Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Alief, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 49m
Distance
268 mi
431 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 36m
★
6 AM
4h 50m
8 AM
5h 17m
10 AM
4h 59m
12 PM
4h 56m
3 PM
5h 0m
5 PM
5h 15m
8 PM
4h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alief, TX
Thomas balabaud
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Alief, TX to Arlington, TX is 268 miles and takes about 4h 49m via North Freeway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. It's a straightforward trip primarily on highways, making it a solid choice for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so pack your favorite podcasts. This route is designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
134 miles from Alief, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 213.7 mi | 3h 40m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.1 mi | 16m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway North | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway South | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| South Collins Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| North Sam Houston Tollway West | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Westpark Tollway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 213.7 mi, about 3h 40m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,183 veh/hr typical · worst 3,862
Quietest
2 AM
~397 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 100 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 Alief, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Cook Road
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cook Road
2
Turn right onto Alief Clodine Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Alief Clodine Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto West Houston Center Boulevard
223 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Houston Center Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward WPT Toll East
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto WPT
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Westpark Tollway
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
At end of road, turn left onto BW 8
215 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Sam Houston Parkway South
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward SHT Toll North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto SHT
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto SHT
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto SHT
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto SHT
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on BW 8
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Sam Houston Parkway West
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 45
214 mi
·
3 hr 40 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 20
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Interstate 20
22
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Since this 268-mile drive can be completed in under 5 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so ensure you have enough to cover this, especially considering the longest stretch of 213.7 miles on North Freeway where fuel stops might be less frequent. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, perhaps around the halfway point of your journey.
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 134 miles from Alief, TX, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.7 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 59 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134 miles or 2h 25m 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 53m
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 Alief, 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 Alief, TX
This is one driving day of about 268 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Alief, 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 213.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134 miles from Alief, 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 213.7 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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Dennis Johnston Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17132740930
Visit websiteThe Woodlands Waterway
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
First break
3.4 mi from route
~9 min detour
The Woodlands, Texas
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~11 min detour
Early stretch
4.6 mi from route
~11 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
Visit websiteLakewood Crossing Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
First break
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 240.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward WPT Toll East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward WPT Toll East
7
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollway
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.
Toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollw...
7
25.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
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.
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
7
25.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
7
240.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.23 one way
$80.46 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $44.52 | $89.03 |
| premium | $4.57 | $48.17 | $96.33 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $66.22 | $132.44 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.85
Sam Houston Tollway
(21.9 mi)
$1.75
Westpark Tollway
(1.5 mi)
$0.10
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.4 | 0 | $28.14 | $12.86 |
| Efficient EV | 67 | 0 | $23.45 | $10.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.2 | 1 | $37.52 | $17.15 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Alief, TX
Late night in Alief on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
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
4 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 49m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 213.7 miles on the North Freeway. The route is characterized by its high highway share, meaning you'll encounter consistent speeds and limited local road detours. Expect a largely consistent driving experience for the majority of the 4h 49m trip, as the main roads like the Lyndon B Johnson Freeway and West Sam Houston Tollway North are designed for steady travel.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 213.7 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 268 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
671 ft
75 ft
Total Climb
957 ft
Total Descent
429 ft
Highest Point
671 ft
~248.8 mi in
Elevation Range
596 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alief, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
25.6 mi in
|
~31m
About the Cities
Starting in Alief, TX
Full guide →Founded 1894
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 49m. Total distance: 268 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 213.7 miles on North Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.85 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 30 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 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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