This 237.3-mile drive from Woodbranch, TX, to Arlington, TX, is a manageable one-day trip, typically taking around 4 hours and 23 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with an estimated fuel cost of $36. The route is predominantly highway-focused, making it a straightforward journey across the Great Plains region of Texas. It's a practical option for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stop. The drive offers a consistent pace for most of its duration.
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
118.6 miles from Woodbranch, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m 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 4h 23m. Total distance: 237.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for 89% of this 237.3-mile journey. The bulk of your travel will be on I 45, including an uninterrupted stretch of 185.1 miles, which means you'll encounter consistent speeds and readily available services. While Lyndon B Johnson Freeway and Farm-to-Market Road 3083 will feature, the overall character is one of efficient highway travel. This drive is designed for making miles, with minimal diversions from the main arterial routes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 45 is the longest continuous segment at about 185.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Elm Street.
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 237.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.4 miles (Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Woodbranch Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Eastex Freeway Frontage Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Elm Street
Turn right onto Elm Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|Woodbranch Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Woodbranch Drive
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip|~3m in|Eastex Freeway Frontage Road
At end of road, turn right onto Eastex Freeway Frontage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
210.3 mi into trip|~3h 49m 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
232.4 mi into trip|~4h 14m 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
I 45
185.1 mi
3h 7m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.1 mi
16m
Farm-to-Market Road 3083
8 mi
14m
State Highway 242
6.5 mi
9m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
6.1 mi
6m
South Collins Street
3.9 mi
7m
South Loop 336 East
3.2 mi
4m
Beach Airport Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 185.1 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbranch, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on North Linnwood Drive
315 ft·15 sec·North Linnwood Drive
2
Continue on North Linnwood Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·North Linnwood Drive
3
Turn right onto Elm Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Elm Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Woodbranch Drive
0.2 mi·39 sec·Woodbranch Drive
5
At end of road, turn right onto Eastex Freeway Frontage Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Eastex Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Turn left onto TX 242
6.5 mi·9 min·State Highway 242
7
Turn right onto FM 1485
2.0 mi·2 min·FM 1485
8
Continue on FM 3083
6.5 mi·11 min·Farm-to-Market Road 3083
9
Continue on FM 3083
1.2 mi·2 min·FM 3083
10
Turn right onto Loop 336
3.2 mi·4 min·South Loop 336 East
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto FM 3083
2.1 mi·3 min·Beach Airport Road
12
Continue on FM 3083
1.5 mi·2 min·Farm-to-Market Road 3083
13
Turn right onto Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 45 North
15
Merge onto I 45
185 mi·3 hr 7 min·I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 276AToward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 20
15 mi·16 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 451Toward Collins StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Interstate 20
21
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi·7 min·South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 23-minute duration, departing Woodbranch in the morning will allow you to arrive in Arlington with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Plan to refuel before leaving Woodbranch or during the longest stretch on I 45, as services can be more spread out between major exits. The $36 fuel estimate is a good benchmark for budgeting. Since this is a single-day drive, consider an early start to maximize your time at your destination.
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 118.6 miles from Woodbranch, TX, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.1 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 52 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.6 miles or 2h 16m 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 33m
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 Woodbranch, 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 Woodbranch, TX
This is one driving day of about 237.3 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Woodbranch, 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 I 45 for about 185.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 118.6 mi from Woodbranch, TX
· 2h 16m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.86 one way
$71.71 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$39.25
$78.50
premium
$4.54
$42.37
$84.74
diesel
$5.61
$52.39
$104.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.2
0
$24.92
$11.39
Efficient EV
59.3
0
$20.76
$9.49
EV Truck/SUV
94.9
1
$33.22
$15.19
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Woodbranch, TX
Evening
in Woodbranch on Friday
Local time
8:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Evening
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
8:46 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
5 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 23m 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 Woodbranch, TX to Arlington, TX covers 237.3 miles and takes about 4h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 45, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Farm-to-Market Road 3083. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 118.6 miles from Woodbranch, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.86 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 237.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.4 miles (Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Woodbranch Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Eastex Freeway Frontage Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Woodbranch, TX to Arlington, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
