Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Alamo Heights, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 56m
Distance
271.2 mi
437 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 43m
★
6 AM
4h 57m
8 AM
5h 24m
10 AM
5h 6m
12 PM
5h 4m
3 PM
5h 8m
5 PM
5h 22m
8 PM
4h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alamo Heights, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Alamo Heights, TX to Arlington, TX is 271.2 miles and takes about 4h 56m via Purple Heart Trail, I 35W, and Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, so expect a relatively flat landscape for much of your drive. The majority of this route utilizes surface roads, offering a more local feel compared to a pure interstate experience. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward option for connecting these two Texas cities without needing an overnight stay.
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
135.6 miles from Alamo Heights, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 188.3 mi | 3h 18m |
| I 35W | 45.1 mi | 47m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Austin Highway | 4 mi | 6m |
| South Cooper Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 188.3 mi, about 3h 18m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 100 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,362 veh/hr typical · worst 4,075
Quietest
2 AM
~579 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alamo Heights, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Blue Bonnet Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Blue Bonnet Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Kokomo Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Kokomo Street
3
Turn left onto Albany Street
363 ft
·
15 sec
·
Albany Street
4
Turn left onto Loop 368
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Austin Highway
5
Take the ramp
523 ft
·
12 sec
Toward I 410 West, I 35, I 410 South: Austin
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 35, I 410 South: Austin
7
Merge onto I 410
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 35 North: Austin
9
Merge onto I 35
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
23
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
28
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
29
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 56m estimated drive time and a recommended one-day trip, starting your drive in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. You'll have one recommended stop, so plan this break strategically along your 271.2-mile route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $39 and opportunities for refueling might be more frequent on the longer surface road sections. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time, but aim to avoid peak commute hours in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex as you approach Arlington.
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 135.6 miles from Alamo Heights, TX, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 60 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.6 miles or 2h 29m 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 59m
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 Alamo Heights, 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 Alamo Heights, TX
This is one driving day of about 271.2 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Alamo Heights, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 135.6 miles from Alamo Heights, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Final third
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAnimal World & Snake Farm Zoo
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+18304024603
Visit websiteSan Antonio Botanical Garden
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 8 am–6 pm
+12105361400
Visit websiteUS Army Medical Department Museum
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
+12102216358
Visit websiteThe DoSeum
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12102124453
Visit websiteToybrary Austin
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+15124343927
Visit websiteWonder Chamber
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 12–9 pm
+12104675504
Visit websiteRound1 Bowling & Arcade North Star Mall
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+12104482030
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 265.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35, I 410 South: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35, I 410 South: Austin
7
209.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 46m 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
254.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m 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
254.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m 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
265.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 46m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.71 one way
$81.42 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $45.05 | $90.09 |
| premium | $4.57 | $48.74 | $97.48 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $67.01 | $134.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.4 | 1 | $28.48 | $13.02 |
| Efficient EV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.73 | $10.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.5 | 1 | $37.97 | $17.36 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Origin
Alamo Heights, TX
Evening in Alamo Heights on Thursday
Local time
7:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Evening in Arlington on Thursday
Local time
7:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
57°F
Troy, TX
136 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
4h 56m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 177.7
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 23% of the route on highways. You'll experience your longest stretch of continuous driving on Purple Heart Trail, covering 188.3 miles. After this significant portion on surface roads, you'll transition to I 35W and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for the remaining miles. Be prepared for frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you navigate through towns and populated areas for most of the trip.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 271.2 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 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 254.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
852 ft
407 ft
Total Climb
681 ft
Total Descent
880 ft
Highest Point
852 ft
~121.7 mi in
Elevation Range
446 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Alamo Heights, TX
Full guide →Arriving in Arlington, TX
Full guide →Founded 1876
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.
Top landmarks
- • Six Flags Over Texas — amusement park
- • Mini Mine Train — Steel roller coaster
- • Arlington Museum of Art — art museum in Texas, United States
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 56m. Total distance: 271.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Arlington, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 254.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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