This 78.1-mile drive from Whitney, TX to Arlington, TX is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 31 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical option for a day trip. You'll primarily be on I-35W and State Highway 22, with a short section on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a single-day journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so expect consistent landscapes throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Whitney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m 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 1h 31m. Total distance: 78.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The personality of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 73% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a significant 45.1-mile segment on I-35W where you can settle into a rhythm. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of State Highway 22 and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway may offer slight variations in the driving experience. Expect a generally efficient journey, prioritizing direct travel over winding scenic byways.
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.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 45.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and State Highway 22. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.2 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 16.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
16.2 mi into trip|~20m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
61.3 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
7
61.7 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
8
72.4 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
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 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
6
73.8 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Whitney, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Fm 157 South: Ut Arlington and Mansfield.
Fm 157 South: Ut Arlington
72.4 mi in|~1h 20m
Mansfield
72.4 mi in|~1h 20m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35W
45.1 mi
47m
State Highway 22
11 mi
12m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi
11m
North Waco Street
3.4 mi
5m
South Cooper Street
2.7 mi
4m
South Center Street
1.2 mi
2m
South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
1m
East Jefferson Avenue
0.7 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 45.1 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Whitney, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on FM 933
0.5 mi·1 min·West Jefferson Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto TX 22
332 ft·5 sec·North Bosque Street
3
Continue on TX 22
0.7 mi·58 sec·East Jefferson Avenue
4
Continue on TX 22
11 mi·12 min·State Highway 22
5
Turn left onto TX 81
3.4 mi·5 min·North Waco Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 35
0.4 mi·23 sec·Purple Heart Trail
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
15
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
20
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 1-hour and 31-minute trip covering 78.1 miles, flexibility is key. You can depart Whitney, TX at your convenience, as there are no designated stops and the drive is well within a single day's capacity. With a fuel cost of around $12, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, especially if traveling during peak commuting hours. Since it's a relatively short drive, consider leaving a bit later in the morning to avoid early rush hour near Arlington.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.1 miles from Whitney, TX, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
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 Whitney, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Whitney, TX
This is one driving day of about 78.1 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Whitney, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 45.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.1 mi from Whitney, TX
· 44m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.80 one way
$23.60 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$12.92
$25.83
premium
$4.54
$13.94
$27.89
diesel
$5.61
$17.24
$34.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.20
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.83
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.93
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Whitney, TX
Night
in Whitney on Friday
Local time
11:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Night
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
11:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph4% chanceLive 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
29 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
1h 31m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Whitney, TX to Arlington, TX covers 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, State Highway 22, 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 39.1 miles from Whitney, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 16.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Whitney, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Fm 157 South: Ut Arlington and Mansfield.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Waco Mammoth National Monument.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
