf Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Brazos Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Abram Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 226.9 mi, about 3h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West University Place, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on this road
54 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Edloe Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Edloe Street
3
Turn right onto Sunset Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Buffalo Speedway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Buffalo Speedway
5
Turn right onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 69 North, US 59 North
7
Merge onto I 69; US 59
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Freeway
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana Street
Use the slight left lane.
9
Continue on Brazos Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Brazos Street
10
Take the ramp onto Pierce Elevated
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Pierce Elevated
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
12
Merge onto I 45
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
13
Continue on I 45
227 mi
·
3 hr 57 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 20
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Interstate 20
19
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 44-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from West University Place to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially as you enter more urban areas. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 226.9 miles, you can easily complete this journey in a single day. The estimated fuel cost is $39, so ensure your tank is full before you leave or plan for one refueling stop. Given the highway-focused nature, keep an eye on your speed and be aware of the various speed limit changes you might encounter on the North Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, and Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.
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 130.5 miles from West University Place, TX, or about 2h 21m 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 57 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.5 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
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 West University Place, 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 West University Place, TX
This is one driving day of about 260.9 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from West University Place, 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 130.5 mi from West University Place, TX · 2h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 130.5 miles from West University Place, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 226.9 miles.
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.
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
$39.42 one way
$78.85 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $43.15 | $86.30 |
| premium | $4.54 | $46.58 | $93.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.60 | $115.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.3 | 0 | $27.39 | $12.52 |
| Efficient EV | 65.2 | 0 | $22.83 | $10.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.4 | 1 | $36.53 | $16.70 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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
Evening in Arlington on Friday
Local time
6:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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.
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
25 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
4h 44m 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 West University Place, TX to Arlington, TX covers 260.9 miles and takes about 4h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 130.5 miles from West University Place, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.42 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 260.9 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles (Pierce Elevated): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from West University Place, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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