Traveling from Arlington to Alton covers 524.1 miles and requires approximately 9 hours and 13 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is quite lengthy, we recommend planning for two days on the road rather than attempting it in a single push. You will start your trip in the Great Plains region and remain within that same geographic area as you head south to Alton. Budgeting around $80 for fuel should cover your primary travel costs, though fluctuations in gas prices may affect your final spending. Since this route avoids major highways, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace. Ultimately, this is a significant commitment that requires careful scheduling to ensure you arrive refreshed rather than exhausted.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
262.1 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 28m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Alton, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
93 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
417 ft·21 sec·West Abram Street
3
Turn right onto South Center Street
2.0 mi·4 min·South Center Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·48 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto FM 157
1.5 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
8
Merge onto I 20
10 mi·11 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 437Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 35W South: WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 35W
78 mi·1 hr 20 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi·26 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
Exit 265Toward TX 130 Toll South: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi·1 hr 19 min·TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi·11 min·I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi·9 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi·12 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
1.4 mi·1 min·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
6.7 mi·7 min·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 41Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus ChristiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus ChristiUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 37
60 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi·19 min·US 281 South
Toward US 281 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·South Nueces Street
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi·10 min·I 69C; US 281
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi·58 min·Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
7.2 mi·7 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Exit 10Toward US 281 Business South: EdinburgUse the slight right lane.
32
Continue on North Expressway 281
0.4 mi·38 sec·North Expressway 281
33
Continue on US 281 Business
3.0 mi·4 min·US 281 Business
34
Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107
377 ft·13 sec·West McIntyre Street
35
Turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107
360 ft·10 sec·North 10th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
36
Turn right onto TX 107
9.1 mi·13 min·West University Drive
37
Turn left onto TX 107
2.0 mi·3 min·Conway Street
38
Turn left onto FM 676
102 ft·2 sec·Main Avenue
39
Arrive at destination
FM 676
Trip Plan
To manage the 9-hour and 13-minute travel time effectively, plan to break your journey into two distinct days. Since you are navigating local roads, try to depart early in the morning to avoid the peak congestion often found on city-adjacent streets. With two recommended stops along the way, use these breaks to refuel and stretch your legs, keeping your $80 fuel budget in mind as you plan your stops. Because you aren't on high-speed highways, your travel time can be sensitive to local traffic flow, so build in extra buffer time for your arrival. A smart tip for this specific route is to monitor local traffic reports for the streets mentioned, as surface-level driving is more susceptible to unexpected delays than rural highway travel.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 262.1 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 4h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 115 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 262.1 miles or 4h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 262.1 miles or 4h 28m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Alton, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 miles from Arlington, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 294 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
15.9 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
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 437
Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
7
16.1 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W South: Waco
7
166 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
7
252.8 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
294 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
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 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$79.19 one way
$158.39 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg183 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$86.68
$173.37
premium
$4.54
$93.57
$187.15
diesel
$5.61
$115.71
$231.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$209–$319
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 183.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
157.2
1
$55.03
$25.16
Efficient EV
131
1
$45.86
$20.96
EV Truck/SUV
209.6
2
$73.37
$33.54
Gas CO2
183 kg
EV CO2
61 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alton, TX
Late night
in Alton on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
37 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
9h 13m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 90.4
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 289.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a unique driving experience on this route, as it consists entirely of local roads like West Abram Street, South Center Street, and West Pioneer Parkway. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be dealing with the fast-paced, monotonous grind of an interstate system. Instead, your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating through various local connections and residential or commercial corridors. This lack of highway access means your speed will be consistent with local traffic patterns, making the 524.1-mile journey feel more like a series of connected stretches than a single sprint. Be prepared for frequent intersections and traffic lights that keep you focused on the road ahead for the duration of the trip.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on TX 130 Toll.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 30 significant decision points across 524.1 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 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 166 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Arlington, TX to Alton, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 262 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Alton, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 166 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alton, TX before the return drive.
